Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons instant espresso powder (recommended: Medaglia D'Oro)
  • 1 cup water, room temperature
  • 8 ounces whiskey (recommended: Seagram's 7)
  • 4 ounces mascarpone cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, shaved
  • 30 to 35 ladyfingers
  • Special equipment: 6 highball glasses

Method

  • In a medium bowl whisk the espresso powder, water and whiskey together until the granules dissolve.
  • Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, lightly blend the mascarpone cheese with vanilla extract.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk the heavy cream while slowly adding the sugar.
  • Beat until soft peaks form when the whisk is raised from the whipped cream.
  • Fold the mascarpone into the whipped cream mixture and set aside.
  • To assemble, arrange 6 glasses on a work surface and build each glass individually.
  • Soak a few ladyfingers in the espresso mixture for a few seconds, then arrange them vertically inside the glass, lining the sides.
  • Repeat until the circumference of the glass is covered with the soaked ladyfingers.
  • Scoop or pipe the whipped cream on top of the ladyfingers, then sprinkle with a layer of chocolate shavings.
  • Top with a thin layer of soaked and crushed ladyfingers, then with an equal scoop of whipped cream and again sprinkle with chocolate shavings.
  • Repeat with the remaining 5 glasses and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight before serving.