We Tried It: The 1983 Creamy Espresso Martini brings stiff competition to the ready-made drink world

Published by The Georgia Strait. By Nathan Caddell on August 7th, 2025 at 5:05 PM

Do not test Gabrielle Mustapich and Sheereen Price on the intricacies involving B.C.’s liquor laws. The founders of North Vancouver-based Pilothouse Brands first made headway a few years ago with Hardpops, the alcohol-infused freezie that became a hit in the U.S. and was an official sponsor of the NHL’s Florida Panthers. 

You likely haven’t heard of it, because the product isn’t allowed to be sold in Canada,despite the duo’s best efforts. Mustapich and Price moved to the States for a few years to help market their company. But they’re back now with an entirely new product. Thankfully, this one received certification to be sold in BC Liquor Stores earlier this month. 

And so it was that, on a warm afternoon, I cracked open a can of Pilothouse’s newest creation, the 1983 Creamy Espresso Martini. Espresso martinis feel like they are having a moment in culture right now, but Mustapich and Price are the first entrepreneurs to hit the market with a ready-made espresso martini drink that includes cream. The name itself is an ode to the creation of the first espresso martini, said to have been created in that year by famed London bartender Dick Bradsell. 

Like pretty much every millennial these days, yeah, I’ve been indulging in my fair share of espresso martinis. Most importantly, 1983’s taste is on point. Is it strong? Yes. It’s 15-percent ABV, and you can feel it. But that’s also kind of the point. The jolt of energy and alcohol is evident. It’s not quite the same sensation I used to feel when I would shotgun a can of Kokanee and then immediately inhale a 5-hour Energy drink in my early 20s, but it’s not entirely dissimilar. 

Pilothouse is currently working on a version with less alcohol, but for now, embrace the power a can of this can yield. If liquor retailers are smart, they will put cans of this right at the front, so curious patrons can grab at the last second. In any case, it’s a big positive to have two productive, smart entrepreneurs back in Canada making things here.