More than just Oysters, Franks is the perfect bar and eatery to park up and enjoy modern, vibrant and shareable dishes.  We caught up with Sam, owner of Franks, on International Expresso Martini Cocktail Day, to chat with him about living in Marlborough, coffee and of course, to celebrate the occasion by enjoying one of Franks classic expresso martini’s made by William.

How long have you been in Marlborough?

I grew up in here and left when I was 12 years old. Family and a job at the Marlborough Lodge bought me back 6 years ago.

What do you love about the region and what do you do in your spare time?

The semi-rural lifestyle and the 5 minute commute. I’m a self-confessed workaholic, any spare time I have I like to spend with my kids.

When did you start drinking coffee, do you have a preferred brewing method, and if so, what makes it your preferred choice?

Quite young, when I was at boarding school, to give me energy to study and keep awake, pre-energy drink days. I drink a long black or cold brew, I visited friends in the states, who are coffee nuts, and started drinking filter coffee and cold brew.

You have made a delicious classic expresso martini, what would you pair it with from your menu?

I’d recommend the Dark Chocolate and Hazelnut Mousse, made from 72% dark chocolate.

According to Spirits New Zealand the expresso martini was New Zealand’s most popular cocktail in 2023, William, can you please share your top tips for making a fabulous expresso martini?

It’s entirely down to the quality of the ingredients we use, good liquor, good expresso coffee and funky sugars for the sugar syrup.