Must be 21 and over. Please drink responsibly
Some books demand you sit with them. Really sit, not scroll, not half-listen to an audiobook while doing dishes. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead is one of those books. It's heavy, haunting, and deeply human. And if you're going to read a story about Cora's journey through a literal underground railroad that reimagines American history, you need a drink that matches that weight.
Enter The Santos Exchange, our espresso old fashioned built on bourbon, cold espresso, and just enough sweetness to soften the edges without losing the bite.
This isn't your typical coffee cocktail. There's no whipped cream, no sugary syrups, no Instagram-friendly foam art. This is a contemplative drink with a serious mouthfeel, the kind you nurse slowly while you turn pages and try to process what you're reading. It's rich, grounding, and a little bit somber. Just like the book.
Why This Pairing Works
The Underground Railroad doesn't offer easy answers or tidy resolutions. It's a novel that forces you to reckon with the brutality of slavery, the resilience of those who survived it, and the ways America has tried (and often failed) to reconcile its past. Whitehead's prose is both beautiful and unflinching, he doesn't look away from violence, but he also doesn't sensationalize it.
The Santos Exchange mirrors that complexity. The bourbon brings warmth and comfort, but the espresso adds a bitter edge that won't let you get too comfortable. The chocolate bitters deepen the darkness, while the orange peel offers just a hint of brightness, a reminder that even in the heaviest stories, there are moments of hope and humanity.
This is a drink you sip between chapters, not during them. It's for when you need to pause, breathe, and let the story settle before you can keep going.
The Recipe: The Santos Exchange
Here's what you'll need to make this contemplative cocktail at home:
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Belle Meade Bourbon (XO Cognac Cask Finish)
- 1 oz FB Roasters Brazil Santos Espresso (cooled)
- 0.25 oz rich demerara syrup
- 2 dashes chocolate bitters
- 1 dash orange bitters
- Wide orange peel (for expressing and garnish)
- Luxardo cherry
Method:
- Brew your espresso and let it cool to room temperature (or chill it in the fridge, but don't add ice directly to hot espresso or it'll dilute too fast).
- Combine bourbon, cooled espresso, demerara syrup, chocolate bitters, and orange bitters in a mixing glass.
- Add large ice cubes and stir for 30 seconds. You're building texture here, not just chilling the drink.
- Strain into a rocks glass over one large, clear ice sphere.
- Express the oils from a wide orange peel over the drink (give it a good twist so you see the mist), then drop it in.
- Add a Luxardo cherry and serve.
The result? A drink with a syrupy, almost velvety body. The bourbon's caramel and vanilla notes play beautifully with the espresso's natural sweetness, while the bitters add layers of chocolate and citrus that keep evolving as you sip.
Why Brazil Santos Coffee?
We're using FB Roasters Brazil Santos for a reason. This isn't just any espresso, Brazil Santos is known for its smooth, nutty profile with notes of chocolate, caramel, and a hint of toast. It's low in acidity, which means it won't fight with the bourbon or turn sharp when it's cold.
That smoothness is key. In a stirred cocktail like this, you want the espresso to blend seamlessly with the spirits, not stand out as a separate ingredient. The Santos beans bring body and richness without overpowering the drink's balance.
Plus, there's something fitting about using Brazilian coffee in a drink paired with a novel about movement, survival, and hidden networks. Brazil has its own complicated history with slavery and freedom, connections that add another layer of meaning to this pairing, even if it's subtle.
If you don't have an espresso machine at home, don't stress. A strong stovetop moka pot brew or even a concentrated pour-over will work. Just make sure it's bold enough to hold its own against the bourbon.
The Book: The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
If you haven't read The Underground Railroad yet, here's what you need to know: Colson Whitehead takes the metaphor of the underground railroad and makes it literal. In this alternate history, there's an actual network of secret trains running beneath the Southern states, helping enslaved people escape to freedom.
The protagonist, Cora, is a young woman on a Georgia plantation who decides to run. What follows is a harrowing journey through different states, each representing a different facet of American racism, from medical experimentation in South Carolina to violent white supremacy in North Carolina to the false promise of freedom in Indiana.
Whitehead won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for this novel, and it's easy to see why. His writing is both lyrical and precise, never shying away from the horrors of slavery while also honoring the humanity and agency of those who resisted it.
It's not an easy read. But it's an essential one.
How to Approach This Pairing
Here's our suggestion: don't rush this. Clear your evening. Put your phone on do not disturb. Make the cocktail, settle into your favorite reading spot, and give yourself permission to feel whatever comes up.
The Underground Railroad is the kind of book that stays with you long after you've finished it. The Santos Exchange is designed to match that weight, to be something you return to between chapters, a grounding ritual that helps you process what you're reading.
Sip slowly. The drink will warm slightly as the ice melts, and the flavors will shift, the chocolate notes becoming more pronounced, the orange oils fading into the background. Let it change. Let the book change you, too.
More Ways to Explore This Theme
If you're diving into The Underground Railroad and want to keep exploring stories about survival, resistance, and the long shadow of American history, we've got a few more recommendations from our friends at Far From Beale Street bookstore:
- Beloved by Toni Morrison
- The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
- Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
- The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead (yes, another one, he's that good)
And if you want help planning a trip email Felicia at [email protected] with subject HELP I NEED A VACATION
Stock Up on Great Coffee
Whether you're making The Santos Exchange or just need a great cup to get you through these heavy reads, we've got you covered. Check out our full lineup at FB Roasters, including the Brazil Santos we use in this recipe.
And right now, you can get 20% off your first subscription order with code BOGO20, so grab a few bags, try some new roasts, and keep your coffee supply as strong as your reading list.
Book & Brew Coffee https://tr.ee/BNB_Coffee
Book & Brew Tea https://tr.ee/BNB_Tea
YouTube https://youtu.be/yi9fOOCurgA
A Final Note
Must be 21 and over. Please drink responsibly
This cocktail is for adults 21 and over. Please enjoy responsibly, especially when you're reading something as emotionally intense as The Underground Railroad.
There's no shame in taking breaks, putting the book down when it gets too heavy, or skipping the cocktail altogether if you'd rather just have a cup of tea. The goal here isn't to numb the discomfort: it's to create a space where you can sit with difficult truths and honor the stories that need to be told.
Whitehead's novel is a gift, even when it's hard to read. The Santos Exchange is just here to keep you company along the way.
Happy reading, and even happier sipping.
Shop the coffee: Brazil Santos at FB Roasters
Plan your next journey: Email Felicia at [email protected] with subject HELP I NEED A VACATION
Find your next great read: Visit Far From Beale Street
Must be 21 and over. Please drink responsibly. If you or someone you know struggles with alcohol use, resources are available at SAMHSA's National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357.
