All About the Grasshopper Cocktail

A minty, creamy, green cocktail perfect for St. Patrick's Day!

This classic drink is a great after dinner libation – make it with ice cream for an even sweeter treat!

Hello, young grasshopper – while this bright-green cocktail can certainly be called a classic, it's a young’un when judged by popularity. The first bartenders to get hopped up on crème de menthe and crème de cacao were working during the 1920s, but the recipe didn’t get widely popular until the ‘50s. Now it’s making a comeback as the public develops new appreciation for the drinks of that era (a tip of the hat to Mad Men is deserved). Here’s everything you need to know:

The History

Like many great drinks, this beverage was invented in New Orleans. The bartenders at Tujague's in the French Quarter entered it into a cocktail contest – during Prohibition no less – and took home the second place prize. The rest is history (if you want to drop by and see where it all started, Tujague’s is still open), and the drink started to take off in the Midwest once the booze ban was lifted.

When to Drink It

Creamy, minty and sweet, this beverage is traditionally served as an after dinner libation. The flavors are in your face, and it’s unlikely you’ll be able to knock more than one of these puppies back. Have it with your dessert (or for dessert) and move on to something stronger, or drink it as a nightcap if you’re hittin’ the hay after your meal.

A Sweet Variation

You can make this beverage even more appropriate for dessert by substituting ice cream for the dairy in the recipe. Pour a scoop of vanilla or mint chocolate chip into a blender along with the liquor, and you’ll have an adult smoothie as quickly as it takes to hit “liquefy”.

Bells and Whistles

The beverage does call to mind mint chocolate chip ice cream, and you can further this flavor analogy by shaving some chocolate over your finished cocktail.

The Ingredients 

• Light cream
• Crème de menthe
• Crème de cacao 

The Instructions

Pour equal parts of all three ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and serve in a martini glass. Garnish with a fresh piece of mint and/or chocolate shavings. Enjoy!