Minty Drinks to Make with Crème de Menthe

At bars around the U.S., bartenders craft revamped versions of sweet and creamy after-dinner cocktails, like the Grasshopper and the Stinger, with one key ingredient: crème de menthe. This minty, sweet liqueur is worth getting to know at home for a strong after-dinner drink. Dig out that bottle of crème de menthe you've neglected; pick up a new, quality bottle from a liquor store; or make use of a bottle you've been gifted by trying your hand at making some delicious, potentially green and festive, digestifs.

Crème de menthe can be clear (referred to as white) or green, and when high-quality bottles are clear, you can always add a drop of natural food coloring. We recommend Tempus Fugit Crème de Menthe, distilled from botanicals, for the classic Grasshopper cocktail from New Orleans and the frozen Grasshopper. Mixologists balance the mint liqueur with anything from aquavit to genever and pisco to vodka and Champagne in these crème de menthe cocktails.

Here's a handful of Food & Wine recipes for balanced, refreshingly minty crème de menthe drinks to make at home.

Grasshopper

Born in New Orleans around the Roaring '20s, the Grasshopper is one of those pre-prohibition cocktails that has made an exciting modern day comeback, in part because it’s absolutely delicious, but also because its signature green color looks great on Instagram. To make a proper Grasshopper, you’ll need some specialty ingredients, like créme de menthe and crème de cacao. It’s important to opt for high-quality versions of both.

San Moritz Martini

Simply combine crème de menthe with Champagne and black currant vodka, chilling with ice, and garnishing with pomegranate seeds to transport to Switzerland in minutes.

Frozen Grasshopper

This frozen cocktail is infused with bracing aquavit, bringing a bite of caraway and fruity banana liquor to balance the cooling crème de menthe in a strong drink.

A Lesser Key

Mixologist and hospitality professional Nick Detrich recommends making this genever cocktail with Tempus Fugit crème de menthe, which is a little richer than other brands and makes for a lusher drink.