Grasshopper

Born in New Orleans around the Roaring '20s, the Grasshopper drink 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 that you probably don’t have lying around on your bar cart or in your fridge, like créme de menthe and crème de cacao. It’s important to opt for high-quality versions of both (we prefer Tempus Fugit) to avoid an overly sweet, unpleasant version of an already indulgent cocktail.

Once you’ve added créme de cacao (also known as chocolate liqueur) to your arsenal, you can use it in a number of classic dessert cocktails, like a frozen Mudslide, chocolate Martini, or Bushwacker. Créme de menthe (mint liqueur) is slightly more limited in its use cases (try sipping it neat as a digestif!), but regardless of how you enjoy either, be sure to refrigerate them after opening. 

In addition to its festive green hue, the Grasshopper cocktail also lends itself to holiday-friendly garnishes, like a crushed candy cane rim. To assemble, simply add a few candy canes (or peppermints, depending on the time of year) into a plastic bag and crush using a bottle or rolling pin. Then, rim a glass with vanilla frosting (your finger is the best tool, here) and dip it into your crushed mints, turning to coat all of the frosting as evenly as possible. Not feeling excited about the addition of a candy rim? A simple mint sprig is a classic, flavorful alternative garnish.