Stinger cocktail in a rocks glass — White creme de menthe

Stinger Cocktail Recipe

minty boozy digestif

cognac, white creme de menthe

History

The Stinger is a pre-Prohibition classic that emerged in New York around the 1890s. A simple combination of cognac and white crème de menthe, it was long regarded as a high-society after-dinner digestif—cool, minty, and potent. It likely evolved from earlier brandy-and-mint drinks such as The Judge, and by the 1910s–1920s it was a staple in cocktail books (Reginald Vanderbilt was a famous devotee). The mint also made it useful during Prohibition for masking lesser spirits. Three-quarters of an ounce of crème de menthe is enough — more tastes like mouthwash. If cognac and a mint liqueur are already in the pantry, this is the two-bottle nightcap to stir before you buy another bitter.

Ingredients

cognac 2 oz

Buy
white creme de menthe 0.75 oz

Buy

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Details on Privacy.

Missing a bottle? Stock your pantry to see what else you can mix.

How to make

Chill a rocks glass, or a coupe if you want it up.
Add 2 oz cognac and ¾ oz white crème de menthe to a mixing glass packed with ice.
Green crème de menthe from the pantry works; it will tint the drink.
Stir 20 to 30 seconds until the mixing glass frosts — this is a stirred digestif, not a shaken mint sour.
Strain over a large ice cube, or into the coupe.
No garnish.
The mint is the aroma.

Glassware

Rocks glass

Short and sturdy for spirit-forward drinks served on ice — easy to hold, stir, and sip without watering down too fast.

Buy on Amazon

Stinger FAQ

What is a Stinger cocktail made of?

Two ingredients: 2 oz cognac and ¾ oz white crème de menthe, stirred and served on a large ice cube or up in a coupe. Green crème de menthe from the pantry works; it will tint the drink.

What ingredients are in a Stinger?

A Stinger is made with cognac and white creme de menthe. Amounts and pantry matching are in the ingredients list on this page.

How do you make a Stinger?

Chill a rocks glass, or a coupe if you want it up. Add 2 oz cognac and ¾ oz white crème de menthe to a mixing glass packed with ice. Green crème de menthe from the pantry works; it will tint the drink. Stir 20 to 30 seconds until the mixing glass frosts — this is a stirred digestif, not a shaken mint sour. Strain over a large ice cube, or into the coupe. No garnish. The mint is the aroma.

What glass do you serve a Stinger in?

Serve a Stinger in a Rocks glass. Short and sturdy for spirit-forward drinks served on ice — easy to hold, stir, and sip without watering down too fast.