Stinger
Rocks GlassShake
Origin
1890
American cocktail dating to around 1890; possibly derived from The Judge in William Schmidt's 1892 The Flowing Bowl. Popularly (but inaccurately) credited to society millionaire Reginald Vanderbilt, who served them at his New York gatherings from the early 1900s and is credited with naming the drink.
A Gilded Age digestif — cognac and white crème de menthe, bracingly cold and improbably elegant.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Cognac
- ¾ oz White Crème de Menthe
Instructions
- Combine both ingredients in a shaker with ice.
- Shake hard for 10 seconds — unusual for a spirit-forward drink, but tradition.
- Strain into a chilled coupe, or over crushed ice in a rocks glass.
- Garnish with a mint sprig.
Tips
- Use white crème de menthe; the green version stains the drink and tastes the same.
- A 3:1 ratio keeps the cognac in charge — any sweeter and it tips into toothpaste territory.