Drinks served on holidays should compliment the festive colors designed for that special occasion. Here’s a treat for you! A touch of class in a glass of green mint flavor for your Irish taste buds. To add to the Irish tradition, each drink is created with happy hour in mind. A bartender’s law – leave no alcohol behind!
You do not need green dye to turn the color of a drink green. There is an easy trick of the bartender trade to allow this process to occur. It is within the green mint liqueur called creme de menthe.
Did you know that the price of a drink may actually go up if you have it chilled or frozen? That tells you something about how good a drink tastes when cold. Run a cocktail glass under water and sit inside of a freezer and continue.
You are wise Grasshopper. A Grasshopper drink comes with creme de menthe, a green liqueur of mint flavor. Add creme de cacao (chocolate flavor liqueur) and two ounces of light cream. Half ounce each of both liqueurs. But what’s the trick? Why does it always taste wrong when you order a Grasshopper? Because three ounces of liquid throws some uneducated bartenders off. Placing some ice in a shaker and adding all ingredients (heavy liquids first) matters. In order to get the right consistency this drink must always be shaken before served. Not just stirred. After shaking the ingredients simply place a strainer on the top and let the cold mixture enter the chilled cocktail glass.
Want to give that Grasshopper a new twist? Add a unique garnish and a chocolate stick. Mint leaves are used for the Mint Julep but place a couple leaves inside of a Grasshopper with a chocolate stick on the side and experience a thick flavor true to the creme de menthe and cacao. Do not over dress this drink. It could turn into a fashion “not” in the beverage world.
Tip – Use 3/4 ounces of green creme de menthe and only 1/4 ounces of brown creme de cacao to reach a more festive color for your minty holiday beverage.
Green Creme De Menthe Frappe. This drink is the easiest mint beverage you will ever have to combine. All you need is a rock glass, some creme de menthe and crushed ice. Put the crushed ice in the rock glass and fill it with one and a half ounces of creme de menthe. Done. Do not stir. But stick a chocolate stick on the side of the glass in case a stir is preferred.
Green Snake Bite. An unusual bite to the taste buds can be found in the mint flavored Snake Bite. This Snake Bite is mainly Wild Turkey and creme de menthe. It usually comes with peppermint, but not today! Add one and a half ounces of Wild Turkey and a half ounce of green creme de menthe to a rock glass filled with cubes of ice. Do not shake. Do not stir. Stick a green stirrer inside of the glass in case a stir is preferred.
If you enjoy a melon flavor then try the midori liqueur instead of creme de menthe on any of the above drinks. Melon can be quite tasty. Although not green like green creme de menthe.
Dress your Irish colored drinks with green stirrers, green umbrellas, whipped topping with green sprinkles while complimenting your glass with a green cocktail napkin below it.
Do not drink and drive. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
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Self-source, Previously Licensed bartender