Preparation
- Pre-chill the serving glass. Add the measured ingredients to a shaker.
- Add plenty of solid ice cubes and shake hard for about 10–15 seconds.
- Strain through a hawthorne strainer into the pre-chilled glass; the shaking ice stays in the shaker.
- Finish with a garnish: mint leaf, optional.
What does it taste like?
Sweet and creamy, that's the whole drink. The mint comes first, cool and clear like a peppermint candy. Right behind it stands the crème de cacao with its chocolate sweetness. The cream binds both together and settles softly on the tongue, which is why the Grasshopper tastes more like ice cream than cocktail. There's no acidity, and no bitterness either. You barely taste any alcohol, since it's only liqueurs, and the cream covers the rest. The aftertaste is cool from the mint and stays sweet for a long time.
When does it work best?
The Grasshopper is dessert in a glass and belongs at the end of a meal. It suits people with a sweet tooth. Even those who don't like strong spirits can manage it: the recipe includes only liqueurs and cream, 60 milliliters total. Before a meal, though, it feels out of place. Anyone who prefers dry drinks will find it too sweet.
What matters
Use white crème de cacao, otherwise the bright green turns into a murky brown. The brown liqueur also changes the aroma depending on the product. Shake hard and long enough, since the cream needs to whip up: only then does the drink become properly creamy instead of thin. Everything going into the shaker should be well chilled, including the cream. And strain carefully, so no ice splinters disturb the smooth surface.
Where the drink comes from
The Grasshopper is closely tied to Tujague's restaurant in New Orleans. It's said to have been created there for a competition. This story gets told often, but it isn't documented. What is certain is that older recipes already combined mint and cacao liqueurs before anyone spoke of a Grasshopper. The cream was the new addition. It turned a clear liqueur mix into the creamy drink we know today. The name plays on the color: Grasshopper, and the glass really is green.