Stinger
Brandy and white crème de menthe, stirred very cold. A two-ingredient after-dinner drink, cool and minty.
- Time
- 3 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Coupe
- Strength
- 2.5 UK units
How to make a Stinger
- Chill the coupe. Fill a coupe with ice and water and leave it while you make the drink.
- Stir with ice. Pour the brandy and crème de menthe into a mixing glass full of ice. Stir for about 20 seconds, until the glass is frosted and cold to hold.
- Strain. Tip out the ice water and strain into the coupe. It should be clear and pale gold.
- Garnish. Slap the mint sprig once between your palms to release the scent, and rest it on the rim.
- Glass
- CoupeNo coupe? A rocks glass over crushed ice.
- Ice
- No ice
- Garnish
- A fresh mint sprigOr: Leave it plain.
What you need to make a Stinger
Kit
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Mixing glassAny sturdy jug or pint glass works.
Bar spoonA long teaspoon does the job.
StrainerA Hawthorne strainer fits over the tin or glass.
Bottles we'd use
- Cognac VS or VSOPCourvoisier VS or Hennessy VS are smooth enough to drink on their own, which matters here.Find it on Amazon
- White crème de mentheGiffard Menthe-Pastille is a good, clear, natural-tasting choice. Cheaper brands are sweeter.Find it on Amazon
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Stinger variations and swaps
Serve it over crushed ice in a rocks glass for a longer, colder drink. Shaking it instead of stirring gives a slightly cloudier, more diluted result. Make it drier with 60 ml of brandy to 15 ml of crème de menthe, or mintier with 50 ml to 25 ml. Replace the brandy with vodka for a Vodka Stinger, sometimes called a White Spider. Green crème de menthe works too, but turns the drink a pale green and is usually sweeter.
The Stinger story
The Stinger is more than a century old, and where it began is unclear, with accounts pointing to the United States around the start of the twentieth century. For decades it was a standard after-dinner order, served small and very cold.
It is brandy and crème de menthe, usually in a ratio of about 2:1, and it is all about balance. Too much menthe and it tastes like toothpaste; too little and it is just cold brandy. Use white crème de menthe, which is clear and keeps the drink golden. Serve it small, with the dinner plates cleared.
Stinger: your questions answered
What is in a Stinger?
A Stinger is made with 50 ml Cognac and 20 ml white crème de menthe. Garnish: a fresh mint sprig.
Is a Stinger shaken or stirred?
A Stinger is stirred, not shaken. Stirring with ice chills and dilutes it while keeping the drink clear and smooth. Shaking would cloud it and add tiny air bubbles, which suits citrus drinks but not this one.
How strong is a Stinger?
Made to this recipe, a Stinger contains about 2.5 UK units of alcohol per drink. That is worked out from typical bottle strengths, so it changes with the bottles you use. UK guidelines advise not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
What glass do you serve a Stinger in?
Serve a Stinger in a coupe. No coupe? A rocks glass over crushed ice.
