This post contains affiliate links. See our disclosure policy here.
Cocktail History
The Stinger is a classic cocktail that was created in the United States in the 1890s. It’s made with a simple combination of Cognac, crème de menthe, and mint, and it quickly became popular among the upper class during Prohibition because the liqueur could mask the low-quality brandy available at the time.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Cognac: This is the base spirit. The recipe specifically calls for Cognac, but we used Driftless Glen Distillery 5 Year Reserve Brandy for its rich taste and notes of cherry, vanilla, and caramel.
White Crème De Menthe: This adds cool peppermint flavor. We used DeKuyper’s, but whichever crème de menthe you can find will work.
Mint Sprig: This is the garnish. It adds more fresh mint aroma.
Tasting Notes
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: This drink has a minty bite that’ll give you quite the buzz despite its size. Even though Kendall’s not a big brandy drinker, she liked the Stinger more than the Mint Julep, a similar recipe made with bourbon and mint, because it’s not as bitter. Alex thought this drink was very good and very minty, which he liked but not as much as the Julep.
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Art of Vintage Cocktails by Stephanie Rosenbaum.
AuthorThe Art of Vintage CocktailsPrep Time5 minsFill a lowball glass with crushed ice.
Add brandy and crème de menthe to a mixing glass.
Stir for 30-45 seconds.
Pour into lowball glass.
Garnish with mint sprig.
Ingredients
Directions
Fill a lowball glass with crushed ice.
Add brandy and crème de menthe to a mixing glass.
Stir for 30-45 seconds.
Pour into lowball glass.
Garnish with mint sprig.
Tools & Glassware We Recommend
More Brandy Cocktails
If you like this brandy-based cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
• Cold Brew Brandy Alexander: A brandy cocktail made with cold-brew coffee liqueur, dark crème de cacao, heavy cream, and coffee beans
• Enchantress: A brandy cocktail made with ruby port wine, orange curaçao, lemon juice, and a lemon peel
• French Toast Flip: An Oloroso sherry, Scotch, and apple brandy cocktail made with maple syrup, allspice syrup, egg white, egg yolk, orange and fig bitters, and ground cinnamon
• Elephants Sometimes Forget: A cherry brandy and gin cocktail made with lemon juice, dry vermouth, orange bitters, amaretto liqueur, and a lemon twist
