Grasshopper
IBA official cocktail
Grasshopper cocktail.jpg
Type Cocktail
Primary alcohol by volume
  • Crème de cacao
  • Crème de menthe
Served Straight up ; without ice
Standard drinkware
Cocktail Glass (Martini).svg
Cocktail glass
IBA specified
ingredientsdagger
  • 3 cl Crème de menthe (green)
  • 3 cl Crème de cacao (white)
  • 3 cl Fresh cream
Preparation Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake briskly and then strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Timing After dinner
dagger Grasshopper recipe at International Bartenders Association

A grasshopper is a sweet, mint-flavored, after-dinner drink. The name of the drink derives from its green color, which comes from crème de menthe. The drink reputedly originated at Tujague's, a bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, and was invented by its owner, Philip Guichet. The drink gained popularity during the 1950s and 1960s throughout the American South.

Composition

A typical grasshopper cocktail consists of equal parts green crème de menthe, white crème de cacao, and cream—shaken with ice and strained into a chilled cocktail glass.

Variations

A "Vodka" or "Flying" grasshopper replaces the fresh cream with vodka.

A "Frozen" Grasshopper adds mint ice cream to create a more dessert-like drink.

An "After Eight" adds a layer of dark chocolate liqueur to the crème de menthe, crème de cacao and cream.

In the North Central US states, especially Wisconsin, grasshoppers are blended drinks, with ice cream substituted for cream. A related variation is the "grasshopper milkshake", it contains mint chocolate chip ice cream, milk, and crème de menthe. This is blended and served in a tall glass decorated with a miniature or broken cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookie.

A "girl scout cookie" substitutes peppermint schnapps for crème de menthe.