The drink began as equal parts crème de menthe and crème de cacao, and these continue to be non-negotiable ingredients in Grasshopper recipes. Later boozy versions in the 1960s attributed the name to the drink’s bright green hue. Why Is It Called a Grasshopper?Īccording to The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America, the drink is “supposedly named for the jumpy effect it produced.” This interpretation was linked to a booze-free, temperance-era interpretation of the drink, which married lemon and orange juices with raw egg, sugar and ice. The first proof in print of the modern Grasshopper was in the Boston Traveler in February 1950 writer Neal O’Hara references the drink as “popular in the Midwest.” From there, the drink started popping up in papers all over the country, with numerous writers and readers claiming different provenances. According to The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails, there is no documented evidence proving the Tujague’s Restaurant story. Of course, few classic cocktails’ histories are undisputed. The cocktail was allegedly crafted for a New York City cocktail competition, where it came in second place. This version, which Tujague’s Restaurant credits to owner Philip Guichet, incorporates crème de menthe, white and dark crème de cacao, heavy whipping cream and brandy. The establishment claims to have served the first modern Grasshopper in 1918 in its original location’s bar. These versions belonged to a class of cocktails known as pousse café, which calls for layering ingredients rather than shaking them.Ī shaken version that better resembles the modern-day Grasshopper is attributed to a New Orleans restaurant, Tujague’s Restaurant. The drink continued to regularly appear in global bartending guides through the 1930s, according to The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails. Boothby attributed the cocktail to Harry O’Brien of the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. A version using equal parts crème de menthe and crème de cacao was mentioned in 1908’s World’s Drinks and How to Mix Them by “Cocktail Bill” Boothby, a San Francisco bartender. The drink emerged at a time when Americans were opting for sweeter cocktails as opposed to stronger, whiskey-forward beverages. Where Did the Grasshopper Cocktail Come From? The Grasshopper cocktail is a heavy, creamy and sweet cocktail, not dissimilar in spirit to the equally minty It’s a Wonderful Life cocktail and Boozy Shamr ock Shake, not to mention the Wednesday Addams cocktail and Cadbury Egg cocktail. But like the chocolatey Brandy Alexander, the Grasshopper is actually an International Bartenders Association-recognized quaff steeped in tradition.Īccording to IBA, the official version is a simply-shaken cocktail containing crème de menthe, white crème de cacao and fresh cream, served in a chilled cocktail glass with an optional mint leaf garnish. Here are all the details and how to make your own. Perfect for mint lovers and those attracted to festive, green cocktails, this vibrantly-hued sipper has a fascinating history. We mean that in a positive way: Both are minty, chocolatey and an oh-so-sweet finish to a meal.Īlthough the Grasshopper is often served after dinner as a digestif, it can be enjoyed any time. Decorative Wine Racks & Modular Systemsįlavor-wise, a Grasshopper cocktail evokes those chocolate mints an old-school restaurants might present along with the dinner bill.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |