New York, United States

Stinger

Also known as Brandy Stinger, White Stinger

A simple two-ingredient mix of brandy and white crème de menthe that goes down easy but packs a punch.

mintybrandysweetafter-dinnernightcapherbalstrongtwo-ingredientclassicwarming

ABV

Difficulty

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip hits you with a cool, sweet mint that quickly gives way to the warm, fruity heat of the brandy. As the drink sits, the two flavors settle into a candied, slightly herbal middle. The finish is warming with a lingering peppermint breath.

Who will like it

For people who like minty, after-dinner drinks but want something stronger and less dessert-like than a Grasshopper.

When to drink

This is a classic nightcap or after-dinner drink, best suited for cold evenings when you want something to settle your stomach and warm you up.

Ordering tip

Ask for it stirred instead of shaken if you prefer a silkier, stronger drink without the ice shards diluting the minty sweetness.

Ice: NoneTemp: ColdCost: $3–$6Glass: CoupeBatch-friendlyHome bar friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

This is a straightforward, sweet, and strong drink that leans heavily on the clash between warm brandy and cool mint. There is no acidity to cut the sweetness, so it drinks a bit like a spiked after-dinner mint. The body is slightly thick from the liqueur, and the alcohol heat catches up to you quickly after the initial cool rush fades. It is not a complicated drink, but it has a specific, stubborn character that works well at the end of a meal.

Finish: The finish runs medium-long, with the brandy warmth lingering behind a cool peppermint breath.

Primary tastes

sweetherbal

Secondary

fruityspicy

Aroma

peppermintgrapeoak

Sweetnessquite sweet
The crème de menthe brings a heavy dose of sugar, making this a decidedly sweet sip.
Strengthstrong
With a high proportion of 80-proof brandy and a lower volume of liqueur, this is a stiff, warming drink.
Refreshingwarming rather than refreshing
The mint gives a cool illusion, but the high alcohol and sugar make this a heavy, warming drink.
Creaminessslightly syrupy
The sugar in the liqueur gives the drink a slightly thick, rounded mouthfeel without actual dairy.
Complexitystraightforward
With only two ingredients, the flavor is a direct back-and-forth between mint and brandy without much layering.

Recipe

Make it at home

Stirred · Coupe · equal parts on Cognac. VS or VSOP works well; you want something with a bit of bite to cut through the mint

Before you start

Stick your coupe glass in the freezer for a few minutes if you can. Pull out fresh ice for the mixing glass so you don't water the drink down with stale, half-melted cubes.

Ingredients

CognacBase Spirit50ml
White Crème de MentheLiqueurUse clear, not green, to keep the drink pale20ml

Tools

Mixing glass · Mixing
To combine and chill the ingredients without making them cloudy
At home: A large pint glass or wide-mouth mason jar
Bar spoon · Mixing
To stir the drink smoothly and chill it evenly
At home: A long-handled spoon or chopstick
Jigger · Measuring
To measure the brandy and crème de menthe accurately
At home: A shot glass or measuring spoon
Hawthorne strainer · Straining
To hold back the ice while pouring the drink into the glass
At home: A slotted spoon or fine mesh sieve
Coupe · Serving
To serve the chilled drink without ice
At home: A small wine glass or shallow champagne glass

Steps

1
Take your mixing glass and pour in 50ml of Cognac followed by 20ml of white crème de menthe. The crème de menthe is thick and sweet, so it will sink to the bottom at first.
!Using green crème de menthe, which turns the drink a murky brown-green color.
2
Fill the mixing glass about three-quarters full with ice, making sure the ice sits above the level of the liquid. Grab your bar spoon and stir steadily for about 20 to 30 seconds. You will know you are done when the outside of the mixing glass feels very cold to the touch and frost starts to form.
~25s
!Stirring too fast or chipping the ice, which makes tiny shards and waters down the drink too quickly.
3
Place your Hawthorne strainer over the top of the mixing glass, making sure the spring sits inside the rim. Pour the drink into your chilled coupe glass, letting the liquid flow smoothly until the mixing glass is empty.
!Tilting the strainer so ice slips over the spring and falls into the finished drink.

Serve

Serve it right away in the chilled coupe without any ice or garnish. The drink should look clear and slightly viscous as it settles in the glass.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for Cognac

CognacBourbon Whiskey
Match
Common availability
Cognac → Bourbon Whiskey: Adds a sweeter, vanilla-forward profile that pairs easily with the mint, losing the grape notes of Cognac.
CognacDark Rum
Match
Common availability
Cognac → Dark Rum: Brings molasses and spice notes, making the drink richer and slightly heavier.

Swap options for White Crème de Menthe

White Crème de MentheGreen Crème de Menthe
Match
Common availability
White Crème de Menthe → Green Crème de Menthe: Tastes nearly identical but turns the drink a muddy brownish-green color.
White Crème de MenthePeppermint Schnapps
Match
Common availability
White Crème de Menthe → Peppermint Schnapps: Makes the drink sharper and less sweet, with a more aggressive, hot mint flavor.

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Similar cocktail

Grasshopper

The Grasshopper adds cream and crème de cacao, making it a rich, dessert-like cocktail rather than a spirit-forward sipper.

Match

Both drinks share a sweet mint core, but the Grasshopper is a heavy, creamy dessert drink while the Stinger is a dry, spirit-driven nightcap.

In common: mint-forward, sweet, after-dinner drink

Ingredients

Both share

White Crème de Menthe

Only in Stinger

Cognac

Only in Grasshopper

White Crème de Cacao, Light Cream

Swapping out the Cognac for cream and crème de cacao turns a strong, warming sip into a sweet, milky dessert.

Flavor

Shared flavors

dominant mint flavor, sweet profile

How Grasshopper differs

much creamier, lower alcohol, chocolate notes

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Brandy Alexander

The Alexander uses crème de cacao and cream instead of crème de menthe, trading the minty freshness for rich chocolate.

Match

The Alexander feels like a liquid candy bar with a soft mouthfeel, whereas the Stinger is leaner with a sharp, cool mint edge.

In common: brandy-based, sweet, after-dinner drink

Ingredients

Both share

Cognac

Only in Stinger

White Crème de Menthe

Only in Brandy Alexander

Dark Crème de Cacao, Light Cream

Replacing the mint liqueur with chocolate liqueur and adding dairy completely shifts the drink from a sharp, herbal sip to a velvety dessert.

Flavor

Shared flavors

brandy warmth, sweet finish

How Brandy Alexander differs

chocolate instead of mint, thick creamy body, softer alcohol bite

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

The Stinger emerged in the 1890s, likely at the Manhattan Club in New York. It started as a simple brandy and peppermint mixture before becoming a Prohibition-era staple, where the mint helped mask rough spirits.

Era: 1890s
IBA: The Unforgettables
Data version: IBA 2020 spec
Confidence

The IBA lists a 2:1 ratio, but older recipes often use 3:1 for a drier drink. Both are accepted.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

Use a decent Cognac or brandy; cheap brands clash with the mint.
Stir rather than shake to keep the texture silky and avoid dilution.
Chill the glass beforehand so the drink stays cold longer.
Adjust the ratio to 3:1 if you want less sweetness and more brandy heat.

Avoid

Common mistakes

Do not use green crème de menthe unless you want a muddy-looking drink.
Avoid shaking; it waters down the sweet liqueur too much.
Do not skip the ice when stirring; you need the chill and dilution.