The Grasshopper Cocktail is a sweet, minty, chocolatey, and creamy adult drink. This is colorful and has a ton of flavor, to match. If you are looking for a fun, green drink that might be just as close to a dessert as a cocktail, the Grasshopper is for you. Give this drink a try today!

Grasshopper drink an a coupe glass with a mint leaf and white chocolate garnishing the cocktail.

Grasshopper Summary

This is a simple drink. Just put some clear Crème de Cacao, dark Crème de Menthe, and some heavy cream into a cocktail shaker with ice. Give that combination a good shake and pour into a coupe glass, cocktail glass, or martini glass. Maybe you garnish it with a little mint, chocolate, or even both!

A carton of heavy whipping cream, Creme De Cacao, and Creme De Menthe on a table. — These are the ingredients for this cocktails.

Creme Liquors

We use two different Crème liquors in this drink. Each could really be drunk on their own, but work really well as a combination.

Crème de Cacao

This is a chocolate-flavored liquor that has been around as far back as the 1600s. There are a few different versions of this cocktail, however. It comes in a dark variety and a light variety. For this drink, use the light stuff, as it will help give it a better grasshopper green color.

Crème de Menthe

This liquor has been around for a very long time and has a French origin. While this is the younger of the two liquors (late 1800s), it also tastes great alone. Combine it with the rest of this cocktail’s ingredients, however, and we have something really special.

What Kind of Dairy To Use

I call for heavy whipping cream, because I don’t skimp when it comes to cream. The reality is, however, you can use what you have. If you only have 2%, use that. Whole milk? Use that. Skim? Well, we might start some fighting words, but you could use that. Use heavy whipping cream for the best cocktail.

History of the Grasshopper Cocktail

As we already noted, Crème de Cacao has a long history and Crème de Menthe goes back to the late 1800s. The Grasshopper Cocktail, however, has a New Orleans origin from around 1918. Actually, the legend is that it was a New Orleans bar owner, Philip Guichet, who entered into a cocktail contest in New York City. The result ended up being the Grasshopper Cocktail.

The restaurant and bar in question is still in business and can be visited today. Philip Guichet was the proprietor of Tujague’s. They have a history that goes back over 160 years. What a history, right? Well, one piece of their legacy is claiming the Grasshopper Cocktail as their creation.

I tried a search of general media to see if I could better corroborate that history, but I could only find a printed record of the Grasshopper going back to a 1950 Town and Country magazine. In the 50s and 60s, this drink gained quite a bit of popularity and I understand why. It is delicious.

We are no stranger to New Orleans drinks (check out our Sazerac recipe) or dishes (check out our Baked Shrimp Po' Boy recipe), and now the Grasshopper cocktail is part of our knowledge!

Grasshopper Cocktail Tips

Use light Creme de cocoa to get the best color.
I use a coupe glass, but you can use a rocks glass or a martini glass if it works better for you
A little chocolate goes great with this.

Overhead image of a grasshopper cocktail in a coupe glass with a measuring jigger off to the side.

Products Used In This Recipe

Did You Make This Cocktail?

Thank you so much for giving it a try and I hope you love it as much as we do! If you do like it, please leave a comment and rating in the comment area below. This helps promote this recipe and it also lets me how I am doing. Of course, we would love for you to share this on Pinterest and Facebook. Mostly, however, thank you so much for visiting Ramshackle Pantry and I hope you stick around!