Stinger is an alcoholic cocktail with a strength of about 30% vol. with a distinct mint smell and taste, as well as tones of oak aging. Traditionally served in martini glasses. Refers to digestives (alcohol after meals) and cocktails for the coming sleep (nightcap), but at the same time relieves hangovers well. It is considered the best manifestation of the bar classic: sophisticated, austere and refined.
Historical information
The author of the Stinger cocktail is not known for sure. According to one version, the drink was invented at the beginning of the 1th century by JC O’Connor, the owner of a gentlemen’s cafe in San Francisco. He mixed brandy with mint liqueur in a ratio of 4: 1917 and served in a sherry glass. Another version attributes Stinger’s authorship to New York bartender Tom Bullock, who published the cocktail recipe in his book The Ideal Bartender in XNUMX. According to the third version, the Stinger cocktail was invented by the Vanderbilts, one of the richest and most influential families in the USA in the XNUMXth-XNUMXth centuries.
Translated from English “stinger” is a sting, but in the jargon this word can mean a sharp blow and even strong alcoholic intoxication. The exact meaning of the cocktail’s name is unknown.
In the 1950s, Stinger was considered a symbol of New York City nightlife and was popular with the glamorous hangouts of the wealthy. The drink has appeared in films more than once: High Society (1956), Kiss Them For Me (1957), The Apartment (1960) and in the TV series Mad Men (2007-2015). In High Society (1956), the protagonist invites his girlfriend to drink a portion of Stinger to cure her hangover, because he “pulls the sting out of his head.”
In the 1970s, Stinger’s popularity began to decline – sophisticated glamor parties began to go out of fashion, as well as the drinks that were associated with them, the public demanded something simpler. Despite this, the Stinger cocktail received a place in the official codification of the International Bartenders Association (IBA) in the Unforgettables category.
Stinger cocktail recipe
Composition and proportions:
- clear mint liqueur – 20 ml;
- cognac or brandy – 70 ml;
- ice cubes – 100 g;
- mint leaf – for decoration (optional).
Classic Stinger is prepared with clear mint liqueur, if you take green liqueur, you get the Green Hornet cocktail. Both drinks taste almost identical, but differ significantly in color – the green liqueur completely interrupts the cognac shade. Any high-quality cognac or grape brandy aged 4-7 years is suitable as an alcoholic base.
The taste of Stinger is close to the Grasshopper cocktail, but without hints of cream and chocolate.
Preparation
1. Mix cognac and mint liqueur in a shaker with ice.
2. Pour the mixture through a strainer (bar strainer) into a pre-chilled serving glass.
3. Garnish with a mint leaf if desired. Serve without a straw.
