Mint cocktails run the gamut from light and refreshing, to bold and strong, to sweet and dessert-like. So regardless of what you're looking for, if you want the cool, refreshing flavor of cocktails with mint, you're sure to find one that hits the spot.
Classic Mint Cocktails
There are a number of classic mint alcoholic drinks that are in every bartender's repertoire. Try making these tasty classic cocktails with mint at home.
Mojito
The mojito may be the best known mint cocktail of all, and it's a super easy one to make. The cocktail requires you to muddle mint with a little sugar and lime before adding rum, ice, and soda. It's a light, fizzy, and delightful summer drink.
Ingredients
- 10 mint leaves, plus 1 mint sprig for garnish
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- 1 teaspoon superfine sugar
- 1½ ounces white rum
- Ice
- Club soda
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves, half of the lime wedges, and the sugar.
- Add the rum and ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into a collins glass filled with ice and the remaining two lime wedges.
- Top with the club soda and garnish with a mint sprig.
Variation Suggestions
- Replace the lime with lemon or grapefruit wedges.
- Add a few berries or another soft fruit to muddle with the mint and lime.
- Use a flavored seltzer in place of the club soda.
- Use a flavored rum, such as coconut or pineapple.
Mint Julep
The secret to a good mint julep is the ice. Use lots of finely crushed ice; it's kind of like a mint and bourbon snow cone in a frosted metal cup.
Ingredients
- 8 mint leaves plus a mint sprig for garnish
- 2 teaspoons superfine sugar
- 2½ ounces bourbon
- Crushed ice
Instructions
- In a julep cup, muddle the mint with the sugar.
- Add the bourbon and stir to dissolve the sugar.
- Fill the cup with ice.
- Stir until the outside of the cup begins to frost.
- Mound additional ice on the top.
- Garnish with a mint sprig.
Variation Ideas
- Use maple bourbon or brown sugar bourbon.
- Try a nonalcoholic mint julep.
Grasshopper
Named for the lovely green color this cocktail takes on, the grasshopper is a classic minty dessert drink.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce white crème de cacao
- 1 ounce green crème de menthe
- 2 ounces heavy cream
- Ice
- Chocolate shavings for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the crème de cacao, crème de menthe, and cream.
- Add ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into a martini glass.
- Garnish with chocolate shavings.
Stinger
While the combination of French brandy and crème de menthe may seem odd, it works in this classic cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce white crème de menthe
- 2 ounces Cognac or Armagnac
- Ice
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, combine the crème de menthe and brandy.
- Add ice and stir well to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
Variations
- Replace the Cognac or Armagnac with Calvados, which is an apple flavored brandy.
- Try another fruit flavored brandy in place of the Cognac or Armagnac.
- Try any of these stinger cocktail variations.
Hot Chocolate With Peppermint Schnapps
Try a classic hot chocolate cocktail made with peppermint schnapps; it's the perfect winter warmer.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce peppermint schnapps
- ½ ounce crème de cacao
- 6 ounces hot chocolate
- Whipped cream and peppermint stick for garnish
Instructions
- In a mug, combine the schnapps, crème de cacao, and hot chocolate. Stir.
- Garnish with the whipped cream and a peppermint stick.
Minty Cocktail Variations
Try these minty variations of classic cocktails for a refreshing change.
Orange Mint Mule
Fans of the Moscow mule can up their game by adding refreshing mint to orange juice and ginger beer for a flavorful cocktail. This serves one.
Ingredients
- 6 mint leaves plus a sprig for garnish
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1½ ounces vodka
- Ice
- Ginger beer
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves with the simple syrup.
- Add the lime juice, orange juice, and vodka.
- Add ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into a mule cup filled with ice.
- Top with ginger beer and stir.
- Garnish with a mint sprig.
Chocolate Mint Old Fashioned
The old fashioned is a classic cocktail designed to make whiskey shine. This version follows the classic "rules" for an old fashioned, but adds an interesting minty twist with chocolate whiskey and mint cocktail bitters.
Ingredients
- 1 sugar cube
- 2 dashes mint cocktail bitters
- 2 ounces chocolate whiskey or chocolate bourbon
- Ice cubes
- Splash of water
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, muddle the sugar cube with the bitters.
- Add the chocolate whiskey and ice cubes and stir.
- Top with a splash of water and garnish with a mint sprig.
Tasty Riffs on Classic Mint Cocktails
Classic mint cocktails get an upgrade with these yummy variations.
Peach and Brown Sugar Julep
With flavors of the south, this tasty julep is refreshing with mint but adds the flavors of peaches and brown sugar for a really delicious cocktail. It makes one cocktail.
Ingredients
- 10 mint leaves
- 2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
- ¼ peach, peeled, pitted, and chopped
- 2 ounces brown sugar bourbon
- Crushed ice
- Seltzer
- Lemon wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or julep cup, muddle the mint, brown sugar, and peaches.
- Add the bourbon and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add the crushed ice and fill with seltzer.
- Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Chocolate-Orange Grasshopper
Take this creamy cocktail to the next level with this fruity twist on the original.
Ingredients
- Orange wedge
- Chocolate shavings
- ½ ounce white crème de cacao
- 1 ounce green crème de menthe
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- 2 ounces heavy cream
- Ice
Instructions
- Run the orange wedge around the rim of a martini glass. Dip the rim of the glass in chocolate shavings.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the crème de cacao, crème de menthe, orange liqueur, and heavy cream.
- Add the ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into the prepared martini glass.
Refreshing Craft Mint Drinks
You won't find these drinks in a cocktail book, but they're a tasty way to enjoy a mint alcoholic drink.
Passion Coladito
This refreshing frozen tropical cocktail is a cross between a mojito and a piña colada - with a bit of passionfruit tossed in. A blender full serves three to four. For a fun tropical twist, serve it poolside in a hollowed out pineapple and add an umbrella.
Ingredients
- ½ pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into chunks
- 15 mint leaves
- ¾ ounce coconut rum
- 1 ounce coconut cream
- ¼ cup frozen passionfruit nectar concentrate
- 1 cup crushed ice
- Mint sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- In a blender, combine the pineapple, mint, rum, coconut cream, passionfruit nectar, and ice. Blend until smooth.
- Pour into a hurricane glass and garnish with mint.
MintChata Milkshake
RumChata is a great ingredient for cocktails because it's creamy and sweet. If you love mint milkshakes but want something a little stronger, then this is the perfect boozy minty dessert drink for you. It tastes a little like an adult shamrock shake.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce green crème de menthe
- 1 ounce white crème de cacao
- 2 ounces RumChata
- 2 scoops mint chocolate ice cream
- Whipped cream and chocolate shavings for garnish
Instructions
- In a blender, combine the crème de menthe, crème de cacao, RumChata, and ice cream. Blend until smooth.
- Pour into a pint glass and garnish with the whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
Lime-Mint Mocktail
Looking for a nonalcoholic take on a mojito? Try this simple, delicious mocktail that's light and flavorful.
Ingredients
- ½ lime, cut into wedges
- 2 teaspoons super fine sugar
- 10 mint leaves plus mint sprig for garnish
- Ice
- Club soda
Instructions
- In a collins glass, muddle the lime wedges and the mint leaves with the sugar.
- Add ice and club soda and stir.
- Garnish with a mint sprig.
Minty Goodness
Fresh mint is the perfect ingredient for refreshing summer cocktails like the eastside cocktail. Grow a little in a window box, container, or garden and make mint a flavorful ingredient to add to your favorite cocktails.
