Classic cocktail · Guided recipe

Vodka Stinger

Swap the cognac out of a Stinger and you lose the fruit but keep the cold. Two parts vodka to one of crème de menthe, no citrus, nothing to hide behind. It belongs at the end of an evening rather than the start of one.

Preparation~2 minEasyStrengthStrongabout 35% ABVMethodShaken7 guided stepsIngredients2Short (rocks) glass

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In the glassVodka · Crème de menthe

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Make it with guidanceOne clear action at a time, with timers built in.

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What goes in

Ingredients

An empty clear rocks glass with low straight sides and a heavy base. — Serving glassRocks glass

Set up before you pour

Use a rocks glass.

The low, sturdy bowl suits concentrated drinks and gives one large cube enough width.

Standard size: 300 ml10¼ oz
Ice & serve: Fill it with fresh ice cubes.
If you don’t own one: Use a small water tumbler with a heavy base.

Tools to set out

cocktail shaker
strainer (or a small sieve)
jigger or measuring spoon

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Scale to your short (rocks) glassWe’ll remember this glass size.

Vodka45 ml
Crème de menthe22 ml

Start making

From bottle to glass

Method

01
Measure into the shaker
Pour 45 ml vodka into your shaker
- Vodka
02
Measure into the shaker
Add 22 ml crème de menthe
- Crème de menthe
03
Ice the shaker
Fill the shaker with ice
Why it mattersFill it right up — more ice chills faster with less watering down.
04
Seal and shake
Seal and shake hard
Why it mattersCold hands mean it’s working. Shake until the tin frosts over.
05
Ice the glass
Fill your glass with fresh ice
06
Strain cleanly
Strain into your glass
Why it mattersPour through the strainer so the spent shaker ice stays behind.
07
Finish the drink
Finish it — add a sprig of mint
Why it mattersSlap the mint between your palms before planting it — that little hit releases the oils, and the smell is half the drink.

Know your drink

About the Vodka Stinger

A copper mug, Espresso Martini and clear vodka highball against evening city lights.

Mint after the meal

Most houses bottle crème de menthe twice, once clear and once dyed green, from the same base: peppermint oil, sugar, neutral spirit, nothing more. That plainness is why the Stinger family survived as a digestif long after other cream-era drinks fell out of fashion. Menthol genuinely does settle a heavy meal, and the vodka version strips away anything that might argue with it.

Common questions

Vodka Stinger FAQ

Is a mid-shelf vodka good enough?

Yes, and an expensive one is wasted. Crème de menthe lays mint and sugar over everything, so what you want from the vodka is the absence of a burn rather than any character of its own. A clean mid-price bottle beats a rough cheap one; past that it disappears into the mint.

Is peppermint schnapps close enough?

It gets you a minty drink, but a blunter one. Crème de menthe is a sugared liqueur with real weight to it, while most peppermint schnapps is built for shots: hotter, thinner and less viscous. The texture is what you lose, and this drink is mostly texture.

Why does mine taste like toothpaste?

Usually too much mint and not enough chill. At 45 ml vodka to 22 ml liqueur you're already near the limit. Push the mint past a third of the drink and it tips into dentist territory. Served genuinely cold, that same mint reads as cooling instead.

Does it need ice in the glass, or should it go up?

Over cubes, with the mint sprig. Served up, the sweetness has nowhere to go and the drink gets cloying by the third sip. The slow melt keeps thinning it as you work down the glass, which is exactly what a two-ingredient liqueur drink wants.

What ingredients are in a Vodka Stinger?

A classic Vodka Stinger calls for 45 ml (1.5 oz) Vodka, 22 ml (0.75 oz) Crème de menthe. That single-serve spec scales cleanly — the recipe above converts it to oz and multiplies it for 2–4 drinks.

How strong is a Vodka Stinger?

A standard Vodka Stinger is roughly 35% ABV once mixed (before ice melt softens it further). That makes it spirit-forward — closer to a Martini than to a beer, so sip it slowly.

Is a Vodka Stinger shaken or stirred?

A Vodka Stinger is shaken. About 13 seconds with plenty of ice chills and dilutes it correctly.

Sharpen the technique