Episode 8: Giffard Menthe Pastille

Episode 8 covers a classic, original liqueur that spawned countless generics and gave rise to a famous cocktail. It's 24% alcohol by volume, 48 proof. A product of France, made by a fourth generation family, its Giffard Menthe Pastille. A mint liqueur.

Episode 8 also delves into the Grasshopper cocktail, made possible by Giffard Menthe Pastille, though it's not an ingredient.

Enjoy this episode with Giffard Menthe Pastille on the rocks, or mix up a Grasshopper!

Giffard's official website (French): http://www.giffard.com/

Brief Historical Timeline:

1885 - Emile Giffard invents Menthe Pastille
1918 - Philip Guichet invents the Grasshopper cocktail using crème de menthe

Key Cocktail:

This episode devotes about half its length to discussions of the generic form of Menthe Pastille (crème de menthe) and the most famous cocktail using the green version, the Grasshopper.

Grasshopper (original basic recipe):

1.5 oz. Green crème de menthe
1.5 oz. white crème de cacao
1.5 oz. cream

Shake with ice, strain into a cocktail glass or flute.

Tujague's current recipe:

1 oz. white crème de cacao
½ oz. dark crème de cacao
½ oz. green crème de menthe
¼ oz. white crème de menthe
2½ oz. heavy whipping cream
⅛ oz. brandy

Shake all but the brandy with ice and strain into a flute. Float the brandy on top.

Additional recipes and variations including those that include ice cream popularized in the 1950s and 60s, can be found in this Eater article: A Brief History of the Grasshopper

References:

Difford's Guide: Giffard Menthe Pastille

US Importer: Back Bar Project, LLC

Tujague's Restaurant in New Orleans

Article on Flow Through Spittoons

Gray Line Original Cocktail Walking Tour of New Orleans

Contact Information:

Official show website is: www.liquorandliqueurconnoisseur.com

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