Vodka Stinger

The Vodka Stinger is a spirit-forward cocktail made with vodka and Crème de Menthe. It’s variation of the classic Stringer cocktail made with brandy and Crème de Menthe.

Although it can made shaken or stirred, on this page, you’ll find the recipe for a shaken Vodka Stinger.

The Vodka Stinger tastes fresh, clean, spirit-forward and minty.

The Vodka Stinger, also known as The White Spider, is a variation of the classic brandy-based Stinger cocktail. The classic originated in New York City in the 1890s, made with brandy and white crème de menthe.

While the brandy-based Stinger was a popular drink in the early 20th century, the rise of clear spirits in the 1950s and 60s led to the creation of the Vodka Stinger, made with vodka and white crème de menthe.

By the 1960s, the Vodka Stinger had become a fashionable choice. The Stinger’s status as a high-society cocktail earned it mentions in several renowned novels in the 1950s and 1960s. 

• Chill your vodka
  We highly recommend putting your bottle of Absolut Vodka in the freezer for a few hours, or ideally overnight, before serving.

  Chilled vodka enhances its smoothness and crispness, delivering a clean taste. It also increases the vodka’s viscosity, creating a slightly thicker and more luxurious mouthfeel. This combined with the mint freshness of then crème de menthe results in an incredible drinking experience.

• Shaken not stirred
  Although the Vodka Stinger can be made as a stirred cocktail, we prefer it shaken with ice. Shaking a Vodka Stinger with ice rapidly chills the cocktail and blends the flavors more thoroughly. This method also leads to greater dilution, which can mellow the spirit-forwardness of the drink.
• Pre-chill your glassware
  Put your cocktail glass in the freezer for 30 minutes – 2 hours before making your drink. Sipping an perfectly chilled Vodka Stinger for a perfectly chilled cocktail results in a more enjoyable drink – it’s that simple.

• Stinger
  Without the original Stinger, the Vodka Stinger would not exist. Simply follow the recipe of this page but use brandy (cognac) and you’ve got the original Stinger.

• White Stinger
  Follow the recipe for a Vodka Stinger on this page, and then add 15 ml White Crème de Cacao. The result is the ultimate after-dinner drink with the taste of mint chocolate.

• Italian Stinger
  This twist on the original Stinger retains the brandy but omits the crème de menthe and replaces it with sweet, bright yellow Italian herbal liqueur for a truly unique variation. Check out the recipe for an Italian Stinger.
• International Stinger
  This variation follows the same recipe as the Italian Stinger but adds…wait for it…wasabi paste. The addition of wasabi sure adds a sting! Try it for yourself – discover the recipe for an International Stinger.

• We recommend serving the Vodka Stinger in a pre-chilled cocktail glass.
• Although our recipe for a Vodka Stinger does not contain a garnish, the most common and popular choice is to float a single mint leaf in the glass. If you really want to set off those mint aromas, opt for a sprig of mint instead.
• Another popular garnish choice for a Vodka Stinger is a coin of orange zest placed directly in the glass or on the rim of the glass. However, my personal favorite is a twist of orange zest.