20 best White crème de menthe cocktails

Words by Simon Difford

Photography by Dan Malpass

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Mint = fresh and delicious. Think mojitos, juleps, mint candy, chewing gum and even toothpaste. Lurid green crème de menthe has put some folk off the category but not all crème de menthes are green. So when using mint consider adding a splash of clear "white" crème de menthe to amplify the flavour, or use to add a burst of freshness to a cocktail, such as in the following recipes.

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Alpine Negroni
With: Dry gin, gentian liqueur, Americano bianco, genepi, white crème de menthe, lemon bitters, and saline solution.
We say: A complex riff on the White Negroini.

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American Beauty (by David Embury)
With: Cognac, extra dry vermouth, white crème de menthe, orange juice, grenadine syrup, and red wine.
We say: Both fresh and refreshing. A subtle hint of peppermint gives zing to this brandy-based cocktail.

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The Angel Wore Red
With: Vermouth, Campari, white crème de menthe and lager beer.
We say: A most unusual combination of classic Italian red bitter liqueur, bianco vermouth, crème de menthe and lager combine brilliantly in this refreshing aperitif.

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The Astor
With: Dry gin, sloe gin, white crème de menthe, and lime juice.
We say: Gin-laced rich berry fruit freshened with lime and mint.

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Cherry Springer
With: Sour cherry gin, white crème de menthe, cherry brandy, lemon juice, and chocolate bitters.
We say: A great pun and 1/3oz white crème de menthe.

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Circus Circus
With: Ambrato dry vermouth, amaro, rye whiskey, and white crème de menthe.
We say: A cleansing and delicately minty, bittersweet digestivo.

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Delmarva Cocktail No.1
With: Bourbon, vermouth, white crème de menthe and lemon juice.
We say: A minty fresh, dry, whiskey-based palate cleanser.

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Dixie Dew
With: Bourbon, white crème de menthe, and triple sec.
We say: A peppermint fresh, bourbon-laced cocktail.

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Efficacious
With: Dry gin, ferro china, rosso vermouth, Green Chartreuse, white crème de menthe, aromatic bitters, and tonic water.
We say: To be taken once a day for an efficacious effect.

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Envy Smith
With: Dry gin, white crème de menthe, green apple syrup, apple juice, and egg white.
We say: One of the few great contemporary cocktails using crème de menthe.

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Fresh Martini
With: Dry gin, mastiha liqueur, white crème de menthe, vermouth and peppermint bitters.
We say: Mastiha and white crème de menthe, both renowned for their digestive properties, make this the perfect digestif Martini.

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Fresh White Lady
With: Dry gin, triple sec, mastiha liqueur, white crème de menthe, lemon juice, sugar syrup, peppermint bitters, and egg white.
We say: Mastiha and peppermint add freshness to a White Lady.

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Ice in the Hat
With: Dry gin, Becherovka liqueur, bianco vermouth, and white crème de menthe.
We say: A delightfully refreshing and cleansing digestif.

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Mai Tai (Difford's recipe)
With: Rum, pineapple rum, orange curacao liqueur, lime juice, almond syrup, amaretto, falernum, white crème de menthe and absinthe.
We say: I love Daiquiris and this is basically a classic Daiquiri with a few bells and whistles: Orange curacao, lime juice, almond syrup, amaretto, falernum, white crème de menthe and absinthe.

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Mint Cocktail
With: Dry gin, white wine, white crème de menthe, sugar syrup and mint leaves.
We say: A great grassy, minty digestif with a good balance between acidity and sweetness.

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Minty Pentones
With: Dry gin, cranberry juice, white crème de menthe, mastiha liqueur and peppermint bitters.
We say: Gin's botanical complexity combined with minty and mastiha freshness and a pink hint of cranberry fruitiness makes for a cleansing after dinner digestif.

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Minty White Lady
With: Dry gin, triple sec, white crème de menthe, lemon juice, peppermint bitters, egg white.
We say: White crème de menthe and peppermint bitters bring minty freshness to this lady in white.

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Prince Henry
With: Dry gin, rosso vermouth, white crème de menthe, and orange bitters.
We say: A Fifty-Fifty Dry Martini freshened with a splash of crème de menthe.

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Stinger
With: Cognac and white crème de menthe.
We say: Classically shaken and served straight-up but a more refreshing digestif when served over crushed ice.

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Vodka Stinger
With: Vodka, and white crème de menthe.
We say: A vodka-based version of the classic brand-based Stinger.

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