Cocktail & Other Recipes By Spirit Scotch Cocktails

Mint Green Old Fashioned

By
Kara Newman
Kara Newman
Kara Newman
Kara Newman is an award-winning writer, book author and cocktail expert with more than a decade of experience in the drinks-writing world.
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Published 03/5/21
Mint Green Old Fashioned

Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

This new-fangled Old Fashioned is bright green, and it’s ideal for sipping around St. Patrick’s Day. It was developed by iconic bartender Dale DeGroff for a cocktail-pairing dinner hosted by NYC’s Wine and Food Society at Keens Steakhouse in 2016.

In addition to libations to accompany each course, DeGroff surprised participants by offering a choice of three cocktails with the main course, depending on what each person had ordered. A crisp Martini variation to pair with the fish entrée; a classic Old Fashioned for a steak filet; and for those lucky enough to have ordered Keens’ famous lamb, a startling but delicious mint-green Old Fashioned.

The delectable housemade mint jelly served alongside the lamb inspired the drink, says DeGroff. In the end, the whiskey cocktail was made with mint three ways—mint jelly, mint syrup (for color) and, of course, fresh mint in the glass—plus an extra sprig of mint to garnish the finished drink.

Ingredients

  • 1 Bordeaux maraschino cherry

  • 1 mint sprig

  • 1/4 ounce Monin mint syrup

  • 1/4 orange wheel

  • 1/2 teaspoon mint jelly*

  • 1 dash Angostura bitters

  • 1 dash Fee Brothers mint bitters

  • 2 ounces Dewar’s 12-year-old scotch

  • Garnish: mint sprig

Steps

  1. Add the cherry, mint sprig, mint syrup, orange wheel, mint jelly, Angostura bitters and mint bitters into a mixing glass with a splash of water and muddle, carefully crushing into a paste-like consistency.

  2. Remove the spent fruit husks and crushed leaves and stems, but keep the flavored paste in the mixing glass.

  3. Add the scotch and ice, and stir until well-chilled.

  4. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.

  5. Garnish with a mint sprig.

*Mint jelly: DeGroff used a house-made mint jelly from Keens, but you can make your own or use a good commercial brand.