Where to find grasshopper cocktails in Atlanta

The grasshopper was created in 1918 by Phillip Guichet for Tujague’s, the second oldest restaurant in New Orleans. Since then, its minty and chocolate charm has been on the menu.

Here are some metro Atlanta bars offering their versions of the grasshopper:

Credit: Courtesy of Caitlin Crawford

Credit: Courtesy of Caitlin Crawford

Dead end drinks. Here, Andy Minchow’s grasshopper relies as much on mint and cocoa as on the color green. It blends green crème de menthe, crème and Giffard clear crème de cacao, made from the distillate of West African cocoa beans in the Loire Valley of France. It’s sweet, minty and the perfect liquid dessert for relaxing on the patio.

130 Arizona Avenue, Atlanta. 678-974-8380, rationanddram.com

Credit: Courtesy of Rocket Farm Restaurants

Credit: Courtesy of Rocket Farm Restaurants

White Bass. When selecting cocktails to include on Bar Blanc’s menu, Beverage Manager Allison Lovelace wanted to focus on reviving classic cocktails that could provide the perfect end to an evening while still winking look to the past. His version of grasshopper includes the usual ingredients, plus Bordiga Centum Herbis and Good vodka. These two ingredients balance out some of the sweetness of the cocktail and add an extra layer of depth.

1198 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta. 404-355-2252, barblancatl.com

The reading room. The bartenders here offer a modern version of the grasshopper. Aniseed absinthe and mint are cocktail best friends and both pair wonderfully with chocolate. The Reading Room Grasshopper includes the usual crème de menthe and crème de cacao, but adds ice cream, along with absinthe and fernet, giving a bit of herbal bitterness that counteracts the sweetness, while keeping all the green fun.

429 Church Street, Decatur. 404-855-5653, thereadingroomatl.com

Credit: Courtesy of Lingering Shade Social Club

Credit: Courtesy of Lingering Shade Social Club

Lingering Shadow Social Club. This bar goes into dessert mode with its presentation of grasshoppers. In a towering coupe glass, the thick pastel blend of crème de menthe, crème de cocoa and Haagen-Däzs vanilla ice cream is thick enough to eat with a spoon. It’s absolutely perfect for lingering in the shade overlooking the Beltline’s Eastside Trail.

660 Irwin Street NE, Atlanta. 404-996-6069, persistentshade.com

Credit: Courtesy of The Select

Credit: Courtesy of The Select

Select it. This Girl Scout Cookie cocktail, which tastes like thin mint, is grasshopper without the green. Bartenders use transparent Crème de Menthe for an elegant look. The addition of Italian Frangelico liqueur adds nutty and herbal notes. The brown liquor also takes this cocktail from more grasshopper green to cicada brown.

6405 Blue Stone Road, Sandy Springs. 770-637-2240, theselectatl.com.

There’s no classic cocktail dedicated to the cicada, but if you choose to shake one up, bourbon is the logical spirit. In a shaker filled with ice, add 2 ounces bourbon, 1 ounce creme de cacao and shake for about 30 seconds, until well mixed and chilled. Strain into a glass filled with ice. Add a sprig of mint for decoration.

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