This is it, this is the one I’ve been waiting for. I’ve been preaching that it’s time for Schnapps to make a splash in the USA and Berentzen Icemint is surely ready to lead the way. Get excited!

As I’ve mentioned before, the extremely kind people at Berentzen USA sent me this fabulous bottle of supermint Schnapps. And oh my god, it’s just sensational! So clean, so smooth, so powerful and so decadent. Icemint is wonderfully and simply Mint: Peppermint, Spearmint, Minty, Mint, Mint. At 100 proof, it’s also ready to knock you out of the park!

I’ve been waiting for the right moment to post about Icemint because I think Americans have the wrong idea about Schnapps. Say the words “Mint Schnapps” to any New Yorker under the age of 35 and they picture grandma’s old liquor cabinet filled with strange bottles that no one has heard of. They also probably got teenage drunk from said bottles and had a righteous hangover. Well, this is NOT that. This is the future and this future is delicious.

I’ve also been waiting to find the right glassware: 1 oz Cordial glasses. 🙂

That’s right, with this delicious Icemint Schnapps comes le Pousse-Café. “Qu’est-ce que c’est un Pousse-Café?”, you may ask? It’s a layered drink which was originally introduced as a digestif in late 19th C. Paris. There are a couple of things to consider with Pousse-Café drinks: the amount of alcohol in the Liqueurs being used, the viscosity and specific gravity (chart) of those Liqueurs. You may have to try a couple of times til you get the layering to work properly.

You also need to use speed pourers, a Pousse-Café spoon or a container with a small opening through which to pour the liquids. Making Pousse-Cafe drinks is about control, patience and creativity. I’m just going to give the ingredients, not the measurements because I’m hoping to encourage y’all to experiment as you please.

Here we go:

Alpine Reward – Crème de Violette + Chartreuse Jaune + Berentzen Icemint Schnapps

Après-Ski No 1 -Berentzen Icemint Schnapps + Santa Maria al Monte Amaro
Après-Ski No 2 -Berentzen Icemint Schnapps + Santa Maria al Monte Amaro + Fernet Branca Amaro

Bitter Chill – Campari + Berentzen Icemint Schnapps

Continental Dessert – Berentzen Icemint Schnapps + Scrappy’s Chocolate Bitters (only slightly layered)

Mrs Klaus Needs a Shot – Raspberry Liqueur + Berentzen Icemint + Pernod Pastis + Chartreuse Vert

Suisse Salvation – Luxardo Maraschino Cherry Liqueur + Campari + Berentzen Icemint

Now for the Cocktails:

Mrs Klaus needs a drink.

As we’re nearing Xmas, I could not get the idea out of my head that Santa’s Wife, the long-suffering Mrs Klaus, must drink a LOT of Icemint Schnapps to help her through the Holidaze. If your husband is bascially a loafer for most of the year then suddenly jumps into a flurry of activity every December, you’d drink a lot too! You probably noticed the Mrs Klaus Needs a Shot Pousse-Café just above. Here are three more drinks just for her! Get it Lady Klaus! No one will stop you now!

Mrs Klaus usually has a cooler at the end of every day. She works hard, she deals with a lot of crap from the elves and those gingerbread cookies aren’t going to bake themselves.

Mrs Klaus Needs A Cooler

• 1 1/4 oz Raspberry Liqueur
• 1 oz Plymouth Gin
• 1/2 oz Berentzen Icemint Schnapps
• 2 barspoons Grenadine
• 2 dashes Scrappy’s Grapefruit Bitters
• Maraschino Cherry
• Club Soda

Combine ingredients over ice and stir. Strain into Collins glass over ice. Top with Club Soda and Garnish with Maraschino Cherry.

On some particularly annoying evenings, when Mrs Klaus just can’t take Santa’s ridiculous shenanigans any more, she has a stiff drink.

Mrs Klaus Needs A Stiff Drink

• 2 oz Brugal Extra Dry Rum
• 1/2 oz Cacao infused Campari
• 1/4 oz Berentzen Icemint Schnapps
• 1/4 oz Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
• Shaved Dark Chocolate

Combine ingredients over ice and stir. Strain into Coupe, shave Dark Chocolate on top.

Mhmm, you know Mrs Klaus can’t get through all this madness alone. She def has a man on the side and this is def what he drinks.

Mrs Klaus’ Boyfriend

• 1 1/2 oz Flor de Caña 7 Year Rum
• 3/4 oz Chartreuse Jaune
• 1/2 oz Averna Amaro
• Berentzen Icemint Schnapps Rinse
• Maraschino Cherry

Rinse a rocks glass with Icemint and chill. Combine Rum, Chartreuse Jaune and Averna over ice and stir. Strain into rocks glass over ice. Garnish with Cherry.

Thanks again to Berentzen for letting me experiment with all of these wonderful products! I’ve had so much fun and hopefully so have you!