It’s time to amp up your happy hour with a burst of minty freshness – and this Dark Mint Dream cocktail is the answer.
Lately, coffee cocktails are all I’ve been craving. When you want to kick off the night on the right foot, having that burst of caffeine in your system really helps to get you in the mood for some fun.
Any day, at just about any time, I’m all about getting my coffee fix. So, including it in a cocktail is pretty much the best of both worlds to me.
Lots of coffee cocktails are served hot, and that’s great when you want to warm up from the outside in when it’s chilly out there with a big mug full of strong hot coffee with dark rum. But this particular drink offers something a bit more refreshing.
Instead of serving it piping hot, we have a roundup of refreshing cold coffee cocktails, which includes this option!
This chilled beverage is a delightful way to wet your whistle with at the end of a long day, or on a lazy weekend afternoon.
It all starts with a mint simple syrup that is both sweet and fresh. As the name of this recipe suggests, it’s all about getting as much of that minty flavor into each sip as possible.
And that’s not all – the mintiness of this drink is doubled when you add muddled fresh herbs, for a pow of brightness right on the good old flavor palate!
Trust me when I say that you really need the extra mint in this recipe, to balance out the other flavors. Espresso and cream are also in the glass, making it rich and indulgent.
When you combine these two ingredients, it feels like you are sipping on an iced latte, but with a lot more going on than simple coffee flavor alone.
The white rum is the ideal spirit to pair with all of these flavors, because it doesn’t overpower them. Acting as a subtle compliment instead, you get a strong drink without an overly boozy element.
This is all topped off with a good dash of club soda for a little extra bubbly sparkle. It’s just the right ingredient to add to cut the richness without watering the whole thing down too much.
With a garnish of sweet whipped cream and fresh sprig of mint, this is a cocktail that you will want to make again and again. Like a mojito without the lime, you’ll love the delicious mix of flavors in this homemade adult beverage.
Planning a happy hour for two? You can make two servings of this drink in the same shaker.
Simply double the ingredients and divide the cocktail between two glasses. Top each with an ounce of the club soda, and you are good to go.
There’s not enough liquid that you need to worry about filling up the entire shaker, so you are safe to make it in double batches and shake to your heart’s content.
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Dark Mint Dream Cocktail
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
Description
After the first sip of this Dark Mint Dream cocktail, you will be hooked. It’s an easy, fresh way to add some pop to your happy hour.
Ingredients
For the Simple Syrup:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 5 large mint leaves
For the Cocktail:
- 4 large mint leaves, plus a sprig for garnish
- 1 1/2 fl oz white rum
- 1 fl oz espresso
- 1 fl oz heavy cream
- 3/4 fl oz mint simple syrup
- 1 fl oz club soda
- Whipped cream, for garnish
Instructions
To Make the Simple Syrup:
- In a small saucepan, combine ingredients for the simple syrup over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil.
- Once the sugar has dissolved, remove from heat and cover. Let steep for 20 minutes, then remove and discard mint leaves. Cool completely before using in the cocktail.
To Make the Cocktail:
- In a cocktail shaker, add mint leaves and muddle.
- Add rum, espresso, cream, and simple syrup.
- Fill the shaker with ice and shake well.
- Pour without straining into a cocktail glass filled with ice. Top with club soda.
- Garnish with whipped cream and a sprig of mint.
Notes
Nutritional info includes calorie counts for one serving of flavored simple syrup, not the whole batch. Leftover simple syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 week to 10 days.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Cocktails
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Beverages
Keywords: cocktail, coffee cocktail, espresso, mint
Cooking By the Numbers…
Step 1 – Make Simple Syrup
Measure ingredients for the mint simple syrup. Add all ingredients to a small saucepan and place over medium-high heat.
Bring the mixture to a boil, and then remove from heat once the sugar is completely dissolved. Cover and let steep for 20 minutes.
Remove mint leaves and allow to cool to room temperature. Transfer to a container for storage, and keep in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it.
This syrup can be made ahead, and stored for up to 10 days. Flavored syrups are a great cocktail component to have on hand for future drinks. If you don’t use it all to make this recipe, it’s excellent in other coffee beverages as well!
Step 2 – Measure Ingredients
Measure all of the remaining ingredients as listed in the ingredients list.
Step 3 – Make Cocktail
Add mint leaves to a cocktail shaker, an essential tool for your home bar! Muddle the leaves.
Add the rum, espresso, cream, and 3/4 fluid ounces mint simple syrup to the shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well.
Fill a highball or another large glass of your choice with ice. Pour the prepared beverage into the glass without straining. Finish by topping with club soda.
Garnish with whipped cream and a mint sprig.
What Can I Serve with This Cocktail?
I love to host happy hour at my house. Each time I do, I always change up the cocktail and appetizer combination.
This cocktail is such a simple one to make, and to scale up for a party, so it’s an ideal recipe for your next gathering. The syrup recipe makes enough for 10 full cocktails.
To make a large batch, simply multiply the recipe by 10. Muddle the mint leaves in a pitcher, then top with rum, espresso, cream, and simple syrup. Stir to combine and serve over ice, topping each glass with club soda just before serving.
Here are some of the appetizers I recommend pairing with this creamy adult beverage:
- Cauliflower Buffalo Wings with Lime are a spicy vegetarian bite that perfectly counters the rich and cooling flavors in the cocktail. The dairy in the drinks provides a nice way to smooth out the spice that dances along your tongue.
- Crispy Zucchini Fries make a crunchy pairing that is light enough that they won’t fill you up before dinner, or keep you from dancing the night away, if that’s your jam.
- Smoky and Spicy Roasted Chickpeas are the snack that you’ll never get sick of. The heat and crunch are just the right complement to the sweet, earthy, creamy, and herbal notes in this drink.
For even more chilled coffee cocktails, check out our round up here. You’ll love all these perk-me-up concoctions, like my personal favorite: espresso martinis!
Which appetizer would you try with a dark mint dream first? Tell us in the comments below, and be sure to rate the recipe as well.
Photos by Meghan Yager, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Originally published by Mike Quinn on July 3, 2015. Last updated: February 29, 2024 at 18:56 pm.
Nutritional information derived from a database of known generic and branded foods and ingredients and was not compiled by a registered dietitian or submitted for lab testing. It should be viewed as an approximation.
About Meghan Yager
Meghan Yager is a food addict turned food and travel writer with a love for creating uncomplicated, gourmet recipes and devouring anything the world serves up. As the author of the food and travel blog Cake 'n Knife, Meghan focuses on unique foodie experiences from around the world to right at home in your own kitchen.
Where is the chocolate?
Forgot to say that the post is too wordy and repetitive. Same pictures over and over, too much to read to get to the point. I just started skimming to get to the recipe which seemed to be incomplete-no chocolate!
Sorry you aren’t a fan of our format, Rima. Sounds like you didn’t read the article or the recipe – this is a coffee cocktail, flavored with mint. It does not contain chocolate.