Frappe
Alcoholic cocktail
Category : Alcoolisé
Origin : États-Unis
Ingredients of the Frappe cocktail
Preparation of the Frappe cocktail
Pour the cream over the ice in the glass.
History of the Frappe cocktail
The Frappé belongs to the American tradition of refreshing drinks served very cold, at a time when the use of crushed ice became a marker of modernity and hedonistic pleasure in bars. Its exact origin remains unclear, but its roots in the United States evoke the cocktail culture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when American establishments multiplied preparations based on liqueurs, syrups, and frosted finishes to appeal to a public in search of freshness and spectacle.
What defines the Frappé above all is the presence of crème de menthe, a highly expressive liqueur that combines sweetness, aromatic intensity, and an icy sensation. This combination makes it a strongly distinctive cocktail, closer to a treat or a digestif than to a complex blend. Crushed ice is not just a technical detail: it is fully part of the Frappé’s identity, reinforcing the sharp chill and highlighting the refreshing, almost indulgent character of the crème de menthe.
In the American cultural context, the Frappé belongs to those simple drinks that rely on a clear contrast between sweetness, freshness, and alcohol. It reflects a period when serving cold drinks became a social language in its own right in mixology, and when the aesthetics of the glass mattered as much as the taste. Its elegance lies precisely in this restraint: few ingredients, but an immediately recognizable personality.