The Stinger originated about 1890. The cocktail may have been derived from The Judge, a cocktail made with brandy, crème de menthe, and simple syrup found in William Schmidt's 1892 cocktail book "The Flowing Bowl". It was immediately popular in New York City, and quickly became known as a "society" drink (i.e. only for the upper classes). According to bartender Jere Sullivan in his 1930 volume "The Drinks of Yesteryear: A Mixology", the Stinger remained a critical component of the bartender's repertoire until Prohibition.