Entertaining

The 7 Best Cocktails to Make with Chartreuse

One of the most underrated drinks in the entire classic cocktail canon, the Last Word is a master class on blending different flavor profiles—and it couldn’t be easier to make. The equal-parts libation mixes botanical gin, green Chartreuse, sweet maraschino liqueur and fresh lime juice. It’s at once refreshing, rich and tart, like drinkable Key Lime Pie.

Martini lovers looking to change up their go-to order would be wise to sample a Bijou, which fittingly translates to “jewel” in French. A heavy pour of gin gets stirred with green Chartreuse, sweet vermouth and two dashes of orange bitters for a drink that’s appealingly dry with just a hint of herbal sweetness.

The differences between green and yellow Chartreuse don’t stop at the color; the amber offering is less boozy, sweeter and more honeyed, with notes of anisette and saffron (which gives the liqueur its coloring). The milder Chartreuse is a perfect ingredient to use in light spritzers, like this riff on a Tom Collins. Created by Jackson Cannon of The Hawthorne in Boston, the Phil Collins mixes cucumber vodka with yellow Chartreuse, lime and a dash of cranberry bitters. It’s then topped with light, bubbly soda water to make it extra drinkable and refreshing.

This classic cocktail is as elegant as the famous Parisian thoroughfare for which it is named. It’s made with brandy, green Chartreuse, a dash of Angostura bitters, rich simple syrup for sweetness, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to give it a bright finish.

Put down the pumpkin spice latté and pick up a coupeful of this underrated fall cocktail instead. Spicy rye whiskey, fruity apple brandy (use a strong one) and green Chartreuse create an all-booze tipple that’s more potent than its warm, inviting taste lets on. To temper some of the flavor and ABV, try using softer yellow Chartreuse in place of green.

While the Old Fashioned is often imbibed as a cozy nitecap to round out the evening, this version tastes like a breath of fresh air that will invigorate and awaken your palate. Created by Joaquín Simó of NYC’s Pouring Ribbons, the Irish-inspired cocktail uses Irish whiskey (naturally), along with green Chartreuse, Dolin Génépy des Alpes, fresh mint and a rich honey syrup to offset the pungent liqueurs.

In the French Alps, you’ll find locals and tourists alike spiking hot chocolate with a hit of green Chartreuse after a long day on the slopes. This indulgent cocktail follows that French tradition, but we threw in some whimsical touches—like a splash of peppermint schnapps, a candy cane and a heaping handful of fluffy marshmallows for garnish.