Whether you were gifted a bottle of neon booze, bought it for one cocktail recipe five years ago, or have been staring at it curiously on the liquor store shelf, we’re here to tell you what the heck to do with that mysterious bottle of Chartreuse. First, a little backstory: The French liqueur has been made by Carthusian monks since 1737, according to instructions given to them in 1605, and it’s comprised of a top secret blend of 130 herbs and flowers. It comes in two varieties—green and yellow—and gives cocktails a strong hit of herbaceousness, even when used sparingly. Instead of sipping it straight, familiarize yourself with the liqueur’s bold flavor by mixing it into one of these seven amazing Chartreuse cocktails.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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