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Cocktail History
The Chartreuse Swizzle is a modern cocktail that was created in 2002 by Marco Dionysos at Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco, California. It uses the classic Swizzle template that calls for a spirit and fruit juice built in a glass filled with crushed ice using a swizzle stick, but this version uses Green Chartreuse as the base and pairs it with fruity pineapple, citrus, and velvet falernum for a tropical yet herbal twist.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Green Chartreuse: This is a liqueur made in France with over a hundred herbs and plants, spices, sugar, and alcohol. For a mocktail version of this drink, try winter herb syrup in place of the Green Chartreuse.
Pineapple Juice: This is the liquid juice of a pineapple. We used freshly squeezed pineapple juice.
Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. We used freshly squeezed lime juice.
Velvet Falernum Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with ginger, lime, almond, cloves, sugar, and alcohol. For a mocktail version of this drink, try BG Reynolds Falernum Bar Syrup in place of the velvet falernum liqueur.
Pineapple Fronds: This the leaf of a pineapple.
Pineapple Wedge: This is pineapple flesh that has been cut into a wedge shape.
Lime Slice: This is a slice of lime that has been cut into a half wheel shape.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut citrus into slices or wheels. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Chef’s Knife: This is used to cut larger fruits and vegetables into slices. We used the OXO Good Grips 8-Inch Chef’s Knife.
Pineapple Corer: This is used to remove the core of the pineapple so the flesh can be cut. We used the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Pineapple Corer.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus, fruits, and vegetables. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer for the citrus and the Hamilton Beach Large Juicer for the pineapple.
Swizzle Stick: This is used to mix the ingredients. We used the Piña Barware Stainless Steel Swizzle Stick.
Tasting Notes
The Chartreuse Swizzle begins with the complex aroma of herbal pineapple and has a taste that features the sweet fruit at the forefront mingled with the unique grassy taste of Chartreuse and a bit of lime tartness, while the aftertaste comes forward with a bit of falernum spice mixed with a lingering herbaceous fruity note.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: We both thought this drink truly lived up to its reputation in the cocktail annals and deserves every bit of praise it gets. We wouldn’t call it an exact fit for the uninitiated, but the Chartreuse Swizzle will have any cocktail enthusiast craving another fruity, herbal swallow.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Though I’ve heard plenty of mentions of the Chartreuse Swizzle, I had never tried it until this tasting. As a lover of Green Chartreuse, I figured I would really enjoy it, and I was absolutely correct. The pineapple’s sweet fruitiness blended perfectly with the proprietary herbal blend of the French liqueur, while the lime gave the drink a tiki-essential tartness and falernum brought up the rear with a touch of Caribbean flair. Though it only uses a small helping, the Chartreuse Swizzle is not lacking in alcohol content, and it’s sure to please anybody with an adventurous taste.”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I already knew how much I loved Green Chartreuse in Alex’s tiki concoction, the Greena Colada, after tasting it last year, so I was really excited to see it added to the mix in another tropical recipe. This Swizzle would have to be the best way I’ve seen its herbal quality highlighted so far. The liqueur’s unique flavor explodes in your mouth but is tempered by the sweetness of the fruity pineapple. Although pretty simple, this recipe has become iconic for good reason. I’d drink it again!”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.
Add Green Chartreuse, pineapple juice, lime juice, velvet falernum liqueur, and crushed ice to a highball glass.
Swizzle with a swizzle stick or bar spoon for 5-7 seconds.
Pack with more crushed ice.
Garnish with pineapple fronds, pineapple wedge, and lime slice.
Ingredients
Directions
Add Green Chartreuse, pineapple juice, lime juice, velvet falernum liqueur, and crushed ice to a highball glass.
Swizzle with a swizzle stick or bar spoon for 5-7 seconds.
Pack with more crushed ice.
Garnish with pineapple fronds, pineapple wedge, and lime slice.
Make It a Mocktail: Use winter herb syrup in place of the Green Chartreuse and BG Reynolds Falernum Bar Syrup in place of the velvet falernum liqueur to try a slightly booze-free version of this drink.
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More Chartreuse Cocktails
If you like this Green Chartreuse-flavored cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Chartreuse Toddy: A brandy cocktail made with water, Green Chartreuse, lemon juice, honey syrup, and star anise
Lavender Sour: A gin cocktail made with lemon juice, Green Chartreuse, lavender syrup, egg white, and dried lavender buds
Last Word: A gin cocktail made with Green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, lime juice, and a cherry
Greena Colada: A rum cocktail made with triple sec, lime juice, lemon juice, Green Chartreuse, velvet falernum liqueur, crème of coconut, mint, and a lime wheel
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