20 best Chartreuse Verte (Green) cocktails

Words by Simon Difford

Photography by Dan Malpass

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Formulated by Carthusian monks to a recipe dating back to 1764, Chartreuse Verte (Green Chartreuse) adds very distinctive complex herbal notes to a wide variety of cocktails, and with its muscular 55% alcohol strength, it perhaps should be viewed as much as a base spirit as it if a flavour modifying liqueur.

Green Chartreuse contributes the defining flavour to classic cocktails such as The Last Word and the Champs-Elysees as well as contemporary classics such as the Nuclear Daiquiri and these three cocktails, along with numerous Last Word variations, feature among our compilation of the 20 best cocktails with Chartreuse Verte:

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The Dante
With: Blanco tequila, Green Chartreuse, kümmel liqueur, sugar syrup and lime juice.
We say: Citrusy fresh and herbaceous, particularly caraway from the kummel, with tequila providing the backbone.

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The Last Word Cocktail
With: Dry gin, Green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice.
We say: Chartreuse devotees will love this balanced, tangy drink. I'm one.

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Dublin Minstrel
With: Irish Whiskey, Green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice.
We say: A Last Word riff substituting Irish whiskey for gin. Named after Frank Fogarty, a vaudeville performer known as the Dublin Minstrel.

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Episcopal
With: Green Chartreuse and Yellow Chartreuse.
We say: My favourite way to enjoy Chartreuse you can tweak the proportions of the muscular Green verses the rich Yellow to suit your own tastes and mood.

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Ultima Palabra
With: Mezcal, Green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, pineapple juice, and lime juice.
We say: Named after the direct Spanish translation of Last Word, hence the use of mezcal in place of gin in this Last Word riff. Pineapple juice works brilliantly, adding a fruity sweetness and complexity.

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Bijou (by Jamie Gordon)
With: Dry gin, sweet vermouth, Green Chartreuse, and Italian red bitter liqueur.
We say: This bittersweet digestive is one of those drinks that becomes easier and gets better as dilution, from the melting ice, opens and softens.

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Celery Gimlet No.2
With: Celery sticks, celery salt, dry gin, Green Chartreuse, lime juice, sugar syrup, white wine vinegar and celery bitters.
We say: Sweet 'n' sour, salt 'n' vinegar served with dry celery gin crunch- a cocktail to awaken your senses.

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Champs-Elysees Cocktail
With: Cognac, Green Chartreuse, lemon juice, sugar syrup, aromatic bitters, and chilled water.
We say: A great after- dinner drink for lovers of cognac and Chartreuse.

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Chartreuse Swizzle
With: Green Chartreuse, falernum, pineapple juice and lime juice.
We say: A swizzle for people like me- Chartreuse lovers. Best enjoyed on a hot summer's evening.

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Closing Argument
With: Mezcal, Green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice.
We say: A mezcal-based Last Word. It works! End of argument.

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Detroit Athletic Club
With: Irish Whiskey, Green Chartreuse, sweet vermouth, and falernum.
We say: Irish whiskey with a splash of sweet vermouth, clove rich falernum and the all-important monastic liqueur.

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Hearn Cocktail
With: Irish whiskey, sweet vermouth, Green Chartreuse, Orinoco bitters, absinthe, and orange bitters.
We say: Stirred and boozy with Green Chartreuse and bitters adding herbal spice to Irish whiskey.

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Highland Sazerac
With: Green Chartreuse, cognac, single malt Scotch whisky, sugar syrup, creole-style bitters, and aromatic bitters.
We say: A dash of malt gives a Highball influence to the Sazerac while a generous splash of Chartreuse contributes herbal notes.

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Last Palabra
With: Reposado tequila, Green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, lavender syrup, lime juice, and lavender bitters.
We say: Tequila replaces gin in this riff on the classic Last Word with the amount of maraschino slightly reduced to accommodate the introduction of lavender syrup, which in turn is also balanced by a dash of lavender bitters.

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Latest Word
With: Genever, Green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice.
We say: A Last Word made to classic equal parts proportions but with genever replacing London dry gin. The more robust flavour of genever stands up well to the other very characterful ingredients.

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Marvin's Last word
With: Dry gin, mastiha liqueur, Green Chartreuse and lime juice.
We say: The distinctive notes of mastiha and Chartreuse shine in this Greek riff on the classic Last Word.

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Mean Fiddler
With: Irish whiskey, Green Chartreuse, sweet vermouth, Scotch whisky, Italian red bitter liqueur, cinnamon syrup & aromatic bitters.
We say: A riff on the classic Tipperary cocktail with Islay single malt and Italian red bitter liqueur adding complexity.

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Nuclear Daiquiri
With: White overproof rum, Green Chartreuse, lime juice, and falernum.
We say: A great way to inflict mutually assured destruction, although there will be fallout the morning after.

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The Bird Is the Word No.2
With: Grappa, Green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, lime juice, and chocolate bitters.
We say: A Last Word based on Italian grappa by way of Denmark.

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The Symphony
With: Dry gin, maraschino liqueur, Green Chartreuse liqueur, Scotch whisky & lemon juice
We say: A boozy riff on the Last Word, made more interesting by subtly notes of peated Islay whisky.



Over 150 more Green Chartreuse cocktails

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