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Widow's Kiss
Herbal with hints of apple, mint and eucalyptus. This classic is also often made with green Chartreuse, but we prefer, as per classic recipes, with half...
Mookie
9th June at 00:27
incredibly rich and delightful, will revisit again with the aforementioned saline since I thought the apple was lost a little bit
6th June at 22:53
Tried this again but didn't shake this time as per Kappeler's original recipe, but stirred as Difford's instructs. I also modified it as I was craving some chocolate and came across a version using 50ml / 20ml / 20ml with 3 drops of chocolate bitters (I used 5!) rather than Angostura. Superb!
6th November 2025 at 00:53
As per below, I like this. But maybe a tad sweet. I made another version, where I cut the chartreuse and benedictine in half, and made up the difference with Byrrh. Very nice. I hope someone tries it and comments on the variation.
3rd November 2025 at 22:37
This is delicious.
15th August 2025 at 23:48
I tried the Kappler OG (shaken) and a slightly adjusted version of the recipe here where I only did 1/4oz of Yellow Chartreuse (stirred). The OG was even sweeter than I expected it to be, but the more modern version was nice. I skipped the Meehan version, as I figured it seems as if it would be a bit unbalanced. Maybe I'll try it at some point to confirm.
7th June 2025 at 22:28
Had this tonight in recognition, albeit a day late of D-Day. One would think this drink should be stirred, but I was happy that the directions "allow" for one to shake! I'm glad I did, as for me, the extra dilution from the shake cut the viscosity of the D.O.M. Next time, I think I will try with a little extra Calvados and stir which might do the same. An added benefit would be to increase the smallish overall volume which has been commented on earlier.
6th June 2025 at 21:11
I love the way the Calvados and Yellow Chartreuse compliment each other, great way to enjoy your yellow Chartreuse! Boozy, definitely a sipper, but still a clean honey like finish. Great finale cocktail, not a preamble. I especially like the name of the cocktail! "Here's to the widow that lives on the hill, she want kiss you but her sister will" "Here's to her sister". WDB
30th May 2025 at 14:30
Revisiting while playing ‘Difford’s Roulette’ (open the book at a random page)… and almost exactly in time for D Day. Forgot to try adding Caspian’s suggested saline, although the relatively delicate aromatics of the Calvados tend to emerge more as the drink warms. A charming little concoction!
21st May 2025 at 16:48
Dang, this is a really nice cocktail. The calvados and the herbal liqueurs play great with each other, and the angostura adds just amount of spice and bitterness to prevent it from being cloying. I suggest you add 1-2 drops of saline solution, though, because it really makes that fresh apple pop out a bit more.
16th November 2024 at 22:46
Also good on the rocks
6th June 2024 at 12:42
Widow’s kiss, or widow maker?! This is a potent flavour grenade this one… for D Day. Strong, dry, herbal with underlying honeyed sweetness. Thinking of those times today. Strangely I had exactly the right amount of a Avallen left in the bottle. Funny how that happens..!
6th June 2024 at 12:44
I’ll be interested to try Jim Meehan’s version when I get some bonded Calvados in.
20th April 2024 at 09:11
The way I just tried making this cocktail is 1.5 Pere Magloire VSOP, 1/4 Strega, 1/4 Benedictine, 1/4 Carpano sweet vermouth, 2 dashes Angostura bitters & a luxardo cherry. The sweet vermouth cuts the sugar enough but am going to try 1/3 sweet vermouth and taste how that works.
20th April 2024 at 09:01
I love almost all variations of cocktails, but the base spirit+liqueur drinks like an old fashioned & this style are too sugary for me to fully enjoy. Hence, the way I make a Vieux Carré is 1 Rittenhouse Rye, 1 Cognac, 3/4 Carpano Sweet vermouth, 1/4 Benedictine, 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters, 2 dashes Angostura bitters, stirred & served Up in a coupe with a Lemon twist & Luxardo cherry
30th December 2023 at 20:23
Made a riff on this with 1 part calvados, 1/2 genepy, 1/2 strega, and 2 dashes of averna as it was what I had on hands. Lovely
21st October 2023 at 14:29
A nice drink but not outstanding. Definitely an after dinner sipper rather than an early evening party starter.
20th October 2023 at 17:37
Very nice but a bit small and gone too quickly - I would double the quantities
4th November 2024 at 04:14
You're looking at 3.2 standard drinks then... 😅
6th June 2023 at 01:34
If you're out of Chartreuse (I hear the monks are too busy praying these days) Liquore Strega makes a lovely if perhaps ironic substitute. God bless the witches.
16th March 2022 at 03:41
What a great after dinner or evening cocktail. A burst of flavours and the right hint of herbal to make for an excellent night cap.
14th May 2021 at 23:25
I love this drink! Have tried with just mint, just cherry, and both together. Just to clarify though, 15th edition notes "...we prefer half yellow and half green.." Chartreuse. Web version and what I have been doing is 1/2 D.O.M. and Yellow Chartreuse. Also, the book suggests trying a shaken version which I have done and must say I quite like that as well, but then I prefer a more dilute and colder drink all things equal.
15th May 2021 at 21:07
The various editions of the book leave a literal paper trail of my learnings. Shaking adds beneficial dilution and aeration. Adding a splash of water, as per above, also works well and produces a better-looking drink. Shaking produces a less attractive cocktail that arguably tastes more alive.
22nd November 2020 at 05:43
When using Daron Calvados, this cocktail works well with the yellow chartreuse, Benedictine, and the added dilution. Apple, honey, and caramel lend itself to a complex after dinner drink with a crisp and herbaceous aftertaste that has me going back for more. Wish I had mint in hand since that would compliment the autumnal botanicals.
22nd November 2020 at 05:40
Incredible! So many great flavors blending harmoniously. Apple, herbs—can’t miss that it’s Chartreuse. A wonderful honeyed sweetness and mouthfeel to make a perfect end-of-evening drink.
6th June 2020 at 21:37
Today, June 6, is also the Swedish National Day. So we drink a Swedish Rum Punch. Skål!
7th June 2020 at 09:06
Many thanks for bringing this to my attention. We'll add Swedish National Day to our 6th June Cocktail of the Day page for next year. Swedish Rum Punch is a fitting suggestion.