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Purgatory

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (162)
Purgatory image
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
1 2⁄3 fl oz Straight rye whiskey (100 proof /50% alc./vol.)
1⁄2 fl oz Bénédictine D.O.M. liqueur
1⁄2 fl oz Green Chartreuse (or alternative herbal liqueur)
1⁄6 fl oz Chilled water/mineral water (omit if using wet ice)
2 drop Saline solution (20g sea salt to 80g water) or merest pinch of s (optional)

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

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How to make

Glass

Photographed in an Urban Bar 1920 Retro Coupette 15cl

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist.

Method

  1. STIR all ingredients with ice.
  2. STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

  1. EXPRESS lemon zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Purgatory contains 213 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 2.2 standard drinks
  • 36.34% alc./vol. (72.69° proof)
  • 31 grams of pure alcohol

Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

History

Adapted from a recipe created in 2007 by Ted Kilgore at Taste in St. Louis, Missouri (or possibly Monarch Restaurant, Maplewood, Missouri). Ted's original recipe comprised 75ml (2½oz) Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey, 22.5 (¾oz) Bénédictine, 22.5 (¾oz) Green Chartreuse. Gary "gaz" Regan picked up on this cocktail soon after it was created and published the recipe in his column in The San Francisco Chronicle.

More cocktails by Ted Kilgore

Review

Too many and you're in it! This is a punchy, spirit-forward cocktail that was apparently created as a pick-me-up but is perhaps better suited as a (put-you-down) late-night nightcap.

Variations/similar cocktails

Purgatorio

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Makes a minimum of 50 cocktails.
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Gallery

Comments & Discussion

CJ Grant
I knew I would like this given the ingredients. I actually went with a spicy cask-strength local rye and the overall spiciness of the cocktail took center stage with the herbal notes playing at the edges and in the finish. Even with that, I got the impression the saline addition did round out the feel more than I expected.
score: 1
Graeme McPherson
Used the final half ounce of my Green Chartreuse bottle in this delightful late night sipper. A really interesting and herbaceous cocktail worth savouring. Every ingredient is very well balanced. Will be returning to this one when I next pick up a new bottle of Chartreuse.
score: 4
Doug James Premium Member
Attended a convention in St Louis this weekend and while there I Googled “St Louis Cocktails” and Kilgore’s Purgatory was among the first results. I went to the hotel bar and was pleased to see both Benedictine and Green Chartreuse on the back bar, so I ordered a Purgatory. The bartender said he’d be happy to make it if I’d tell him the build. What a delightful concoction this is! Sweet, boozy, peppery, herbal… Absolutely loved it.
score: 1
Fredrik Rosin
Fantastic cocktail! The flavours from Rittenhouse are excellent with the sweetness and herbalicious notes from the liqueurs.
score: 1
Simon Sedgley Premium Member
After some experimentation, we settled on a base spirit split of 30ml rye, 15ml bourbon and 5ml mezcal. After all, what would purgatory be without the faint smoke of possible eternal fire? Adjust the bourbon and mezcal ratio to your preference.
score: 1
Cassandra Adams Premium Member
This should be named and posted separately, surely!
score: 2
Simon Sedgley Premium Member
Hat tip to your gentle encouragement for us to get off our rear ends and publish this among our recipes. We shall endeavour to do so tout de suite.
score: 2
Mike Premium Member
About as complex as it gets, plus sweet and hot. If that sounds good to you, then you’ll love this drink.

I recommend the original spec of 1.5 rye, .5 each of Benedictine and Chartreuse. Definitely benefits from a long stir down (in which case, skip the water). The lemon twist is essential.

Agree that it could be served on a large ice cube with a shorter stir down
score: 2
Loïc Pierre
I'll join the opinion of John Hinojos : a strong, excellent evening sipping cocktail. I think it could also be enjoyed on the rocks.
score: 1
Calvin Grant Premium Member
Two monastic spirits plus rye equals... PURGATORY! Ha Ha Ha! But seriously do try this. It may be better than excellent. ♡
score: 1
Erik Maloney
This one's delicious (reminds me distantly of a Preakness Manhattan); the three ingredients really bring out one another's spicy qualities, from the peppery bite of the rye to the subtler, sweeter herbal spice of the liqueurs. Could see it working well in a range of proportions, from heavier on the liqueurs to a drier mix.
score: 2
Hunter Newsome
I'm a fan of chartreuse and benedictine so I had to bump up both for more herbal digestive sweetness. I think 1-0.5-0.5 would be good in the Nick & Nora glass and 1.5-0.5-0.5 would be best on-the-rocks in an old-fashioned glass.
score: 2

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Difford’s Shop logo
$0.76 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 50 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Visit Difford’s Shop USA

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