In Search of a Cocktail

Chartreuse Reviews

The first time I saw these bottles, I was intrigued, by what? I couldn’t honestly tell you, They just stood apart from the other bottles in the colourful “liqueurs and other liquor that doesn’t fit the 5 main categories” part of my local liquor store. The bottles are part of a pair, green and yellow.

I wasn’t sure how I was going to present this review, as I have 2 different bottles, but they are made of pretty much the same ingredients, and the have same bottling, I decided that I would review both bottles at once so that I could compare the two throughout the review.

Chartreuse is distilled in the Chartreuse Mountains, France, by Monks; these monks have been distilling for over 400 years. What is amazing about the spirit, is how secretive it is, only 3 monks know the complete recipe at any given time.

Comprised of over 130 different ingredients, Chartreuse gets its green or yellow colour naturally from an assortment of the herbal ingredients, spices and plants. I regard spirits that gain there colour without artificial colouring very highly, as the thought and preparation to get the colour and taste perfect

Opening the bottle allows the strong herbal aroma of the spirit to fill the surrounding area. Chartreuse is such a complex drink, with so many different aromas and tastes it really hard to place them, some are obvious, some very subtle but I challenge anyone to try and pick out all 130! I barely managed to pick out 5.

The Yellow Chartreuse has a much less pronounced aroma, it has sweeter, more liqueur style notes. It still has the sharp, inviting herbal tang, however the presence of alcohol is not as noticeable.

What aromas hit my nose? Mint, Basil, Black Cracked Pepper, Anise, Lemon and Lime, and strangely Curry Powder.

The real difference between the Green and Yellow Chartreuse is apparent in the flavour, and texture of the drink. The first thing that hit me was the presence of alcohol, Green Chartreuse being 110proof (55%abv) and Yellow being 80proof (40%abv). I had both variants on the rocks and neat so that I could really experience the spirits. And I must say, sipping it on the rocks (The way the bottle suggests it be consumed) is the way to go, it severely reduces the alcohol attack, and changes a the spirits from mouth full of spicy, alcohol flavoured liquid, into a pleasant sipping drink.

I think I will do the tasting in two parts, one for Green and one for Yellow.

The Green Chartreuse has amazing complexity to it, there are so many flavours and the mouth feel changes as the spirit moves within your mouth. When it first hits your tongue, there is a sweet black liquorice, slightly earthy taste, with hints of green leaf matter, these will be the herbs, spicy cracked pepper, spearmint, and cardamom. As the spirit moves throughout your mouth, it changes from slightly viscous to a thicker, more liqueur like spirit as it reaches the back of your mouth before you swallow. The aftertaste is that of spicy mint, and black liquorice, which reduces in intensity and leaves behind a sweet, dry herbal flavour.

The Yellow Chartreuse on the other hand starts off rather differently, especially in mouth feel, which is a continuous syrupy, standard liqueur style feel. There is hardly any spiciness to the drink; it is smooth, and sweet. The flavours, while having nearly the same ingredients as its sister variant, does not let them show through. Black liquorice, basil, cinnamon and other sweet herbs, ones that I just cant put a name to. Yellow Chartreuse, is sweet, and is very easy to drink, and at 40%abv it’s not going to take too many until you start to feel the effects.

When I first got these two bottles, I was a little hesitant on whether I was actually going to enjoy them especially after having the initial smell hit me, with such strong aromas, however Chartreuse is a fantastic spirit, especially on the rocks, and I think I prefer it like that, its great in cocktail, however you just don’t get the same taste appreciation, as the delicate flavours are washed away by juices and other spirits.

Chartreuse, if you like herbal style drinks, or even just an after dinner drink with a twist, will make a fantastic addition to your liquor cabinet. It can be found at almost every bottle shop and will run you ~$60 for a bottle of Yellow Chartreuse and ~$70 for a bottle of Green Chartreuse.

Cocktails:

Chartreuse Blanc Cocktail

1/2oz green Chartreuse
1 1/2oz bianco vermouth
1 dash orange bitters

Greensleeves Cocktail

1 1/2oz Gin
3/4oz Green Chartreuse
1/4oz Sweet Vermouth
1/2oz Orgeat Syrup
1 dash Angostura bitters

Cloister Cocktail

1 1/2oz Gin
1/2oz Yellow Chartreuse
1/2oz Grapefruit Juice
1/4oz Lemon Juice
1/4oz Simple Syrup

Whiskey Daisy

1/4 Lemon (for juice)
3/4oz Simple Syrup
1/2oz Yellow Chartreuse
1 1/2oz Bourbon