Chartreuse Swizzle
Green Chartreuse, falernum, pineapple and fresh lime swizzled with crushed ice into a bold tropical cocktail. Herbal, fruity, citrusy and gently spiced, it turns the intense character of Green Chartreuse into a surprisingly refreshing long drink.
Chartreuse Swizzle Recipe
- Green Chartreuse 45 ml
- Pineapple juice 30 ml
- Lime juice 22.5 ml
- Velvet Falernum 15 ml
- Crushed ice, for serving 200 g
- Fresh mint 1 sprig, for garnish
Make it properly
- Add the Green Chartreuse, pineapple juice, fresh lime juice and falernum directly to a Highball glass.
- Fill the glass approximately three-quarters full with crushed ice.
- Swizzle vigorously with a swizzle stick or long bar spoon until thoroughly chilled and the outside of the glass begins to frost.
- Add more crushed ice to create a generous mound above the drink.
- Garnish with a fresh mint sprig.
WHAT MAKES A CHARTREUSE SWIZZLE?
The defining feature is the unusual combination of intensely herbal Green Chartreuse with ingredients more commonly associated with tropical rum drinks.
Pineapple has enough flavour and sweetness to stand alongside Chartreuse without covering its botanicals. Fresh lime provides the acidity necessary to keep everything bright.
Falernum ties the drink together. Its combination of sweetness, citrus and warming spice sits naturally between the herbal Chartreuse and tropical pineapple.
Crushed ice completes the drink, gradually diluting and softening the powerful flavours as you drink it.
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CHARTREUSE SWIZZLE RECIPE, INGREDIENTS & TIPS
The Chartreuse Swizzle takes one of the world's most distinctive herbal liqueurs and moves it firmly into tropical cocktail territory. Green Chartreuse provides the powerful herbal base. Pineapple softens it with juicy tropical fruit, fresh lime brings acidity, and falernum contributes sweetness together with citrus and warming spice. Unlike many tropical cocktails, there's no rum. Green Chartreuse is the base of the drink rather than simply a modifier, making this an excellent cocktail for experiencing its complex botanical character in a completely different way.
THE BEST INGREDIENTS FOR A CHARTREUSE SWIZZLE
Use Green Chartreuse, rather than Yellow Chartreuse. Its intense herbal and botanical character gives the cocktail its distinctive foundation.
For the falernum, John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum is an excellent choice. Its lime, almond, ginger and warming spice notes provide more complexity than ordinary sugar syrup and work particularly well with both Chartreuse and tropical fruit.
Choose good-quality pineapple juice and use fresh lime juice. With only four liquid ingredients, freshness and balance make a noticeable difference.
Finally, use plenty of crushed ice. It isn't simply there to keep the drink cold—the dilution created while swizzling is an important part of the recipe.
HOW TO BALANCE A CHARTREUSE SWIZZLE
Green Chartreuse is powerful, so every supporting ingredient has a specific job.
45 ml Green Chartreuse keeps its herbal character firmly at the centre of the cocktail. 30 ml pineapple juice adds fruit and body without turning it into a pineapple-heavy drink.
22.5 ml fresh lime juice provides enough acidity to balance the sweeter ingredients, while 15 ml falernum contributes both sweetness and aromatic spice.
Dilution is equally important. Swizzling the drink with plenty of crushed ice softens the strength of Green Chartreuse and brings the four ingredients together.
THE STORY BEHIND THE CHARTREUSE SWIZZLE
The Chartreuse Swizzle was created by San Francisco bartender Marcovaldo Dionysos in the early 2000s.
The unusual idea was to use Green Chartreuse as the primary spirit rather than as a smaller modifier. Pairing it with pineapple, fresh lime and falernum created a drink that combined the structure of a tropical swizzle with the unmistakable herbal character of Chartreuse.
The simple four-ingredient formula developed into a modern classic and is now recognised internationally.
TECHNIQUE
A Chartreuse Swizzle is built directly in the serving glass, rather than shaken separately.
Add the liquid ingredients first and then crushed ice. Place a swizzle stick or long bar spoon into the glass and rotate it rapidly between your palms.
Continue until the drink is thoroughly mixed, properly diluted and extremely cold. The outside of the glass should begin to frost.
Finish by adding more crushed ice on top. This gives the cocktail the tall, generously iced presentation shown in the Drinkero image.
SERVE IT PROPERLY
Serve the Chartreuse Swizzle in a Highball glass packed generously with crushed ice.
The finished cocktail should be extremely cold, pale yellow-green and refreshing, with the crushed ice forming a mound above the rim.
Finish simply with a fresh mint sprig tucked beside the ice. Before adding it, gently clap the mint between your hands to release its aroma.
Questions about the Chartreuse Swizzle
What is in a Chartreuse Swizzle?
A Chartreuse Swizzle combines Green Chartreuse, pineapple juice, fresh lime juice and falernum, served with plenty of crushed ice.
What does a Chartreuse Swizzle taste like?
It is herbal, tropical, citrusy and gently spiced. Pineapple and falernum soften the powerful botanical character of Green Chartreuse, while fresh lime keeps the drink bright.
What falernum should I use?
John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum is an excellent choice. Its lime, almond, ginger and spice character complements both Green Chartreuse and pineapple.
Can I make it without a swizzle stick?
Yes. A long bar spoon works well. Rotate it rapidly between your palms while moving it through the crushed ice until the drink is thoroughly chilled.
Can I use normal ice cubes?
Crushed ice is strongly recommended. It provides the rapid chilling and controlled dilution that are fundamental to a swizzle.
Can I use Yellow Chartreuse?
You can, but the finished drink will be noticeably different. Yellow Chartreuse is softer, sweeter and less alcoholic than Green Chartreuse.
Is Chartreuse Swizzle a strong cocktail?
Green Chartreuse is 55% ABV and is used as the cocktail's base, so it begins as a relatively strong mixture. The pineapple, lime, falernum and significant dilution from crushed ice make the finished drink considerably softer and more refreshing.
Is the Chartreuse Swizzle an official IBA cocktail?
Yes. The Chartreuse Swizzle is included in the International Bartenders Association's official cocktail list. The official specification uses Green Chartreuse, pineapple juice, fresh lime juice and falernum.
See the IBA's official Chartreuse Swizzle recipe for the classic specification.