Chartreuse Swizzle

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Cocktail History

The Chartreuse Swizzle is a modern cocktail that was created in 2002 by Marco Dionysos at Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco, California. It uses the classic Swizzle template that calls for a spirit and fruit juice built in a glass filled with crushed ice using a swizzle stick, but this version uses Green Chartreuse as the base and pairs it with fruity pineapple, citrus, and velvet falernum for a tropical yet herbal twist.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Green Chartreuse: This is a liqueur made in France with over a hundred herbs and plants, spices, sugar, and alcohol.

Pineapple Juice: This is the liquid juice of a pineapple. I used fresh pineapple juice.

Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. I used freshly squeezed lime juice.

Velvet Falernum Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with ginger, lime, almond, cloves, sugar, and alcohol.

Pineapple Fronds: This the leaf of a pineapple.

Pineapple Wedge: This is pineapple flesh that has been cut into a wedge shape.

Lime Slice: This is a slice of lime that has been cut into a half wheel shape.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Paring Knife: This is used to cut citrus into slices or wheels. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.

Chef’s Knife: This is used to cut larger fruits and vegetables into slices. I used the OXO Good Grips 8-Inch Chef’s Knife.

Pineapple Corer: This is used to remove the core of the pineapple so the flesh can be cut. I used the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Pineapple Corer.

Juicer: This is used to juice citrus, fruits, and vegetables. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer for the citrus and the Hamilton Beach Large Juicer for the pineapple.

Swizzle Stick: This is used to mix the ingredients. I used the Piña Barware Stainless Steel Swizzle Stick.

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Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Pale green-yellow color

• Aroma: Complex herbal pineapple

• Taste: Sweet fruit flavor mingled with uniquely grassy Chartreuse and tart lime

• Finish: Pineapple and herbaceous fruity notes

Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kendall’s Take: “I already knew how much I loved Green Chartreuse in the tiki concoction, the Greena Colada, so I was really excited to see it added to the mix in another tropical recipe. This Swizzle would have to be the best way I’ve seen its herbal quality highlighted so far. The liqueur’s unique flavor explodes in your mouth but is tempered by the sweetness of the fruity pineapple. Although pretty simple, the Chartreuse Swizzle has become iconic for good reason. I’d drink it again!”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-04-20.