This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy here.
Cocktail History
The Cinq à Sept is a holiday cocktail that was created by author Jassy Davis and was first published in her book Winter Warmers: 60 Cosy Cocktails for Autumn & Winter. This inventive recipe takes inspiration from the Gin Sour, a classic cocktail known for its balance of sweet, tart, and boozy notes. Like the original, it combines dry gin, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup with a frothy egg white for a silky texture, but it’s elevated by incorporating Yellow Chartreuse, an herbal liqueur with subtle floral and spicy undertones, and tonic bitters, which add depth and complexity. The result is a festive and refined cocktail perfect for ushering in the colder months.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Gin: This is a spirit made with juniper berries, botanicals, alcohol, and water. I used PARK Distillery Alpine Dry Gin.
Lemon Juice: This is the tart, acidic liquid extracted from lemons. I used fresh lemon juice.
Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water. I used this stovetop recipe.
Yellow Chartreuse: This is a liqueur made in France with over a hundred herbs and plants, spices, sugar, alcohol, and water.
Egg White: This is the clear liquid in an egg. I used fresh egg whites.
Tonic Bitters: This is a food product made with quinine, botanicals, and alcohol. I used The Bitter Truth Tonic Bitters.
Lemon Twist: This is the peel of a lemon that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface to catch spills, provide grip for glasses and tools, and keep the workspace clean and organized. I used the Highball & Chaser 18×12 Bar Mat.
Jigger: This is a small, double-sided measuring tool that’s used to accurately portion spirits and mixers, typically with one side measuring 1 oz and the other 1.5 or 2 oz. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker consisting of a metal tin and a glass or metal mixing glass that’s used for shaking and blending ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is a metal strainer with a spring around its edge that’s used to filter out ice and solids when pouring the cocktail into a glass. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is a small, sharp kitchen knife with a narrow blade that’s used for peeling, trimming, and garnishing. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is a handheld tool that’s used to extract juice from fruits by pressing or twisting it against a reamer or cone. I used the Black+Decker 32 oz Electric Citrus Juicer.
Peeler: This is a small, handheld tool with a sharp blade that’s used to remove the outer skin of fruits and vegetables. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.
Cocktail Pick: This is a small, slender tool that’s used to skewer cocktail garnishes. I used one from the I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.
Coupe Glass: This is a stemmed, shallow, wide-bowled glass that’s designed to enhance aroma and presentation. I used a thrifted coupe glass.
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 2025-02-17.

Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Pale yellow color
• Aroma: Slightly bitter quinine and citrus
• Taste: Muted lemon flavor followed by sweet and varied botanical garden notes
• Finish: Chartreuse and bitter hints
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “Although definitely a tasty gin drink, nothing about this recipe wowed me, especially when compared to the other incredible holiday drinks I’ve tried. I could see the recipe working for cocktail hour given its relative simplicity and palatability, which may be the whole point as could be inferred from its name. But I just didn’t love it, and the only real reason is because I was expecting more from a holiday drink. Without the addition of maybe a spiced syrup or something, you could stick the Cinq à Sept in a modern classic cocktail recipe book, and it would fit right in.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Winter Warmers: 60 Cosy Cocktails for Autumn & Winter by Jassy Davis.
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 2025-02-17.
Cinq à Sept
The Cinq à Sept is a holiday cocktail that was created by author Jassy Davis and was first published in her book Winter Warmers: 60 Cosy Cocktails for Autumn & Winter. It uses the Gin Sour template by pairing the classic's dry gin, lemon, and simple syrup with frothy egg white, herbal Yellow Chartreuse, and flavorful tonic bitters.

Ingredients
Method
-
Add gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, Yellow Chartreuse, egg white, tonic bitters, and cubed ice to a shaker.
-
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
-
Remove ice from shaker.
-
Dry shake for 5-10 more seconds to emulsify egg.
-
Strain into a cocktail glass.
-
Garnish with lemon twist.