This Green Chartreuse cocktail is a prohibition era gin classic called The Spring Feeling. It pairs Plymouth gin with Chartreuse and lemon juice delivering a fresh, zesty and herbaceous drink.
Have your tried my basil cocktail - it too uses a touch of Green Chartreuse.
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Why I Love This Green Chartreuse Cocktail
- Lesser known classic: The Spring Feeling cocktail has been knocking around since it appeared in the 1930 edition of The Savoy Cocktail Book.
- Taste: Expect a robust kick of gin tempered by zesty lemon and sweet, herby Green Chartreuse liqueur.
- Quick & Easy: You can have this Chartreuse cocktail poured in less than 5 minutes.
Jump to:
What Is Green Chartreuse?
Distinguishable by its completely natural green colour, Green Chartreuse is a sweet, herbaceous liqueur that Carthusian Monks first started making in 1737.
Green Chartreuse started life as an elixir, encouraging long life but has evolved into a very versatile & sophisticated liqueur, frequently appearing in cocktails.
And the best way to drink this liqueur?
- Serve it neat as a mellow after-dinner digestif
- On the rocks for a crisp, refreshing sipper
- Splashed into hot drinks
- In a cocktail - it pairs remarkably well with gin & citrus
It is a strong (55% alcohol) and unique liqueur. Made from 130 plants and flowers, it is understandably difficult to pin-point exactly what Green Chartreuse does actuslly taste of. Suffice to say, expect a rather mysterious combination of sweet, herbaceous, refreshing and vaguely spicy flavours.
If you're wondering what else to make with this liqueur aside from this Spring Feeling cocktail, try these alternative Green Chartreuse drinks:
- The Lumiere with Gin & Elderflower
- The Last Word with Maraschino & Lime - another Prohibition ere cocktail
- Hot Chocolate with Green Chartreuse & Kirschwasser
Ingredients Notes
Gin: Ideally, use Plymouth gin. It is slightly less dry than London Dry Gins typically are. The flavour is undeniably smooth - the result of a higher than usual proportion of root ingredients, which bring a more earthy feel to the gin as well as a softer juniper hit. Next best alternatives would be Bombay Sapphire or Tanqueray No. Ten.
Green Chartreuse: Intregral to this cocktail for the herbal flavour it provides and a touch of sweetness to balance out the citrus and bold gin.
Green Chartreuse Supply Issues
Green Chartreuse has had a price hike since 2020 following shortages as it has grown in demand amongst home bar enthusiasts especially during the pandemic. The Monks stay firm in their desire to keep to traditional distillery methods, so demand continues to outstrip supply, leading to higher prices (can you tell I'm a former economist?)
Luckily, I had a bottle tucked away in my cupboard, but upwards of £50 is a lot to pay for a bottle of liqueur. Unfortunately, sensible substitutes for Green Chartreuse are hard to come by and often also rather highly priced. If you are interested to find out more, take a look at the guide to Chartreuse substitutes by Crafts & Cocktails.
How To Make A Gin And Green Chartreuse Cocktail (Step-By-Step Instructions)
Full instructions and measurements are given in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
Step 1. Add a large handful of ice to a cocktail shaker.
Step 2. Pour in the gin, Green Chartreuse and lemon juice.
Step 3. Secure the lid and shake hard for 30-30 seonds.
Step 4. Strain the drink into a cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon zest and serve immediately.
Expert Tips
- Chill your serving glass to ensure the drink is served ice-cold. Alternatively, place a few ice cubes in it while you make the drink (discard them when ready to serve).
- Measure ingredients accurately: Use a cocktail jigger to get accurate measurements as it is very easy to upset the balance of flavours by mis-measuring ingredients.
- Taste & adjust before serving: If it is too sour add a dash of sugar syrup.
- Double strain: To ensure your cocktail is smooth it's a good idea to double strain it or pass the lemon juice through a fine-meshed sieve prior to adding it to the cocktail shaker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yellow Chartreuse is noticably softer and sweeter than Green Chartreuse. As a result, although it could be used in this gin and Chartreuse cocktail, the finished drink will have a significantly different (though not unpleasant) flavour profile.
No, it is not. Although the Last Word also includes both gin and Green Chartreuse, in contrast to this Spring Feeling cocktail, it requires lime juice not lemon juice. It also includes Maraschino liqueur, so it is a sweeter drink.
It's traditional to serve this gin and Green Chartreuse cocktail in a coupe glass but you could get away with a small martini glass or a Nick and Nora glass.
It should be. Green Chartreuse is vegan, as is Plymouth gin.
There are a few gins that contain animal-derived additives or flavourings so if you are using an alternative gin it is worth checking that it is also vegan if required.
Have you made this gin and Chartreuse cocktail? Please rate the recipe or leave a comment - I love hearing how you get along with my creations.
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📖 Recipe
Green Chartreuse Cocktail (The Spring Feeling with Plymouth gin and lemon)
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Hawthorne strainer and/ or fine meshed sieve
Ingredients
- 40 ml Plymouth Gin
- 20 ml Green Chartreuse
- 20 ml Lemon Juice
Instructions
- Add a large handful of ice to a cocktail shaker.
- Pour in the gin, Green Chartreuse and lemon juice - use a jigger or digital scales to measure the ingredients in.
- Secure the lid and shake hard for 30-30 seconds until the shaker feels ice cold.
- Strain the drink into a cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon zest and serve immediately - double straining (using a Hawthorne strainer and a sieve) is ideal.
Notes
- Chill your serving glass to ensure the drink is served ice-cold. Alternatively, place a few ice cubes in it while you make the drink (discard them when ready to serve).
- Measure ingredients accurately: Use a cocktail jigger to get accurate measurements as it is very easy to upset the balance of flavours by mis-measuring ingredients.
- Taste & adjust before serving: If it is too sour add a dash of sugar syrup.
- Double strain: To ensure your cocktail is smooth it's a good idea to double strain it or pass the lemon juice through a fine-meshed sieve prior to adding it to the cocktail shaker.
- Serve it in a small coupe glass, a small cocktail glass or a Nick and Nora glass.
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