This cocktail recipe is almost 100 years old (at least) as it appeared first in the recipe collection “Drinks Long and Short” in 1925. It took an appearance in Harry Craddock’s 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book, to popularize the drink. 

For my fellow travelers who never took French classes—click here to learn the correct pronunciation. 

The soul of of this cocktail is French, as the name broadcasts, incorporating Cognac and Chartreuse, and the recipe Craddock published was:
3 Glasses Cognac
1 Glass Chartreuse
1½ Glasses sweetened lemon juice
1 dash Angostura bitters

There’s no authoritative definition of “glass” in these old cocktail books, but if we read “part” instead of “glass,” that works. Most likely, that was a reference to shot glasses.

My favorite Champs Élysée, however, is the slightly reimagined one from Tommy Stearns at Deep Dive in Seattle. Credit to Imbibe Magazine, where I found it in the Jan/Feb 2021 issue.

The original recipe didn’t specify Green or Yellow Chartreuse. The default is Green Chartreuse, but Stearns split the baby; this uses both Chartreuses¹ in equal parts. The original also used lemon juice, but Stearns opted for lime to marry more closely with the Angostura bitters. I’ve tried both, and I find the Stearns variation more pleasingly balanced.

Cognac cocktails often have a sharp edge, but not this one. It is citrusy, herbaceous, and perfectly refreshing.

CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES
1½ oz Cognac (VS or VSOP)
¼ oz each of Green and Yellow Chartreuse¹
½ oz Freshly squeezed lime juice
¼ oz Honey syrup (1:1 honey to water)
2 dashes Angostura/aromatic bitters

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with plenty of ice, then shake for 15-20 seconds to chill well. Fine-strain the mix into a chilled, ideally Parisian-style coupe, and garnish with a twist of lemon or lime zest.

¹ Please note: Chartreuse is currently in short supply globally, but Pinnacle Wine & Liquor receives periodic allocations. For a substitute, I recommend Génépy le Chamois liqueur, which is very similar to Yellow Chartreuse and more readily available.

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Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor are less than a mile from each other, on Monroe Avenue near Twelve Corners in Brighton.

Cooks’ World, in business since 1978, is Rochester’s premier retailer of dining, kitchen, and cooking products, including a complete selection of glassware, mixology tools, and accessories for wine and spirits lovers. Follow Cooks’ World on Facebook and Instagram. Sign up here to receive Cooks’ World’s daily email specials and other news. 

Pinnacle Wine & Liquor, in business since 1997, offers a thoughtfully curated selection of spirits and wine from around the world, with a savvy staff to assist in your selection and encourage you along your cocktail and wine journey. Follow Pinnacle on Facebook and Instagram. For the inside track on Pinnacle’s spirits sales, send two text messages to (585)765-7546:
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