Presented by Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor 

What is Yellow Chartreuse, and how do I use it?

Regular Libation Lounge readers and cocktailing Pinnacle customers are aware that Green Chartreuse is hard to come by lately. Its popularity has skyrocketed due to the current cocktail revival—U.S. consumption has doubled since the start of the pandemic in 2020—but the Carthusian order of monks that makes it declines to increase production, adhering to its disciplines of silence, solitude, and contemplation.

Demand for the monks’ Yellow Chartreuse, however, has lagged behind for no fault of its own; it’s more readily available and features similar qualities to those making the Green Chartreuse so wildly popular. If you’re frustrated by the paucity of Green, give the Yellow a try. In many cases, you can simply replace Green Chartreuse in a recipe with the Yellow; it’ll taste different, but you may enjoy the change of pace

Here are the differences between the two styles of Chartreuse liqueur:

Characteristic	Green Chartreuse	Yellow Chartreuse
Alcohol content	55% ABV	43% ABV
Flavors & aromas	Stonger, woodsier (piney, even), minty, notes of lemon zest and tobacco	Sweeter, softer, minty, honey, citrus, pine needles; aromas of coffee and chocolate
Base spirit	Made from sugar beets	Grape distillate
Color source	Chlorophyll	Saffron

Okay, gimme those kisses!
There are more than 200 cocktail recipes that include Yellow Chartreuse, including the Naked and Famous, which may be the most popular mezcal drink in the country. Here are two more that are easy to make and supremely delcious, and I’ll link below to other Yellow Chartreuse cocktails I’ve posted on this blog before. 

CHEF’S KISS
This is a riff on the Naked & Famous, replacing mezcal with the pungent mintiness of Fernet Branca, which pulls the Yellow Chartreuse a long way in the direction of Green Chartreuse. A dose of Demerara syrup balances the lime and bumps up the sweetness of the Fernet and Chartreuse. Yes, it truly is a chef’s kiss!

CHEF’S KISS RECIPE
¾ oz Fernet Branca Liqueur
¾ oz Yellow Chartreuse
¾ oz Freshly squeezed lime juice
½ oz Demerara or Turbinado rich (2:1) simple syrup

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with plenty of ice and shake for 15-20 seconds. Fine-strain the mix into a chilled Nick and Nora or other small, stemmed cocktail glass. Garnish with a slice of lime wheel. 

WIDOW’S KISS
I’m just a romantic fool, so I couldn’t resist matching two ‘kiss’ cocktails in this post. This one is apple-forward, and with herbal flavors from Benedictine that complement those of the Yellow Chartreuse. It’s more elegantly clear than the Chef’s Kiss, in both color and texture. 

WIDOW’S KISS RECIPE
2 oz Laird’s Straight Apple Brandy or Daron Calvados
¼ oz Yellow Chartreuse
¼ oz Benedictine D.O.M.
2 dashes Angostura (aromatic) bitters

Stir ingredients with ice until well chilled. Strain into a chilled Nick & Nora or other small, stemmed glass. Garnish with a pierced Luxardo Maraschino cherry. 

MORE FAVORITE YELLOW CHARTREUSE COCKTAILS
I love rum cocktails, and one of my personal favorites is the Daisy de Santiago (I highly recommend Probitas rum for this one!). Other favorites you’ll find on the Libation Lounge blog (with base spirits noted):

Alaska (Old Tom Gin) 
Corpse Reviver No. 2 (Gin)
The Dead Poet (Tequila) 
The Diamondback (Rye whiskey)
The Greenpoint (Rye whiskey)
The Nuclear Banana Daiquiri (Rum)

About our Cocktail of the Week partners—shop local and independent!
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:
— Text the word “bourbon,” to receive weekly text messages offering the chance to buy rare or allocated whiskies or special prices on popular products.
—Text the word “spirits,” to receive roughly monthly offers on fine spirits other than whiskies.

Shout out to the official supplier of elegant clear ice to the Libation Lounge: My friend Ralph DiTucci of Cristallino Premium Ice and Grace & Disgrace.