chartreuse — Is it 5 o'clock yet?

Green Chartreuse seems to appear in several cocktail recipes I’ve been frequenting. It is spicy and herbal and quite unusual. The exact recipe for creating this liquor is tightly held by Carthusian Monks, which adds to the mystique of it. Honestly, we tried a shot and found it was not enjoyable, but added to cocktails? Delicious and unusual.

Tonight’s refreshing cocktail, the Verdant Lady, come from Bonjon Gourmet. With a hint of mint, and the herbally smooth gin (Ingenium), it was reminiscent of a martini adapted for warm nights and al fresco dining.

What you need for 1 cocktail:

Fill a shaker half full of ice
Add 1.5 oz. gin (Hendricks recommended, I used Ingenium)
0.5 oz. fresh, strained lime juice (no the bottled stuff is not okay)
0.25 oz simple syrup
1/6 oz Chartreuse Green
4 large mint leaves (plus a sprig for garnish)

Shake the whole thing for about 30 seconds and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with the mint sprig. Chilling the coupe suggested.