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Chartreuse
Chartreuse
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Chartreuse Cocktails Are Hot — Here Are a Dozen to Try

The French liquer's popularity is turning D.C. into an emerald city

by Tierney Plumb
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Chartreuse
| Official
by Tierney Plumb

Bars across D.C. are capitalizing on heightened demand for a syrupy and spicy spirit made by French monks.

Green Chartreuse, which bills itself as the only liqueur in the world with a completely natural green color, is a potent pick (it's 110-proof) with relatively simple ingredients: alcohol, sugar, and 130 plants and flowers. The yellow version, also naturally colored, is a bit weaker and sweeter (80-proof) but still packs an Uber-home-worthy punch.

The Passenger's long-awaited reboot this year came with custom-made tap handles that pour out popular $6 dollars-an-ounce tastes. And bartenders at places like Cafe Saint-Ex and District Distilling are realizing it pairs nicely with another country's staple spirit: mezcal. Though it can be found in some traditional cocktails, like The Last Word, most bartenders are doing their own thing with the spirit.

The rare liqueur is still made according to the original 500-year-old recipe by Carthusian monks of the Grand Chartreuse monastery in Voiron, France — and only two monks hold the intel on the full recipe. Traditionally sipped post dinner, the herbal liqueur is making its way into prime-time craft cocktails. Here are a dozen places to find the emerald liquid throughout D.C.

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2 Birds 1 Stone

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The downstairs craft cocktail parlor typically switches up its cocktails on the regular--but popular concoctions like its $14 Koopa Beach stay stuck on the menu. It includes mezcal, Green Chartreuse, and house ginger beer.

1800 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

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B Side

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Yellow chartreuse is at the forefront of the I Don't Even Know Myself cocktail here, and it's made with Evan Williams bourbon, black tea, and lemon cordial as well.

8298 Glass Alley, Fairfax, VA 22031
Eater.com

Cafe Saint-Ex

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At this classic French-American bistro, find the $12 Mezcal Last Word with mezcal, Green Chartreuse, lime, and maraschino.

1847 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 265-7839
(202) 265-7839
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Daikaya

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At this Japanese-inspired bar, the Real Talk is a mix of Gyokuro Green Tea Shochu, Luxardo Maraschino, Yuzu, Yellow Chartreuse, and Absinthe, garnished with a Maraschino Cherry.

705 6th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 589-1600
(202) 589-1600
R. Lopez

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District Distilling Co.

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The new bar is big on Chartreuse, and it stars in several cocktails. A unique "shift punch" Meztreuse draft cocktail contains Green Chartreuse and Illegal Mezcal Joven and can be shot ($10) or shared out of an 8-oz. carafe ($68).

1414 U St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 629-3787
(202) 629-3787
R. Lopez

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Dram and Grain

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This fall, the tiny craft cocktail stop launched a lineup inspired by drinking cities around the world. The two odes to New Orleans are heavy on Chartreuse: the Bisou (left) contains Edinburgh Gin, Green Chartreuse, Cocchi di Torino, Barbadillo Palo Cortado Sherry, Bittercube Orange Bitters, and Bergamot, while the Smoke Show has Rémy-Martin 1738 Cognac, Whistlepig 10-year Rye, Petite Chartreuse Syrup (mixture of lemon oleo of wildflower honey and Yellow Chartreuse), Peychaud's bitters, while the

2007 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 607-1572
(202) 607-1572

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El Camino

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Combining two trendy spirits — mezcal and chartreuse — the new Josefina combines peloton mezcal, green chartreuse, luxardo maraschino, lime juice, and serrano pepper at El Camino.

108 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 847-0419
(202) 847-0419
R. Lopez

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Quarter + Glory

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At this 14th Street hot spot, check out The Crack-Up, with Gin, Carpano Antica, and Green Chartreuse for $13.

2017 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 450-5757
(202) 450-5757

The Passenger

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Since reopening recently, its new Chartreuse taps go beyond pouring neat drinks; a rotating selection of cocktails put the bright spirit to good use. The French Dandy, for instance, pairs yellow Chartreuse with cognac, orange and lemon juice, ginger beer, and angostura bitters.

1539 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
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The Sheppard

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Tucked away and hidden off the bustling Dupont Circle corridor, The Sheppard's veteran bar staff handwrites menus nightly featuring complex drinks. One well-balanced recipe is for the Episcopalian Fizz, with both Green and Yellow Chartreuse, lemon, sugar, and egg white.

1337 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 744-4253
(202) 744-4253
Official

Twisted Horn

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Green chartreuse made its way into a boozy jello at this bar over the summer. Now, find yellow chartreuse in the epically-named Kyjuan Where You Getting Them Colors, Are You Dying Them?, which also features White Rum, Yellow Chartreuse, Cocchi Americano, plus watermelon, mint, and lime.

819 Upshur St NW, Washington, D.C. 20011
R. Lopez

Vieux Carre

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Leave it to this New Orleans-inspired speakeasy to whip up a highly potent cocktail with Green Chartreuse: the Bywater also contains aged rum, Averna Amaro, and Velvet Falernum.

1413 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
Official

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2 Birds 1 Stone

1800 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

The downstairs craft cocktail parlor typically switches up its cocktails on the regular--but popular concoctions like its $14 Koopa Beach stay stuck on the menu. It includes mezcal, Green Chartreuse, and house ginger beer.

1800 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

B Side

8298 Glass Alley, Fairfax, VA 22031

Yellow chartreuse is at the forefront of the I Don't Even Know Myself cocktail here, and it's made with Evan Williams bourbon, black tea, and lemon cordial as well.

8298 Glass Alley, Fairfax, VA 22031
Eater.com

Cafe Saint-Ex

1847 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

At this classic French-American bistro, find the $12 Mezcal Last Word with mezcal, Green Chartreuse, lime, and maraschino.

1847 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 265-7839
(202) 265-7839
Facebook

Daikaya

705 6th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

At this Japanese-inspired bar, the Real Talk is a mix of Gyokuro Green Tea Shochu, Luxardo Maraschino, Yuzu, Yellow Chartreuse, and Absinthe, garnished with a Maraschino Cherry.

705 6th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 589-1600
(202) 589-1600
R. Lopez

District Distilling Co.

1414 U St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

The new bar is big on Chartreuse, and it stars in several cocktails. A unique "shift punch" Meztreuse draft cocktail contains Green Chartreuse and Illegal Mezcal Joven and can be shot ($10) or shared out of an 8-oz. carafe ($68).

1414 U St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 629-3787
(202) 629-3787
R. Lopez

Dram and Grain

2007 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

This fall, the tiny craft cocktail stop launched a lineup inspired by drinking cities around the world. The two odes to New Orleans are heavy on Chartreuse: the Bisou (left) contains Edinburgh Gin, Green Chartreuse, Cocchi di Torino, Barbadillo Palo Cortado Sherry, Bittercube Orange Bitters, and Bergamot, while the Smoke Show has Rémy-Martin 1738 Cognac, Whistlepig 10-year Rye, Petite Chartreuse Syrup (mixture of lemon oleo of wildflower honey and Yellow Chartreuse), Peychaud's bitters, while the

2007 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 607-1572
(202) 607-1572

El Camino

108 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Combining two trendy spirits — mezcal and chartreuse — the new Josefina combines peloton mezcal, green chartreuse, luxardo maraschino, lime juice, and serrano pepper at El Camino.

108 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 847-0419
(202) 847-0419
R. Lopez

Quarter + Glory

2017 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

At this 14th Street hot spot, check out The Crack-Up, with Gin, Carpano Antica, and Green Chartreuse for $13.

2017 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 450-5757
(202) 450-5757

The Passenger

1539 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Since reopening recently, its new Chartreuse taps go beyond pouring neat drinks; a rotating selection of cocktails put the bright spirit to good use. The French Dandy, for instance, pairs yellow Chartreuse with cognac, orange and lemon juice, ginger beer, and angostura bitters.

1539 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
Facebook

The Sheppard

1337 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Tucked away and hidden off the bustling Dupont Circle corridor, The Sheppard's veteran bar staff handwrites menus nightly featuring complex drinks. One well-balanced recipe is for the Episcopalian Fizz, with both Green and Yellow Chartreuse, lemon, sugar, and egg white.

1337 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 744-4253
(202) 744-4253
Official

Twisted Horn

819 Upshur St NW, Washington, D.C. 20011

Green chartreuse made its way into a boozy jello at this bar over the summer. Now, find yellow chartreuse in the epically-named Kyjuan Where You Getting Them Colors, Are You Dying Them?, which also features White Rum, Yellow Chartreuse, Cocchi Americano, plus watermelon, mint, and lime.

819 Upshur St NW, Washington, D.C. 20011
R. Lopez

Vieux Carre

1413 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

Leave it to this New Orleans-inspired speakeasy to whip up a highly potent cocktail with Green Chartreuse: the Bywater also contains aged rum, Averna Amaro, and Velvet Falernum.

1413 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
Official

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