The Bijou Cocktail was mentioned in the comments yesterday, and it’s definitely worth featuring here. At the heart of this drink is one of the most complex liqueurs, Chartreuse. Specifically this uses green Chartreuse, a very potent liqueur (110 proof) flavored from extracts from 130 different plants. According to legend, Chartreuse was an “elixir of long life” produced by Charthusian monks.

Bijou is the French word for “Jewel,” and history has it the name comes from the colors of the main ingredients. Gin represents the diamond, the vermouth the ruby and the Chartreuse is the emerald.

Some recipes have equal parts of all of the ingredients, which leads to a very Chartreuse-heavy drink. The recipe I present here has less Chartreuse, which is balanced out by the sweet vermouth. Don’t be fooled by recipes calling for dry vermouth. Dry vermouth, gin and Chartreuse will result in a drink most probably will not enjoy.

This drink is one of those that emphasizes the art in cocktails. Blending the botanicals of gin with Chartreuse, but balanced out by the sweet vermouth. Brilliant.

Fun Fact: Rachel Maddow made this cocktail on “Late Night with Jimmy Kimmel”

Bijou

• 3/4 oz gin
• 3/4 oz sweet vermouth
• 1/4 oz green Chartreuse
• dash of orange bitters

Stir over ice in a mixing glass, strain into a chilled cocktail glass and serve.