Bijou
A glittering pre-Prohibition gem named for the French word for jewel, combining gin, sweet vermouth, and green Chartreuse in equal measure. Each ingredient represents a different precious stone — diamond, ruby, and emerald.
Ingredients
- 1 oz Green Chartreuse
- 1 oz Gin (London dry)
- 1 oz Sweet vermouth
- 1 dash Orange bitters
- lemon peel twist (garnish) garnish
- brandied cherry (garnish) garnish
Pairs With
Serve with aged cheese (Gruyère or Manchego) and cured charcuterie to match the cocktail's elegant pre-dinner sophistication. The interplay of gin botanicals and sweet vermouth calls for refined, savory bites.
Instructions
Add gin, green Chartreuse, sweet vermouth, and orange bitters to a mixing glass filled with ice
Stir steadily for 30 seconds until well-chilled and properly diluted
Strain into a chilled coupe glass
Express a lemon peel over the surface of the drink and drop it in
Add a brandied cherry to the glass
Tips
Use a quality sweet vermouth like Carpano Antica or Cocchi di Torino — the vermouth does heavy lifting in this cocktail The original 1890s recipe used equal parts, but many modern bartenders prefer 1.5 oz gin with 0.75 oz each of the others to let the gin lead This cocktail benefits from a long, patient stir — the dilution is crucial for taming the Chartreuse and vermouth together