Hello once again, and welcome to the first weekend of the off season. This week I’m going back to the Savoy cocktail book for some inspiration. Originally, I wanted to use the orgeat I have from my friends bar again, and I thought there was a gin based orgeat drink in there. I’m sure there is, but of course I forgot to mark the page.

What I did find was a gin based chartreuse cocktail. Now I’ve had a bottle of green for a while because apparently it’s now worth is weight in gold. I figured it’s been a while since I broke it out, so I might as well use it, especially since I got it to drink it after all.

Sand Martin  Cocktail

1 teaspoon Green Chartreuse

1/2 Italian (Sweet) Vermouth (1.5 oz.)

1/2 Dry Gin (1.5 again)

Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass

Surprisingly neutral nose on this one. I figured with such strong ingredients like chartreuse and especially gin, there would be more up front here. I might be getting a little bit of the chartreuse’s earth-y and herbal tones going back in, but they’re very faint. Also I think I might be able to pick them up because I’m actively looking for them, so there is that.

What the chartreuse lacks in aromas, it more than makes up for in the flavors. It comes in strong as soon as you take a sip here. Chartreuse is definitely one of the stronger ingredients in my arsenal, but if I had guessed, I would have guessed the gin would lead the way. Instead, the gin is a support act here. Despite the strength of the chartreuse up front, I think the gin is holding it back, and doing a good job of it at that. The gin does also add a nice depth to the overall palate as well. Once the initial blast of Chartreuse wears off, that’s where the gin herbal flavors take over, and remind you that yes, there is in fact gin in this. It’s a nice transition from earth-y flavors to the juniper led gin herbs taking center stage for a bit.

On top of the gin flexing it’s muscles, right about now is where the sweet vermouth shines. It definitely doesn’t take a main role at all, but the sweet tones it brings to the table are really noticed here. They only come in right at the end, but they are there right when you need them to counter the gin and the Chartreuse. and balance those two out as best it can. The drink finishes this way, with a hint of vermouth on the palate that hangs around for a little bit, but not for terribly long. Which is appreciated.

I’m glad I made this. It’s something a little bit different, and I was happy to break out the Chartreuse again. It’s been a while since I’ve used that. It’s a nice change of pace from the medium martinis I’ve been rocking out of the Savoy book lately.

(Banner image courtesy Matthew Tetrault Photography)