Green chartreuse is a unique spirit with a complex flavor profile. But what do you do if you can’t find it at your local liquor store?
There are several substitutes that can be used in its place, depending on the desired flavor profile. Substitutes for Green Chartreuse include Dolin Genepy, White Sambuca, herbal liqueurs like Benedictine or St. Germain and Strega.
What is Green Chartreuse?
Green Chartreuse is an exotic liqueur that has been around since the 17th century. This French elixir is made with the combination of 130 herbs and plants macerated in alcohol, including the common herb thyme. Green Chartreuse has a slightly sweet flavour and its distinctive herbal aroma is definitely recognizable.
Surprisingly, the recipe for this unique concoction still remains a closely guarded secret known only by two monks from the Grande Chartreuse monastery near Grenoble, France. With its intriguing history and complex flavor profile, it’s easy to understand why Green Chartreuse is such a popular libation enjoyed all around the world!
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Why Substitutes Green Chartreuse?
As far as liqueurs go, Green Chartreuse is one of the most popular and sought-after options. With a complex flavor profile containing myriad aromas and tastes including cloves, juniper, honey, fine herbs and more , it’s no wonder that Green Chartreuse stands out from the crowd.
Furthermore, Green Chartreuse is known as a digestif, which is alcohol specifically formulated to aid in digestion after heavy meals. Its unique combination of flavors makes for an ideal pairing with food, making it an excellent choice for after-dinner drinks or even unique cocktails.
All things considered, when compared to other liqueurs on the market it’s easy to see why Green Chartreuse reigns supreme!
7 Green Chartreuse Substitutes
If you’re looking for something to replace your bottle of Green Chartreuse, why not try an aged yellow Chartreuse? While it lacks the herbal kick of Green Chartreuse, many find that yellow Chartreuse tempts their taste buds in a unique way.
1. Dolin Genepy
Dolin Genepy is quickly becoming a popular substitute for traditional Green Chartreuse in many cocktails and recipes. This herbal liqueur has its own unique flavor profile, making it an excellent alternatives to the classic also-ran. Its particular flavor and aroma comes from a blend of sixty Alpine herbs collected on the slopes around Chambéry, France.
The taste is slightly sweet and has strong notes of nutmeg, rosemary, thyme, wormwood, mint, fennel and other herbs.
Because of the unique mix of herbs and its lower proof than the traditional Green Chartreuse (40% ABV vs 108), Dolin Genepy creates a mellower version that’s still able to offer hold its own as a great substitution in many drinks where Green Chartreuse features prominently. Definitely give it a try if you are looking for something different that still offers complexity and depth.
2. White Sambuca
White Sambuca is an herbal Italian liqueur with a distinct licorice flavor, making it the perfect substitution for Green Chartreuse in cocktails. As many of the flavors in Green Chartreuse are herbal in nature, White Sambuca’s anise flavor fits nicely into the mix and makes a great substitute.
The best way to use this liqueur is as a sweetener or digestif in drinks like Negronis, whiskey sours, and a variety of martinis. Making your own cocktail creations with White Sambuca is easy; simply add equal parts of your spirit of choice, such as vodka or whiskey, mix in some simple syrup for sweetness, and top off with one jigger of White Sambuca for a delicious and unique flavor.
3. Strega
Strega is a unique Italian herbal liqueur, known for its intense yellow color and powerful herbal notes. The primary reason for its popularity as a cocktail ingredient and Green Chartreuse substitute is its distinctive flavor profile.
It has a complex blend of over 70 herbs and spices, including juniper, saffron, fennel, and mint that comes together to provide an unmistakable sweetness with a bright bit of heat on the back end. To get the most out of it in your cocktail recipes, try adding Strega near the middle or towards the end of your list of ingredients to keep its complexity intact.
This Italian liqueur should be used sparingly though; while one-fourth or one-half ounce is plenty in most cases, too much will overwhelm other flavors in your drink.
4. Benedictine
Benedictine is an herbal liqueur that has long been considered a great substitution for the historical liqueur, Green Chartreuse. Not only does Benedictine have a similar flavor profile and color, it’s also easily accessible and much more affordable than its traditional counterpart.
The flavors contributed from the 27 herbs found in Benedictine blend together perfectly to create subtle notes of spice, citrus and warming honey.
While it’s mainly enjoyed as an after-dinner digestif, its sweet yet balance nature makes it a perfect ingredient to enhance cocktails or even replace sweeter liqueurs like amaretto.
As far as using Benedictine in place of Green Chartreuse in drinks recipes, just be sure to adjust how much you use accordingly since Green Chartreuse is more concentrated compared to Benedictine.
5. Drambuie
Drambuie is a whisky-based liqueur infused with honey, herbs, and spices giving it complexity and sweetness.
Drambuie is most commonly known for its subtle smoky aroma and its light amber color. When used in a cocktail, the smokiness of the liqueur creates balance between different flavors while amplifying the sweet notes.Due to this balance, it makes Drambuie a well-rounded spirit suitable for honoring specialty drinks or as an ingredient in classic libations like Rusty Nails or Rob Roys.
6. Jagermeister
Jagermeister is a powerful and distinct liqueur that has commonly been used to substitute the strong herbal taste of Green Chartreuse. It adds a bold sweetness with hints of clove, anise, ginger, juniper and citrus fruits to cocktails.
For top mixologists, Jagermeister is a great alternative spirit to use when creating unique drinks. It’s best served cold over ice or in more traditional drinks such as the Espresso Martini or as part of an Old-Fashioned base. In order to get the most out of its robust flavor, it needs to be properly mixed and balanced inthe drink.
To this end, it helps to experiment with additional ingredients like citrus juices or bitters in order to create more complex flavor profiles; once masterd, Jagermeister really lends itself well towards creative mixes.
7. Angostura Bitters
Angostura Bitters is a versatile aromatic that has become quite the popular substitute for Green Chartreuse in modern cocktails. Joyously spicy, with clove and cinnamon notes, this herbal extract packs quite the punch! Used to balance out heavy syrups or sweet liqueurs, Angostura Bitters can take any cocktail to the next level of flavor.
Mixologists recommend adding a touch of Angostura Bitters to rum-based drinks such as mojitos or caipirinhas, as well as whiskey-based beverages like the old fashioned. It’s also perfect for tea-infused concoctions and fruity libations. Try using Angostura Bitters the next time you mix up one of your favorite cocktails; it’s sure to give your cocktail a unique and tantalizing flavor profile you will love!
Curacao – A sweet, orange-flavored liqueur
Originating from the island of Curacao near Venezuela, this sweet liqueur truly is a unique experience. Reminiscent of oranges, Curacao has a delightful flavor that can make perfectly balanced drinks or stand alone as an aperitif.
It can also be used as a substitute for green chartreuse in cocktails like the Last Word which gives it an extra layer of complexity. With its rich history and infusion of orange and subtler flavors, Curacao provides bartenders and mixologists with a variety of possibilities to create new drinks and new experiences.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a substitution for green chartreuse, there are many options available. Consider what flavor profile you’re looking for and choose the substitute that best fits your needs. From sweet to herbal to bitter, there’s a green chartreuse substitute out there for everyone.