Chartreuse Swizzle

The Chartreuse Swizzle is a modern tiki-classic cocktail created by San Francisco bartender Marcovaldo Dionysos in the early 2000s. It’s a brilliant and potent drink that showcases the complex herbal notes of Chartreuse in a refreshing, tropical format.

It’s famously easy to make (just build and swizzle!) but delivers a sophisticated and unforgettable flavor experience.

Table of Contents

This cocktail is a perfect balance of strong, sweet, sour, and refreshing. The key is using crushed ice, which is essential for the proper dilution and chilling that a swizzle requires.

Glass: Collins Glass, Highball, or a Tiki Mug
Method: Swizzle

Ingredients

1 ¼ oz / 37 ml Green Chartreuse

1 oz / 30 ml Fresh Pineapple Juice
¾ oz / 22 ml Fresh Lime Juice
½ oz / 15 ml Velvet Falernum (or a rich simple syrup if you can’t find Falernum)

Garnish: Freshly grated nutmeg and a mint sprig.

Instructions

Prepare the Glass: Fill your chosen glass to the top with finely crushed or pebble ice.
Build the Drink: Pour all the ingredients—Green Chartreuse, pineapple juice, lime juice, and Falernum—directly over the ice.

Swizzle! Take a swizzle stick (or a long bar spoon if you don’t have one) and rapidly spin it back and forth between your palms. Do this until the outside of the glass becomes frosty. This chills, dilutes, and mixes the drink perfectly.
Top Up: Add more crushed ice to create a nice mound over the top of the glass.
Garnish: Generously grate fresh nutmeg over the ice. Add a vibrant sprig of mint by slapping it against your hand to release its aroma, then placing it in the glass.

Why This Cocktail Works

Chartreuse as the Base: Using a liqueur as strong and complex as Green Chartreuse (55% ABV/110 proof) as the primary spirit is bold. The swizzle method tames its intensity without masking its unique herbal character.
The Tropical Balance: The pineapple juice provides tropical sweetness, the lime juice adds necessary acidity, and the Falernum contributes subtle notes of spice, lime, and almond that complement the Chartreuse beautifully.
The Nutmeg Garnish: This is not optional! The aroma of fresh nutmeg is a classic tiki touch that ties the entire drink together, adding a warm, earthy fragrance that enhances every sip.

Key Tips for Success

Crushed Ice is Non-Negotiable: Cubes won’t provide the same dilution or chilling effect. If you don’t have a crushed ice maker, wrap ice cubes in a Lewis bag or clean kitchen towel and whack it with a mallet or rolling pin.
Use Fresh Juice: Bottled pineapple juice will make a noticeably flatter, less vibrant drink.
What is Velvet Falernum? This is a Barbadian liqueur with flavors of clove, almond, lime, and ginger. It’s a key ingredient in many tiki drinks. If you absolutely cannot find it, a rich spice-infused syrup can be a partial substitute, but you’ll lose some complexity.

Don’t Own a Swizzle Stick? A long bar spoon or even a handful of straws can be used to “swizzle” by spinning them rapidly between your palms.

The Chartreuse Swizzle is a true bartender’s favorite—a deceptively simple recipe that results in a deeply complex and refreshing cocktail. Enjoy