Fall

The Bijou

by:
December 27, 2016
4
4 Ratings
The Bijou
Photo by fiveandspice
  • Prep time 5 minutes
  • Serves 1
Author Notes

A cocktail from the 19th century, slightly updated for modern tastes. Bijou is French for jewel because the three ingredients theoretically represented jewels: gin for diamonds, sweet vermouth for rubies, Green Chartreuse for emeralds. Classy! I love this drink but it is kind of weird and intense and herbal. If the combination of gin and chartreuse is just too herbaceous for you, you can also try replacing the gin with rye whiskey (which would basically make the cocktail known as the Greenpoint) or with Irish whiskey (to make the drink known as the Tipperary). —fiveandspice

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1.5 ounces gin (preferably a lighter style gin, like a Plymouth Gin – when I make it I use Boreal Cedar Gin from our distillery)
  • 1 ounce sweet vermouth
  • .5 ounces Green Chartreuse
  • 1 dash orange bitters
Directions
  1. Stir all the ingredients with ice until well chilled (20-30 seconds), and strain into a cocktail coupe. Cheers.
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3 Reviews

jmangan
jmangan January 16, 2017
This cocktails is truly delicious on a cold winter night in Northern California! I used Carpano Antica Vermouth; therefore, the flavor profile was lush and herbal. Will be adding this to my home cocktail recipe list.

I especially like how the author provided the riffs to make a Greenpoint, or the Tipperary.
 
Greenstuff
Greenstuff December 29, 2016
I am definitely trying this one, too bad it's not even noon here.

Another option would be to switch out the sweet vermouth for dry. Years ago, I read about adding a bit of Chartreuse to a martini glass, swirling it around, and dumping the excess before pouring the martini. It's delicious, and I think a dash of orange bitters would work well with it.
 
fiveandspice
fiveandspice December 29, 2016
Ooh, yes that sounds good! Like a cross between a martini and an Alaska! I think I'll have to give that a try as well.