The Grilled Ingredient Upgrade For Your Summertime Chartreuse Swizzle

Jul 29, 2023

If you're a chartreuse fan, then there's probably a good chance that you navigate life with a profound appreciation of its finer things. We see you, and we feel you. Chartreuse swizzles are an uncomplicated yet sophisticated combination of chartreuse, falernum, and lime juice. The taste of chartreuse is difficult to describe because there really is nothing like it. It's floral, perfumey, heavily herbaceous, slightly fruity, then minty on the end. The recipe is top secret, but we do know that its blend of 130 herbs and botanicals includes citrus rind, saffron, and thyme. It's produced exclusively in the town of Voiron (Isère), France, and as such, a bottle retails in the ballpark of $70. Long story short: This swizzle isn't your average summertime sipper. For cocktail fans like you, no ordinary garnish will do. That's why, for your next summertime chartreuse swizzle, try tossing some pineapple on the grill.

When you swing by the liquor store, you'll likely find that chartreuse comes in two types: Green and yellow. Green chartreuse is made with sugar beets, gets its color from chlorophyll, and totes a 55% ABV. Yellow chartreuse is made with grapes, is slightly sweeter, pigmented by saffron, and clocks in at 40% ABV. For your next grilled pineapple chartreuse swizzle, feel free to use either type of chartreuse to suit your flavor and strength preferences. Either way, pairing it with the spiced falernum and the sweet-savory char of the grilled pineapple will instantly create a dimensional flavor profile.

To take your backyard barbecue cocktail game to the next level, start by tossing some pineapple slices on the grill until they're rippled with a smoky char. We recommend grilling fresh pineapple over canned, as it'll do a better job of forming grill marks. Then, chop up a slice of the grilled pineapple and muddle it in the bottom of a Collins glass. This will provide a savory, elevated base for the drink. Top the fruit with a generous pile of crushed ice, then pour in the chartreuse, falernum, and lime juice. Then, simply do as the drink's namesake implies and swizzle away to mix.

If you've never tried it before, falernum is a rum-based liqueur flavored with spices, lime and, almond. It totes a low ABV of 11-18% and is loaded with cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger. As you may have noticed, those spices pair well with pineapple. Admittedly, falernum can be tough to track down in liquor stores, but it's fairly easy to whip up a batch at home and play around with the levels of spiciness and adjust the ingredients to your taste — which can be especially helpful when tailoring a cocktail around the strong flavor of chartreuse.

Garnish with the grilled pineapple wedge, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and a lime wheel. You could even add an edible flower like a marigold, or sweeten with honey if you want to take the edge off the sharp herbal palate.