Greenpoint Cocktail
I just returned from a weeklong vacation at Priest Lake, Idaho. It was wonderful to disconnect in the land of very little cell service or WiFi. My phone even congratulated me for reducing my screen time by 55%. Anyhow, I’m home now and after a week of beach lounging and day drinking, I’m ready to get back to my less indulgent evening cocktail routine! (Ha!) I love August in the Pacific Northwest. This evening there was a nice breeze and the temperature was ideal for a cocktail on the patio. After browsing my cocktail books and the internet, I decided to check out the Greenpoint Cocktail, which is named after a neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY. The cocktail was created by NY cocktail bar, Milk & Honey. The Greenpoint is similar to a Manhattan but incorporates yellow Chartreuse. Chartreuse is a very old liqueur made by monks in the French Alps. Its original purpose was medicinal and it was thought to be an elixir of long life! The liqueur is very herbal- a concoction of 130 plants that people can only speculate on. The original Chartreuse is the green version which is a bit more bitter and higher proof than the yellow, which has honey and saffron. Yellow Chartreuse is considered sweeter and more mellow which is why many people like how it pairs with whiskey.
I mixed up the cocktail and enjoyed it out on the patio. At first sip, I felt it was pretty boozy and wasn’t entirely sold on it, if I’m being honest. As I continued sipping, it grew on me but I think I like a straight up Manhattan better. That said, it’s fun to try something new and the Chartreuse definitely brings a different flavor profile. While many describe tasting honey, I felt the anise flavor stood out more. For me, it wasn’t quite smooth enough. If you have yellow Chartreuse on hand, you should give it a go and see what you think! I like to think of this blog as a cocktail journal so I may not be in love with every cocktail I try. I will post my notes and you can offer your opinions in the comments. Please let me know what you think!
Greenpoint Cocktail
Ingredients:
2 oz rye whiskey
1/2 oz yellow Chartreuse
1/2 oz sweet vermouth
dash of Angostura bitters
dash of orange bitters
Method:
Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir until well chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with twist of orange peel.
Recipe created by Milk & Honey.
