Summer Cocktail Recipe: The Alpine Spritz

It is safe to say that we’ve all tried — or have at least heard about — the bittersweet, orange-hued, Italian classic, Aperol Spritz.

I have chosen to welcome spring with an alpine-inspired version that conjures up the flavors and aromatics of this season of new growth. This effervescent cocktail gets both its naturally vibrant, green color and its herbaceous complexity from what many consider to be the single, greatest liqueur in the world, Chartreuse. 

Carefully distilled from 130 different herbs and botanicals, the recipe for Chartreuse is one of the most carefully guarded secrets in the spirits world. The Carthusian monks, who reside in the Chartreuse Mountains of southeast France, craft this herbal liqueur, and only two members of the order are permitted to know the secret recipe, originally written in 1605, at any given time. Both a yellow and a green version are crafted and then barrel-aged, and they are favorites of bartenders around the world. Equally delicious on its own, Chartreuse also brings complexity and depth to mixed drinks, such as my favorite classic cocktail, the Last Word. 

This dramatic wine cocktail reflects the emerging, green colors of the season and is a perfect aperitif for these welcomed, warmer months.

THE ALPINE SPRITZ

1 ounce Green Chartreuse

1/4 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

1/4 ounce simple syrup

3-4 ounces dry sparkling white wine

Fresh herbs, for garnish

1. In a mixing tin, combine the Green Chartreuse, lime juice and simple syrup.

2. Add ice, shake and strain into a wine glass filled with ample ice.

3. Top with dry sparkling wine.

4. Garnish with sprigs of fresh rosemary or thyme.

Originally published in the Spring 2021 issue

NOTE

To maintain this cocktail’s balance, choose a dry (“brut”) sparkling white wine, since the Green Chartreuse already has a little sweetness to it.