Two Chatreuse Swizzles, but one substituting in genepy for the chartreuse.
Tasting Notes
Rory: Well, they’re very similar but also definitely distinct; I feel like I’d probably be able to get it right in a triangle test but I don’t know if I’d be able to get it right without a reference.
I feel in the genepy swizzle that the pineapple’s coming through a bit more, so the flavor is a bit more fruity and warm; I think the chartreuse ended a little cooler. The nutmeg goes nicely with both.
Yeah, trying the chartreuse again, it’s definitely a heavier drink. The chartreuse comes in right at the start and stays until the end like a heavy blanket. The genepy version is much lighter and pulls back by the end so the finish is mostly pineapple with some herbs in it; it’s a bit more refreshing. I could probably drink this like water, though I shouldn’t.
One more sip of the chartreuse version, and maybe I didn’t do a great job swizzling them; it’s a little less heavy than it was before. I’m pretty convinced I could tell them apart without reference, actually.
I think they’re both good, but for my tastes, I’d give the edge to the genepy version - I’m happy to be pleased by the cheaper thing, but I don’t feel very refined saying it. It’s pretty close; I think in the actual summer I might prefer the chartreuse, versus today, which was just an unseasonably warm day in march.
Ryan: We’ve found some drinks we like better with genepy over chatreuse (like the Last Word) so we were curious how it does here. And I do think I like the genepy version a little better. The genepy one clearly has less herbal notes, and things like the pineapple come through a lot more, but overall it works really well. However, after a little bit it feels like the genepy really fades out and the dominant flavor is pineapple. It’s still tasty and refreshing but it feels like it loses some complexity.
Haus Alpenz publishes a genepy swizzle with a slightly altered ratio from the Chatreuse version, but surprisingly it actually drops the genepy and the lime, leaving the pineapple alone, so I’m not sure I want to try that. If we do make it with genepy again, I want to tweak the ratio somehow.
Recipe
- 1 1⁄2 oz green Chartreuse / Dolin Génépy le Chamois
- 1 oz pineapple juice
- 3⁄4 oz fresh lime juice
- 1⁄2 oz John D. Taylor’s Velvet Falernum
Swizzle with ice. Garnish with grated nutmeg and a sprig of mint.
Source: Smuggler’s Cove