Equal parts gin, Green Chartreuse, and sweet vermouth meet a dash of orange bitters in the Bijou, among the most herbaceous entries in the classic cocktail canon. Stirred over ice and strained, it reaches roughly 28 percent ABV, with the herbal firepower of Chartreuse at its center and the gin's botanicals and the vermouth's sweetness arranged around it. The name means jewel in French, a reference to the three gem-like ingredients said to evoke diamond, emerald, and ruby. Demanding and intensely flavored, it rewards drinkers seeking complexity over restraint.
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Bijou
Ingrédients
- Orange bitters 1 dash
- Green Chartreuse 1 oz
- Gin 1 oz
- Sweet Vermouth 1 oz
Instructions
Stir in mixing glass with ice and strain
Bijou is a rare and intensely flavored cocktail that brings together equal parts gin, Green Chartreuse, and sweet vermouth, with a dash of orange bitters — a combination that creates one of the most complex and herbaceous drinks in the classic cocktail canon. At 28.49% ABV, it is a powerful and demanding cocktail with the herbal firepower of Chartreuse at its center. The name means 'jewel' in French, a reference to the three gem-like ingredients.
History & Origins
The Bijou was created in the late 19th century by Harry Johnson, and appears in his 1900 Bartenders' Manual. The cocktail's three main ingredients — gin, Green Chartreuse, and sweet vermouth — were said to represent the three precious stones: diamond (gin), emerald (Chartreuse), and ruby (vermouth). It is one of the great forgotten classics that has been rediscovered by the modern cocktail revival.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Intensely herbal and complex; the 130-herb character of Green Chartreuse dominates, layered with the botanicals of gin and the sweet wine-fruit notes of vermouth and orange bitters. Palate: A dense, complex, and powerful spirit-forward cocktail; the Chartreuse provides herbal-sweetness, the gin botanical sharpness, and the vermouth a binding fruit-wine richness. Finish: Exceptionally long and warming, with lingering herbal complexity.
Pro Tip
Use a room-temperature mixing glass and large, slow-melting ice to stir this high-proof cocktail to perfect dilution without watering down its powerful flavors.
Techniques utilisées
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Bijou cocktail unique among classic gin drinks?
The Bijou is exceptional for its use of Green Chartreuse alongside gin, sweet vermouth, and orange bitters—the Chartreuse's herbal complexity involving over 130 plant ingredients creates one of the most botanically rich classic cocktails. At approximately 28.49% ABV, it is a stirred, spirit-forward drink with extraordinary aromatic depth.
What does 'Bijou' mean and what does it tell us about the cocktail?
Bijou is French for 'jewel,' and the cocktail's name refers to the three gem-like colors of its ingredients: the green of Chartreuse (emerald), the red of sweet vermouth (ruby), and the clear yellow of gin (diamond). This gem-themed naming reflects the cocktail's origins in the late Victorian era when theatrical, evocative names were fashionable.
Who created the Bijou cocktail?
The Bijou is attributed to Harry Johnson, who published the recipe in his 1900 Bartender's Manual, one of the foundational texts of American cocktail history. Johnson's inclusion of the Bijou established it as a canonical 19th-century classic, and its use of Chartreuse helped popularize the liqueur among American bartenders.
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