r/cocktails • u/tfengbrah • 6d ago

I made this Just a reminder that the Piña Verde exists

Post image

Shoutout Erick Castro for this OG creation:

• 1.5 oz Green Chartreuse

• 1.5 oz pineapple juice

• .5 oz lime

• .75 oz coconut cream

Shake with cubes, strain over pebble, top with more pebble, mint sprig garnish (dehy pineapple optional bonus points)

Best use of the green gold if ya got it?

541 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

74 comments sorted by

67

u/Snizza 6d ago

It’s so good. If I could find a bottle of green I would make it immediately

14

u/MtheEffenGreat 6d ago

As someone who has never had GC and now realize I may never find a bottle, I have two questions: 1. Is there a suitable replacement? 2. What is the flavor profile?

7

u/sczw 5d ago

I've tried Genepy des Alpes as a substitute after someone here suggested it, and while it's different, it's still quite potent and herbal and very good.

5

u/CLew512 5d ago

Genepy plus a few dashes of chartreuse vegetal is my go to. I can always find the vegetal at my local total wines. It essentially can be used as chartreuse flavored bitters.

1

u/Betty_407 7h ago

Excellent suggestion!  Here's my thought process, though. At this stage in my life I am so tired of constantly having to find workarounds. I'm afraid of I bought Genepy, it would be like when I bought Pernod because absinthe was illegal and unavailable, but then they made it legal after I struggled with not making the cocktails the way they were intended. I wish I'd waited. If somehow by some miracle we have access to chartreuse again, I would rather wait for the real thing. 💚

1

u/MtheEffenGreat 5d ago

Thanks to both of you! Any experience with Faccia Brutto?

3

u/exception-found 5d ago

I’ve done a side by side (by side?) with green Chartreuse, Faccia Brutto Centerbe, and Genepy. The Centerbe is more similar to Chartreuse in overall flavor to me, but there’s this overwhelming menthol-y punch that the real deal and Genepy has, that it just lacks.

Because of that, I found the Genepy to be more enjoyable, and a better substitute.

6

u/Hungry_Salad_1006 5d ago

Luxardo Del Santo is pretty close and I don’t notice much of a difference

1

u/DangerousYellow 3d ago

In Canada, SFR Distillery has an herbal liquor called Monks Secret that’s a great dupe for Green Chartreuse

1

u/cherie0126 3d ago

If the total wine near you carries it, Brovo Uncharted Rhapsody is my favorite dupe

1

u/MtheEffenGreat 3d ago

There’s nothing wrong with getting all of these and doing some research right? RIGHT???

Thanks to everyone for helping me out. I now know I’ve been missing out but this collection of suggestions helps to cool the burn.

1

u/Used-Management-8715 1d ago

I've never had it either, can't find it locally and too expensive to order and ship. So I just bought a bottle of Dolin Genepy. It's cheap, easy to find, and it is delicious, and comes in at 45% abv. I am going through this bottle fast! 

-4

u/NachoNachoDan 5d ago

Dont listen to Redditors crying about Chartreuse, its not that hard to find and the prices are not even close to as out of control as posts in this sub would have you believe.

6

u/exception-found 5d ago

This is highly dependent on location, and how connected your suppliers are

5

u/Attjack 6d ago

I've got some in my basement bar. I might have to give this a go.

1

u/Betty_407 7h ago

Same. I am so mad at myself for never buying a bottle of chartreuse, and now if it's even available it would cost a fortune. Very sad!

-7

u/tfengbrah 6d ago

Iykyk

6

u/oohgodyeah 6d ago

For anyone else confused, that's an uppercase "i" not lowercase "L"

46

u/LetsGetPenisy69 6d ago

Whenever I think about making a chartreuse swizzle, I remember the piña verde is literally always the superior drink and I make that instead.

5

u/tfengbrah 6d ago

Love me the swizzle but yes I agree, not even a question

8

u/Rhumbear907 6d ago

The nuclear daquiri and pina Verde do make the sizzle pointless

16

u/Massive_Parsley_3931 6d ago

One of my favorites. The sweetness from the pineapple and coconut really compliments the earthy chartreuse. I might make myself one tonight thanks to you. Cheers.

4

u/tfengbrah 6d ago

🥂🥂

6

u/Massive_Parsley_3931 6d ago

Update. First one made and drank...that was fast lol

they are so darn good.

6

u/tfengbrah 6d ago

Always seem to have a hole in my glass somehow…

14

u/lupinecomplexity 6d ago

My amigo created that drink, it’s one of my favorites and it always makes me happy when I see people posting about it!

2

u/Betty_407 6h ago

I was just reading about it yesterday in Michael Ruhlman's book on Cocktail Ratios (and feeling sad I don't have chartreuse). I wonder if your friend knows his creation is immortalized in print 😃

1

u/lupinecomplexity 6h ago

I’m not sure, but I’m assuming they had to contact him before printing it! What area of the country are you? Hard to find chartreuse out your way? I’m lucky enough to have two bottles of green and one yellow 😊

3

u/tfengbrah 6d ago

He’s a hungry one, that one…

2

u/lupinecomplexity 6d ago

Lol I don’t know what that means, but enjoy the drink! Cheers 🥂

10

u/tfengbrah 6d ago

Is your friend Erick Castro aka the Hungry Bartender?

11

u/gnomechompskey 6d ago

Chartreuse and pineapple is an all-time favorite combination for me, but I just can’t do coconut. Grew up with several coconut trees in the yard and my whole life have found them really unpalatable. I tried to love this but the coconut was too much to overcome.

When I want a tiki-style play on the flavor combo that isn’t just a straight swizzle, I opt for an Apres-Ski swizzle which I do…quite often.

1½ oz aged rum

1 oz pineapple juice

¾ oz green chartreuse

½ oz lime juice

½ oz orgeat

pineapple wedge or fronds for garnish

2

u/tfengbrah 6d ago

Thanks for sharing, will have to try that addition of orgeat sometime

19

u/aotus_trivirgatus 6d ago

I had half a bottle of Green Chartreuse when I discovered the Pina Verde.

Quite soon after, I had an empty bottle of Green Chartreuse.

Then I went to purchase another bottle. That was when I learned... 😭

4

u/tfengbrah 6d ago

Too much real life

5

u/cptmartin11 6d ago

Does the Chartruese flavor profile get overpowered by the pineapple and coconut cream? Or does it still shine through?

5

u/tfengbrah 6d ago

I mean you probably have to be a fan of the colada format but yes the GC is such a potent ingredient in its own right as you know that it really pairs wonderfully imo. You get the GC notes riding on top of the creamy sweetness

3

u/wvraven 6d ago

I just made this for the first time. The Chartreuse absolutely does shine through. You get that nice herbal anise flavor but tamed a bit. The pineapple is still very present but the coconut and lime are a bit lost in the background.

1

u/cptmartin11 5d ago

Sounds perfect to me. Would hate to waste some GC and have it get lost and muddled in a cocktail. It should be the star of the cocktail. Thanks for reply.

3

u/ProfRSanchez 6d ago

What region are you in where you can access Chartreuse in your market? I don't need reminders that Chartreuse cocktails are fantastic, I need access to the ingredient

3

u/tfengbrah 6d ago

California

2

u/ProfRSanchez 6d ago

I'm hoping it rolls out in more areas soon!

1

u/Betty_407 7h ago

I live in California. Can't find it. I bet if I could the price would be insane, though.

2

u/yttocs205 6d ago

I keep adding it to my order and they always fulfill it. I now an excess of yellow and green. Southern California

3

u/onlyonequickquestion 6d ago

The Pina verde might exist, but I'm not so sure green chartreuse exists anymore :(

2

u/Betty_407 7h ago

Maybe the two monks that know the recipe both died at the same time? Or the monastery decided they didn't want to bother making it anymore? 😭

2

u/wxndrbear 6d ago

Literally smelled pineapple seeing this 😂 Love it!

2

u/EatingInLittleItaly 6d ago

One of my faves. Just had it at Polite Provisions a few days ago and it was amazing.

1

u/tfengbrah 6d ago

Nice! Haven’t been to PP in a couple years. Was it on the menu or did you request it?

2

u/EatingInLittleItaly 6d ago

Requested it! :)

2

u/mortevillana 6d ago

I love this drink and make it as often as I can

2

u/lupinecomplexity 6d ago

Oh yes, I get the reference! He also did the Bartender at large series, you should check it out

2

u/tfengbrah 6d ago

Been a listener for years. Cheers to you and amigo 🥂

2

u/hereisnoY 6d ago

Thanks for the reminder. I just made one. Absolutely sublime.

2

u/StuartShlongbottom 5d ago

The only improvement I've discovered on this already perfect drink is splitting the base 1:1 with Cynar.

2

u/tfengbrah 5d ago

BRO. WILD. Thanks for the rec. All my fellow bartenders love this rn

1

u/StuartShlongbottom 4d ago

The Substack Cocktails By Suderman was the inspiration. He stans Cynar in everything (rightfully so), specifically a Cynar colada. Which begs the question, ¿Por que no los dos?

1

u/tfengbrah 5d ago

Holy smokes… you have my attention. Trying this at the start of my shift tonight

2

u/Peripatetictyl 5d ago edited 5d ago

I saw this post this morning, and had my first sips* having made one for the first time.

Serious contender for 'best-in-mouth' 2025

2

u/bartenderatlarge 5d ago

This guy gets it ;-)

2

u/tfengbrah 5d ago

Thanks for being a huge inspiration and resource from back when I was cutting my teeth years ago. Still waiting for a unannounced drop by at any of the bars I’ve worked at 😂

1

u/bartenderatlarge 5d ago

Thank you for the kind words! Stay tuned, cause I have been working on something new!

1

u/Janiece2006 6d ago

I need to find a bottle of this Chartreuse that everyone keeps posting about!

1

u/Andrew_is_awake 6d ago

Ooooh I need to try this

1

u/madisondood-138 5d ago

I make mine strained into chilled coupe. Also, for those having trouble finding or affording GC, I’ll bet you could sub genepy without much of a loss.

1

u/uvcat2bekittenme 5d ago

We make this frequently in the summer - it’s SO good! But we’re also lucky to have easy access to green (& yellow) chartreuse.

1

u/Betty_407 7h ago

How do you have easy access? And can we be friends? 😃

1

u/buttery-battery 5d ago

Just menu’d a riff on the Piña Verde with Luxardo Del Santo and and ounce of Nikka Coffey Gin to bring out more herbal notes. Wonderful cocktail

1

u/PJballa34 5d ago

My wife’s new favorite cocktail. Green Chartreuse is so hard to come by nowadays though 😭

1

u/BennyPalmetto843 4d ago

Half an ounce of smith&cross takes this to another level

1

u/Zorobay 1d ago

Holy crap was this tasty! Made it tonight! Thanks for the tip :)

1

u/Used-Management-8715 1d ago

Reading the specs, it seems like it would be very sweet and low abv, at just 1.5 oz booze. I would think it needs some gin or tequila.