In Death Proof’s seedy Texan watering hole scene, Quentin Tarantino’s signature cameo character — this time a wily sleaze of a barkeep — feeds shots of mysterious green liqueur to his unwitting and saturated clientele. His response to a post-quaff barrage of gag-reflexes and slurred obscenities is an emphatic defense: “Chartreuse! The only liquor so good, they named a colour after it!”
Whether you agree or disagree with barkeep Tarantino, or have absolutely no clue what Chartreuse is (other than an obscure, unattractive shade of green), its unique flavours and colourful history make it as unmistakable as its hue.
Often touted as one of the world’s oldest liqueurs, Chartreuse was first distilled in 1764 by French monks of the liqueur’s namesake order. Adapted from the archaic manuscript of a sixteenth-century alchemist, the complex recipe for an “Elixir,” later dubbed the “Elixir of Long Life,” detailed an intricate process involving the the infusion and maceration of a blend of 130 obscure botanicals. The result — consumed initially as a health tonic before gaining notoriety as a delectable digestif — was the Elixir Vegetal de la Grande-Chartreuse, a stiff and distinctive all-natural integration of various botanicals based in wine alcohol.
The original green elixir was joined by a sweeter, mellower sister liqueur in 1838. Attributing its sunny tinge to saffron infusion, yellow Chartreuse clocks in at a mere 40 per cent alcohol, making it much less pungent than its overproof elder, which boasts a 55 per cent alcohol content. Both green and yellow Chartreuse are remarkably vegetal, with complex sweet and spicy notes. Best served extremely cold — hard core fans enjoy Chartreuse on the rocks — the liqueurs mix beautifully with other floral and herbal flavours, and are accompanied nicely by notes of apple, lemon and spice. When mixing with chartreuse, rinses or teaspoon quantities are common, given the liqueur’s overbearing distinctiveness.
Distilled exclusively by two Carthusian brothers bequeathed with the liqueur’s secret recipe, both green and yellow Chartreuse are available at the LCBO. Sold in 375 mL bottles — the more potent green version will run you $30.80, while the vintage yellow is more moderate at $27.95 — the elixirs of la Grande-Chartreuse are steadily gaining notoriety in the city’s cocktail scene. Sip on Scott McMaster’s The Longhouse George ($14) at Colborne Lane, a mixture of Canadian Club, vanilla syrup, apple liqueur and chocolate bitters rinsed with green Chartreuse. Or, try the Asian-inspired Spadina ($13) by Barchef’s Frankie Solarik, an exquisite blend of jasmine-infused vodka, dragon ball syrup, fresh lemon, sweet vermouth and yellow Chartreuse. After a few sips, you’ll know exactly what Tarantino’s Death Proof bartender is talking about when he proclaims, “Now is that a tasty beverage, or is that a TASTY beverage?”