Photo: Susanna Bolle
With its phosphorescent color and complex mix of flavors, Chartreuse is a truly enigmatic liqueur. Its exact recipe–consisting of 130 plants and flowers–is known by only three monks at the Carthusian monastery in Chartreuse, France, which has produced the green liqueur since 1737 (the lower-alcohol yellow version dates from 1838). It’s tough stuff to describe without inadvertently conjuring images of overpriced botanical cough syrup. Yet while Chartreuse may be good for what ails you, it’s also oh-so tasty.
This Friday, June 4, you can sample some of this lovely liquid for yourself in both its emblematic green and slightly less well-known yellow varieties at The Boston Shaker, a charming little cocktail supply shop in Davis Square, Somerville.
Photo courtesy of The Boston Shaker
The shop is run by Adam Lantheaume, who is a font of information on all things cocktail-related and an ardent fan of Chartreuse. “Chartreuse is one of my absolute favorites,” he says. “And, oddly enough, it was one of the first liqueurs that I liked. It’s an incredibly complex, herbal liqueur that has a totally different flavor profile. But it’s the kind of thing that really, really grows on you.” It’s also a versatile, if challenging, mixer and the ingredient in some inspired cocktails. Adam is partial to a drink called the Alaska that features gin, Yellow Chartreuse and orange bitters.
Friday’s tasting has itself grown in scope in the last few days. At first, the program was simple enough: Green and Yellow Chartreuse, plus a canonical (and wonderful) Chartreuse-based cocktail known as the Last Word. Now there will also be a tasting of two new types of mezcal (a traditional Mexican liquor) from the brand Ilegal, as well as Bols Genever, a wheaty-flavored liquor which, as Adam describes it, is a kind of ur-gin: “If you want to find out about the origins of gin,” he says, “this is where it’s at.”
The Boston Shaker is located at 69 Holland Street, Somerville. Check their website for more details. The tasting runs from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, June 4.
LOVE love love Boston Shaker. They have the best selection of bitters and worked hard to get in augostura bitters during that dreadful shortage. Thanks for posting about the tasting!
I can’t believe this is literally right down the street from my apartment and I haven’t visited yet. I’m definitely going to try to stop by tomorrow.
Had a great experience in Boston Shaker last week, and walked out with, well…a Boston shaker. It has already been put to good, non-leaky use thanks to a demo by Adam. In fact, I made a drink over the weekend featuring both Bols Genever and Chartreuse. Looks like I need to get myself to this tasting!
Thanks for your comments! The store is quite a unique local resource for cocktail supplies and information. Plus, Adam’s enthusiasm for the subject is palpable.
I love Chartreuse! Thanks, Susanna! :D