Enjoy the fall season with this Champs-Elysees cocktail recipe! You'll love the invigorating blend of cognac, lemon juice, green Chartreuse, and simple syrup.
Prep time:
1 minute
Mixing time:
1 minute
Servings:
1
Calories:
173
Ingredients
- 1½ oz Cognac or Brandy
- ½ oz Green Chartreuse
- ¾ oz lemon juice
- ¼ oz simple syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters
- Lemon twist - for garnish, optional
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
- Strainer & Fine-strainer
- Coupe Glass
- Measuring Jigger
Instructions
- Chill your coupe glass.
- Add 2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters to the shaker.
- Pour in ¼ oz simple syrup.
- Add ¾ oz lemon juice.
- Measure and pour ½ oz Green Chartreuse.
- Finish with 1½ oz Cognac or Brandy.
- Fill your cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously until well chilled.
- Fine strain the mixture into a coupe glass.
- Garnish with a lemon twist.
Notes
Substitutes:
- Cognac: If you don't have cognac, you can of course use brandy as a substitute. If you’re out of any fruit spirit try with a good quality whiskey.
- Green Chartreuse: This is a unique ingredient and hard to replace, but Yellow Chartreuse can work if you're in a bind. It's sweeter and less potent, so adjust the other ingredients accordingly.
- Simple Syrup: If you're out of simple syrup, you can make your own by dissolving equal parts sugar and water over low heat.
- Lemon juice: use lime juice, it will provide a similar level of acidity and a slightly different citrus flavor.
- Angostura bitters: opt for orange bitter for a citrusy flavor, or try with Peychaud’s bitter for a slightly sweeter and more floral profile.
Making a Pitcher of Champs-Elysees Cocktail:
- Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 12 oz of cognac, 4 oz of green Chartreuse, 6 oz of lemon juice, 2 oz of simple syrup, and 16 dashes of Angostura bitters.
- Mix: Combine all the ingredients in a large pitcher with ice and stir well.
- Serve: Strain the mixture into individual chilled coupe glasses, garnish with a lemon twist, and serve immediately.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Cognac Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic brandy substitute. These are available and do a reasonable job of mimicking the cognac flavor.
- Green Chartreuse Substitute: Opt for a non-alcoholic herbal tea infused with some botanicals like cinnamon, mace, and angelica root.
- Proceed As Usual: Omit the Angostura bitters and use these non-alcoholic substitutes instead of the regular ingredients, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.
Making it Vegan:
This cocktail is already vegan-friendly as it doesn't contain any animal products. However, always check the labels of your ingredients to ensure they meet your dietary requirements.What is a Champs-Elysees Cocktail?
A Champs-Elysees Cocktail is a brandy-based cocktail made of cognac, lemon juice, green Chartreuse, and Angostura bitters. It’s not particularly difficult to make as long as you have the right ingredients on hand; however, it does require some precision in balancing the strong flavors of its components. This drink is basically a twist on a Sidecar where the Chartreuse takes the orange liqueur place. The name ‘Champs-Elysees’ refers to one of the most famous avenues in Paris – adding an air of sophistication and French elegance to this potent concoction.
What is a Champs-Elysees Cocktail made of – The ingredients
To mix a Champs-Elysees Cocktail, you should have these ingredients:
- Cognac: This is the base spirit of the Champs-Elysees cocktail, providing a rich and robust flavor.
- Yellow Chartreuse: A French liqueur made by Carthusian monks, it adds a unique herbal complexity to the drink.
- Lemon Juice: It brings a refreshing tartness that balances out the sweetness of other ingredients.
- Simple Syrup: This sweetener helps to mellow out the strong flavors of brandy and Chartreuse.
- Angostura Bitters: A classic cocktail ingredient, it adds depth and complexity with its blend of herbs and spices.
