Heat your winter with our easy-to-follow Purgatory cocktail recipe! This warming cocktail is perfect for the chilly season and is made with rye whiskey, Benedictine and Green Chartreuse.
Prep time:
1 minute
Mixing time:
1 minute
Servings:
1
Calories:
182
Ingredients
- 1½ oz Rye Whiskey
- ½ oz Bénédictine
- ½ oz Green Chartreuse
- Ice cubes
- Lemon zest twist - for garnish, optional
Equipment
- Coupe Glass preferably Nick & Nora style
- Mixing Glass
- Measuring Jigger
- Cocktail Strainer
- Bar spoon or long stirrer
Instructions
- Prep Glass: Fill a coupe or martini glass with ice. Give it a stir to chill it and set it aside.
- Add Bénédictine: Measure and pour ½ oz Bénédictine into the mixing glass.
- Add Chartreuse: Add ½ oz Green Chartreuse.
- Add Rye Whiskey: Finally, add 1½ oz Rye Whiskey to the mix.
- Add Ice and Stir: Fill the mixing glass with ice. Using a bar spoon or a long stirrer, stir well (for about 15-20 seconds). Give it a taste and stir a bit more if you feel like more dilution is necessary.
- Strain: Take your cocktail coupe or martini glass or and discard the ice inside. Using the cocktail strainer, strain the mixture into the chilled glass.
- Garnish: Garnish with a lemon twist (express the orange zest on top of the drink and then place it on the rim of the glass or drop it directly inside). Serve immediately.
Notes
Substitutes:
- Rye Whiskey: Bourbon can be a good substitute if you don't have rye whiskey. It will give the cocktail a slightly sweeter profile. You can also use Cognac, as it will make for a delicious drink too (see “Purgatory à la Française”).
- Benedictine DOM: If you're out of Benedictine, you can use Drambuie or another similar herbal liqueur. The flavor will change slightly, but it will still work.
- Green Chartreuse: You can use yellow Chartreuse for a slightly less alcoholic version. Chartreuse is a hard ingredient to replace, but if you cannot find any bottle of either green or yellow Chartreuse, Strega can be used as a substitute. It's also an herbal liqueur but has a slightly different flavor profile.
Making a Pitcher of Purgatory Cocktail:
- Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 12 oz of rye whiskey, 4 oz of Benedictine, and 4 oz of Chartreuse.
- Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the rye whiskey, Benedictine, and green Add ice and stir well. Give it a taste and stir a bit more if you feel like more dilution is necessary.
- Serve: Strain to remove the ice, serve immediately into chilled coupe glasses and garnish each glass with a lemon zest twist. If you have some leftovers, keep it in the fridge (make sure no ice cubes are left inside) in an airtight container or bottle.
Making it Vegan:
Good news! The Purgatory cocktail is already vegan-friendly. Just ensure that any substitutes you use are also free from animal products.What is a Purgatory cocktail?
A Purgatory cocktail is a cocktail made of rye whiskey, Benedictine, and green Chartreuse. It’s relatively easy to make as it involves simple mixing techniques; however, sourcing the specific herbal liqueurs might be challenging for some. This cocktail isn’t a variant of any well-known cocktails but stands out due to its unique blend of flavors from the combination of two distinct herbal liqueurs – Benedictine and Chartreuse.
What is a Purgatory cocktail made of – The ingredients
Here’s what goes into making a perfect Purgatory cocktail:
- Rye Whiskey forms the cocktail’s base, providing a robust and spicy foundation.
- Benedictine DOM: An herbal liqueur that adds a complex, honey-like sweetness to the drink.
- Green Chartreuse: Another herbal liqueur, this time with a unique green color and a slightly spicier profile, adding depth to the cocktail.
- Lemon Twist: Enhances the aroma with citrus oils and adds a fresh, bright touch to the presentation.
