Bijou Cocktail

Stirred · Nick and Nora · Lemon twist and a cherry to garnish

Ingredients

• 45ml1.5ozLondon Dry GinJohnson specified Plymouth
• 22.5ml0.75ozSweet VermouthA rich Italian style works best here
• 22.5ml0.75ozGreen ChartreuseNo substitute, and no, Yellow is not the same drink
• 2 dashesOrange Bitters
• —Cherriesfor garnish

Method

1. 1

   All spirit and no citrus, so this one gets stirred.

2. 2

   Add the gin, sweet vermouth, Green Chartreuse and orange bitters to a mixing glass and fill it with ice.

3. 3

   Stir for 30 to 40 seconds. Chartreuse is 55% and the vermouth brings sugar, so this needs proper dilution to knit together. Stirring it short is the single most common reason people say they don't like the Bijou.

4. 4

   Strain into a chilled Nick and Nora or a small coupe.

5. 5

   Express a lemon twist over the surface and drop it in, then add a cherry. Johnson allowed an olive here, which we will leave politely in 1900.

6. 6

   If you want the original, pour it as equal thirds instead: 22.5ml each of gin, vermouth and Chartreuse. Make it once, see what you think, then come back to the ratio above.

barorder.co/cocktails/bijou-cocktail-recipe