Bijou Cocktail

The Bijou Cocktail has a herbal, complex, aromatic, slightly sweet, botanical flavor profile. A sophisticated gin-based cocktail featuring the herbal complexity of Green Chartreuse and the rich sweetness of sweet vermouth. This jewel-toned drink offers a perfect balance of botanical and aromatic flavors.

A Bijou Cocktail requires 5 ingredients: London Dry Gin, Green Chartreuse, Sweet Vermouth, Orange Bitters, Orange Peel.

A Bijou Cocktail takes about 3 minutes to prepare and is considered medium difficulty.

A Bijou Cocktail is traditionally served in a coupe, garnished with Orange peel twist.

Yes, you can make a mocktail version of the Bijou Cocktail by substituting the spirits with non-alcoholic alternatives such as seedlip, non-alcoholic distilled spirits, or flavored syrups and juices that mimic the original flavor profile.

The Bijou Cocktail first appeared in Harry Johnson's 1900 'Bartenders' Manual,' making it one of the earliest documented cocktails to feature the legendary Green Chartreuse. Johnson, often called the 'father of professional bartending,' created this recipe during the Golden Age of cocktails when bartenders were experimenting with exotic European liqueurs that had become newly available in American bars. The cocktail's name reflects the late 19th century's fascination with French culture and the precious gem-like appearance created by the Green Chartreuse. What makes the Bijou particularly special is its equal-parts construction, which was revolutionary at the time—most cocktails heavily favored the base spirit. This democratic approach allows each ingredient to shine while creating something entirely new. The drink enjoyed popularity through the early 1900s before disappearing during Prohibition, only to be rediscovered by craft bartenders in the early 2000s who recognized it as a forgotten masterpiece of pre-Prohibition mixology.