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The chartreuse tops the chart and ranks high on the world’s oldest and finest liquor. It is made with a unique mix of carefully selected herbs, flowers, and plants amounting to about a hundred and thirty.
The chartreuse is succinctly described with these three words: smooth, spicy, and sweet and further crowned with a burst of herbal goodness.
Specially formulated by French monks in Vauvert, its special recipe is enshrouded in secrecy and this explains why it seems like a Herculean task getting suitable chartreuse substitutes.
Nevertheless, with the compilation below, getting the closest substitutes for chartreuse that you can use in place of the chartreuse would be as easy as ever.
Let’s get started!
Best Chartreuse Substitutes
1. Genepy
The genepy can conveniently stand as worthy replacement of the chartreuse in every single recipe it is used for.
Both the genepy and the green chartreuse have a lot of things in common and that explains why it is considered to be the best fit substitute for it.
They are both herbal liquors, they have the same light olive color, same bittersweet taste as well as made in the French Alps. But, unlike the chartreuse, the genepy is quite affordable.
See Also: 4 Best Vermouth Substitutes
2. Strega
To get the closest substitute for the yellow chartreuse, the yellow Strega is more preferred.
An advantage the Strega holds is that it is not so expensive at the same time, is of good quality also.
It is made with a generous amount of different herbs that produces the right kind of flavor and a minty freshness that can be found in most of the dishes made with the chartreuse.
Try out the Strega and see just how a bitter liquor can taste so sweet.
3. Jagermeister
This is a herbal drink that a lot of people enjoy drinking but, it also gives a burst of flavored goodness when added to cocktails too.
Unlike the Strega that has a minty flavor, the jagermeister has a fruity one as it made with Citrus herbs and spices.
The jagermeister is a great substitute for the green chartreuse and can absolutely be used for all your grills. Have it mixed in cocktails and relish in the sweet pleasant experience.
Just like the chartreuse, the jagermeister was formulated with a special recipe that is been kept a secret.
4. Amaro
A liquor made with very unique herbs originating from Italy. Amaro is one grand substitute for the chartreuse.
It has a bittersweet flavor just like the green chartreuse and can be used in your cooking and for the preparation of cocktails.
5. Grand Marnier
One fun fact about the Grand Marnier is that it is made available in two fantastic flavors: vanilla and orange. Even though it’s flavor isn’t nearly the same at the chartreuse, you can nevertheless, get the best results when using the the orange flavored one.
Ever tried using the Grand Marnier for your roasts? You totally should! Fortunately, they can readily be found in stores at very pocket friendly rates unlike the chartreuse.
6. Glayva
A golden colored liquor originating from the exquisite city Edinburgh in Scotland.The glayva is a blend of herbs soaked in scotch. It is known and used widely by the people of old.
It is perfect for all your baking as it improves the taste of your pastries and gives it a pleasant aroma. It is also ideal for your cocktails and can be mixed with drinks.
Getting to know some of the core ingredients used in making the glayva like cinnamon, honey and almond will make you fully understand its magical impact.
See Also: 9 Best Crème De Cacao Substitutes
7. Drambuie
This light green colored liquor is one that is used in a lot of delicacies and cocktails. Made with lots of herbs and spices and further dipped in scotch and honey.
The Drambuie has got an absolutely sweet taste which is reason why it is added to pastries and desserts to help give it a uniquely different taste.
If you crave to drink liquor so smooth and not so spicy, then the Drambuie is your best bet.
8. Absinthe
The first thing that strikes you about the absinthe is the glaring similarities it shares with the chartreuse. They are similar in color and taste.
You should know though that the absinthe has a high concentration of alcohol and so, it is imperative to have that in mind when making use of it and have it diluted according to your taste
9. Sambuca
One of the finest Italian liquors. Like most of the others, the sambuca is made with a combination of several herbs and spices with sugar being used as the sweetening agent.
Now, due to its overly sweet taste, it soon became a must have for mixologists and chefs alike. They have it added to a lot of recipes that the chartreuse was hitherto used for, including pastries and desserts and get very pleasing results.
The sambuca fits as a better substitute for the mild yellow chartreuse. If you intend to use it as a substitute for the green chartreuse, then the seemingly colorless sambuca is ideal and perfect for your creamy cocktails and fruity drinks.
An additional fun fact about the sambuca is that it comes out great when added to coffee also.
10. Fernet Branca
A fine herbal liquor of Italian origin. Part of its formulation involved leaving it to age over a long period of time.
The intriguing thing about this liquor is the fact that it is capable of sweetening as well as making your cocktails taste bitter depending on the quantity used.
The Fernet Branca can equally be used in your cooking to give it a pleasant fragrance and a great burst of citrus flavor.
Similarities & Differences Between The Types Of Chartreuse
There are two types of chartreuse – the Green and Yellow Chartreuse. They share a lot of similarities in the way they were formulated, the amount of herbs and spices used in their formulation ( a mixture of up to a hundred and thirty roots, flowers, spices, bark etc) , the distillation process (both are distilled in Aiguenoire) and the bottling and packaging style.
Now, even though they use the same amount of herbs, they are actually different and that is responsible for the distinctive flavor of each one of them.
While the flavors of the green chartreuse are more pronounced because of the high alcoholic content, the yellow is mild and a lot more sweeter because of the sugar used as the sweetening agent.
One more thing you should know is that they both undergo the same phases of creation which spans for weeks on end.
To begin, the Cathusian monks first of all have the different plants, roots, herbs and all put together and grinded after which they are placed to be distilled. It is in the process of distillation that they get their unique fragrance.
The next phase after distillation is usually what they call; maceration. Now maceration is the process of expunging all the much needed ingredients from the plants and herbs and this extracted ingredients are responsible for the color the liquor takes on at the end.
Finally, they are being left to age for a very long time before eventually getting bottled and packaged for sale. The more they stay in the bottles even in store shelves, the better they become.
The Green chartreuse was the first to be formulated and the more popular one. Another clear way to differentiate it from the yellow chartreuse is the alcoholic content. The green chartreuse has a higher concentration of alcohol while the yellow is milder and of course, sweeter.
The French name for the green chartreuse is the Chartreuse Verte while the yellow chartreuse is called Chartreuse Jaune.
See Also: Best Substitutes For Pernod
Conclusion
Finding a substitute liquor for the chartreuse is really not a problem as there are different brands of liquor out there but, finding the right one is.
When people think of a substitute, they think of something else that they can use, which will give them the same end results. But while using these substitutes, keep an open mind and be ready instead to create not the same taste but, something equally spectacular.
We can understand why people might go out of their way to look for substitutes for the chartreuse. The reason isn’t so far fetched; apart from the fact that you might not have it readily available at home, they also come as expensive as they are exquisite.
As earlier said, even though getting the exact taste might seem impossible, you can however be sure of creating and discovering other great tasting variations that are very close in taste and flavor.
What makes them the right substitute for the chartreuse is that you can find present in them, some of the special herbs and spices responsible for that lovely flavor and aroma.
