Pineapple

Ingredients:

2oz Green Chartreuse

2oz Pineapple Juice

3/4oz Lime Juice

Mint Sprig

Instructions:

Add the green chartreuse, fresh pineapple juice and lime juice to a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker begins to frost. Strain into a collins glass over ice. Garnish with the mint sprig.

History:

Yup, you read that right, this drink is literally just called “Pineapple.” This simple tipple comes from Craig Schoettler during his time at Drumbar in Chicago. You might also recognize his name from such places as The Aviary and more recently as property mixologist at Aria in Vegas.

If you’ve been following The Straight Up for a while, you may have noticed that I don’t post many drinks with juice in them. While I definitely love a few shaken cocktails (here’s looking at you Aviation and Last Word), for the most part I’m a stirred kinda guy. That being said, this drink is delicious and it will even make your friends that “hate” Chartreuse turn a new leaf.

Btw… Stay tuned as this is just the first of a few I’ll be putting up from my trip(s) to Drumbar. Definitely worth your time if you find yourself in the Windy City. For what it’s worth, and as someone who is often disappointed in “craft” cocktail bars, these guys are some of the best.

I was turned on to Pineapple at Drumbar. Thirsty after two long days of testing, I  dropped by to visit Alex Renshaw at his new digs. Unfortunately,  he happened to be on his way out just as I got there. He left me in the capable hands of Brian Sturgulewski. After a round or two of stirred drinks, I asked Brian for a stirred cocktail with herbal/anise flavors. He stepped away for a minute to whip something up and then sat a tall frothy juice filed drink in front of me. “What the hell!” I thought, “Did you even listen to me?” He must be telepathic, as he instantly responded:

“I know you wanted something stirred but I thought you might like this.”

Brian began to describe the drink: “There’s 2 ounces of Green Chartreuse in it.” Naturally, that perked my ears up. He then went on to say that there was almost 3oz of juice in it, including gasp pineapple juice…

…and you lost me….

…until I tried it. This thing was pretty awesome. Plus, it grew on me the more I sipped, mainly because my preconceived judgments began to fade the more pineapple laced chartreuse I consumed.

The high octane green chartreuse still comes through with great flavor, well accented by the combo of pineapple and lime juices. It tastes a bit like the love child of a Last Word and a Mojito and really will appeal to a very broad audience, including snobs like me and even chartreuse “haters.” Just be warned, this Pineapple is dangerous. Two ounces of 110 proof chartreuse never went down so smooth….

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