Green Eyes Cocktail

The Green Eyes Cocktail is an elegant and refreshing drink with a striking pale green hue. It's a gin-forward cocktail where the botanical notes of the gin are complemented by the complex herbal character of Green Chartreuse. Fresh lime juice adds a bright, citrusy tartness, while a touch of maraschino liqueur provides sweetness and a subtle cherry-almond depth, resulting in a perfectly balanced and sophisticated sip.
Green Eyes Cocktail

Preparation

Preparation time: 4 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Green Eyes is classified as a classic cocktail. It falls into the sour category, characterized by its balance of spirit, citrus, and sweetener. It is typically served as an apéritif.

Serving

Served "up" (without ice) in a chilled coupe glass, this is a relatively strong but compact cocktail. The cold temperature is essential to its crisp character.
Serving size
Approximately 90 ml or 3 oz
Alcohol content
Approximately 28-32% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe
Glass treatment
Chilled

Backstory

The exact origin of the Green Eyes Cocktail is somewhat murky, as is the case with many classic drinks. It is often cited as a Prohibition-era cocktail, praised for its ability to mask the harsh flavors of bathtub gin. Its composition bears a strong resemblance to The Last Word, suggesting it may be a variation or a contemporary of that famous drink.
Origin
Believed to have originated in the United States during the Prohibition era (1920s-1930s). Specific attribution is not well-documented.

Green Eyes Cocktail

The drink is most commonly known as the Green Eyes Cocktail, often shortened simply to Green Eyes. There are no other widely recognized alternative names for this specific recipe.
Original name
Green Eyes Cocktail
Alternative name
Green Eyes

Characteristics overview

This cocktail presents a complex herbal and botanical flavor profile balanced by sharp citrus, with a smooth, crisp texture. Its aroma is a fragrant mix of juniper and lime, leading to a clean, lingering herbal aftertaste.
Flavor
Herbal, botanical, citrusy, tart, slightly sweet, complex
Aroma
Juniper, lime, complex herbs, subtle cherry
Taste balance
Sour, sweet, herbal
Aftertaste
Clean, herbal, lingering
Fizziness
Still
Color appearance
Pale green, clear
Texture
Smooth, crisp, light-bodied
Seasonality
Refreshing, year-round, summery

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor is intensely herbal and sour, with a moderate alcohol strength and a low level of sweetness. It is a bold, spirit-forward drink with no carbonation or creaminess.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

This is a four-ingredient cocktail requiring Gin, Green Chartreuse, fresh lime juice, and Maraschino liqueur. The quality of each ingredient is key to the final taste.
  • Gin45 ml / 1.5 oz
    A London Dry Gin works well to complement the herbal notes.
  • Green Chartreuse15 ml / 0.5 oz
    Essential for the cocktail's flavor and color. Do not substitute.
  • Fresh Lime Juice15 ml / 0.5 oz
    Must be freshly squeezed for best results.
  • Maraschino Liqueur7.5 ml / 0.25 oz
    Adds sweetness and complexity. Luxardo is a common brand.

Ice type

  • Cubed ice for shaking.

Mixing equipments

You will need a standard cocktail shaker set, including a jigger for measurement and strainers, to prepare this drink.
  • Cocktail shaker for chilling and combining ingredients.
  • Jigger for measuring ingredients accurately.
  • Fine-mesh strainer for removing ice shards.
  • Hawthorne strainer for straining from the shaker.

Instructions

The method is a straightforward shake and strain: chill a glass, shake all ingredients with ice, and double strain into the prepared glass. Garnish and serve immediately.
1. Chill your coupe glass by filling it with ice and water, or by placing it in the freezer for at least 15 minutes.
2. Combine the gin, Green Chartreuse, fresh lime juice, and maraschino liqueur in a cocktail shaker.
3. Fill the shaker with cubed ice.
4. Shake vigorously for 12-15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is well-chilled.
5. Discard the ice from your chilled coupe glass.
6. Double strain the contents of the shaker into the chilled coupe glass.
7. Garnish with a lime twist.

Garnishing

A simple lime twist is the most common garnish, adding aromatic oils to the drink. A brandied or maraschino cherry can also be used for a classic touch.
  • Lime twist to express oils over the drink and place on the rim.
  • Maraschino cherry (optional) dropped into the glass.

Dietary Information

This cocktail is generally considered vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, and gluten-free. It contains no caffeine or nuts.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This cocktail contains around 190 calories per serving, primarily from the alcohol and liqueurs. It has a relatively low carbohydrate and sugar content compared to many other cocktails.
Calories
Averagely 180-210 kcal / 753-879 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 8-10 grams
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 7-9 grams
Sugar level

Occasions

This cocktail is perfect as an apéritif to stimulate the appetite before a meal. It's an excellent choice for cocktail parties or any sophisticated gathering where a crisp and complex drink is desired.
  • Cocktail party
  • Pre-dinner drink
  • Summer evening
  • Sophisticated gathering

Pairing suggestions

The Green Eyes Cocktail's herbal and citrus notes pair well with briny foods like oysters and fresh seafood such as ceviche. It also complements the tang of goat cheese or a crisp salad with a sharp vinaigrette dressing.
  • Oysters
  • Goat cheese
  • Light salads with vinaigrette
  • Ceviche

The Enigmatic Charm of the Green Eyes Cocktail

The Green Eyes is a sophisticated, gin-based sour cocktail with a distinctive pale green color. Its flavor profile is a complex interplay of botanical gin, potent herbal Green Chartreuse, sharp lime, and a subtle sweetness from maraschino liqueur. A lesser-known classic from the Prohibition era, it offers a refreshing and memorable alternative to more common gin drinks. It is best enjoyed ice-cold in a coupe glass as an elegant apéritif.

Similar cocktails

The Last Word

The Last Word uses equal parts of all four ingredients (Gin, Green Chartreuse, Maraschino Liqueur, Lime Juice), making it more intense and balanced differently.

Champs-Élysées

Uses brandy as the base, lemon instead of lime, Yellow Chartreuse, and adds a dash of Angostura bitters. Shares the Chartreuse and citrus structure.

Variations

Green Ghost

A very similar cocktail using equal parts gin and Green Chartreuse, plus lime juice, omitting the maraschino liqueur.

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