Absinthe vs Chartreuse: Taste, ABV, Calories & More
Absinthe vs Chartreuse
| Information | Absinthe | Chartreuse |
|---|---|---|
Family | Spirit | Spirit |
Type | anise spirit | anise spirit |
Container | Shot | Shot |
Serving Size | 45 mL/1.5oz | 45 mL/1.5oz |
Calories | 162 kcal | 137 kcal |
ABV % | 65% | 55% |
Alcohol (grams) | 23.1 | 19.5 |
Taste | Herbaceous, bitter, aromatic | Herbal, sweet, botanical |
Texture | Silky, viscous, coating | Viscous, coating, warming |
Mixers | Iced water, sugar cube | Tonic, chocolate, pineapple juice |
Is Vegan? | Yes | Yes |
Glutenfree? | Yes | Yes |
Carbs (grams) | 0 | 10 |
Sugars (grams) | 0 | 10 |
Main Ingredient | Grapes or grains | Sugar beet spirit |
Aged? | No | Aged in uncharred French oak casks for several years. |
Country | Switzerland | France |
Price (USD) | 30 - 200 | 60 - 150 |
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A closer look at the history, taste, and unique characteristics of these two beverages.
Drink Type
Absinthe & Chartreuse | anise spirit
An anise spirit is a clear, distilled alcoholic beverage heavily flavored with the essential oils of star anise, green anise, or fennel. A defining characteristic of this category is the louche effect, a chemical reaction where the liquid spontaneously turns cloudy and opaque when diluted with water.
What Makes Each Drink Unique?
Absinthe
Absinthe distinguishes itself through a notably high alcohol content and the requisite inclusion of grand wormwood. It is famously characterized by the unique louche effect, where the normally translucent green liquid transforms into a cloudy, milky white emulsion when cold water is slowly added.
Chartreuse
This liqueur is distinguished by its proprietary blend of 130 botanicals, known only to two Carthusian monks at any time. Furthermore, its distinctive natural color, derived entirely from chlorophyll without artificial dyes, remains uniquely stable despite the high alcohol content and extended aging.
The Taste Experience
Absinthe
Absinthe offers a potent anise and fennel flavor profile, accompanied by a sharp, earthy bitterness derived from grand wormwood. This spirit is intensely herbaceous and highly botanical, typically finishing with subtle hints of hyssop and coriander.
Chartreuse
Green Chartreuse presents a complex, heavily botanical flavor profile. It delivers pronounced notes of pine, citrus, and anise, balanced by a deep, syrupy sweetness. The finish is lingering, earthy, and notably warm due to its high alcohol by volume content.
Serving Notes
Absinthe
The recommended serving temperature for absinthe is 5 degrees Celsius / 41 Fahrenheit. Maintaining a low temperature is essential to facilitate the louche effect during dilution. Cold water precipitates botanical oils, creating an opaque emulsion while tempering the high alcohol content and preserving delicate aromatic herbal compounds.
Chartreuse
The recommended serving temperature for chartreuse is 12 degrees Celsius / 53.6 Fahrenheit. Serving at twelve degrees Celsius balances the intense herbal complexity with the high alcohol content. This temperature prevents the spirit from becoming overly volatile while allowing the intricate botanical notes to remain perceptible on the palate.
History & Origin
Absinthe
Absinthe originated in Switzerland in the late eighteenth century as a medicinal elixir. It quickly became highly popular in France, particularly among Parisian artists and writers during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The spirit was widely banned in the United States and Europe in the 1910s due to unfounded claims regarding hallucinogenic properties, before experiencing a global revival beginning in the 1990s.
Chartreuse
Chartreuse is a French liqueur originally created by Carthusian monks in 1737 from a 1605 manuscript. Originally formulated as a medicinal elixir, it quickly became a widely consumed beverage. To this day, the complex mixture of botanicals is exclusively prepared by only two monks at a time, who closely guard the exact recipe at their distillation facility located in the French Alps.