Mona Lisa Cocktail

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

Herbal and bright, the bubbly Mona Lisa cocktail is an unforgettable tipple on a sunny afternoon.

The line to see the Mona Lisa was long indeed. My significant other and I had been standing in line for what we thought were hours, and after looking at our watches, we discovered it had been exactly that. Hours.

It was our first trip to Paris, and we were having a difficult time navigating the city as we both insisted on speaking nothing but French. Neither of us speaks French. Even with a translating app on our phones and phrasebooks handy, nothing was quite going right. Our goal today had been to see the famous piece of art, and the queries we put forth to whoever would listen to our outrageous and horrible dialects eventually pointed us in the direction of an ancient-looking, cathedral-like building. This must be the Louvre.

Hours later, we felt we were getting closer, and our excitement began to grow. But we also started to notice people ahead of us getting grumpy, some of them leaving with confused expressions. Finally, it was our turn.

And what we saw was unexpected. There on a pedestal was a tall, golden-orange drink in a highball glass filled with ice, topped with an orange slice. Before it was a placard that stated THE MONA LISA. Unsure of exactly what was happening, I asked the smiling docent standing next to this bizarre presentation to help me out.

“This is green Chartreuse, orange juice, bitters and a splash of tonic water… the Mona Lisa cocktail!”

Still confused, I attempted another question. “We’re in the Louvre, yes?”

“No, no… this is the Loouve, with two Os.”

I stared for a moment, then quickly grabbed the glass, drinking its contents in one swift gulp. The honking sound the docent’s head made as they fainted and hit the floor was almost as satisfying.

What is the best alcohol to use in a Mona Lisa cocktail?

These days, green Chartreuse is getting harder and harder to get a hold of. While not impossible to find, whenever I have run across a bottle, they tend to be on the expensive side. The increased demand for at-home cocktails during the recent global pandemic, coupled with the monks who make the spirit limiting their production of it over environmental and faith-based concerns, has made the product scarcer than it used to be. Some decent options for substitution are Faccia Brutto Centerbe, Dolin Génépy, and Bordiga Centum Herbis. Strega, Bénédictine and Jägermeister are viable herbaceous choices as well.

What glassware and garnish are used?

Chill a highball glass in your freezer for up to 30 minutes, then fill it with ice, pour your cocktail in, top with tonic water, and garnish with a fresh orange wedge.

What is a good tonic to use in this recipe?

There are a number of reliable brands that you can choose from, such as Canada Dry, Schweppes, Henry’s, Fever-Tree and QMixers. I personally enjoy Fever-Tree as they produce a low-calorie tonic that offers a balanced and light flavor.

Similar drinks to the Mona Lisa cocktail

If you have a bottle of yellow or green Chartreuse at your home bar, and you’re unsure what recipes or mixed drinks may call for the herbal cordials, Twist & Toast has a lovely selection of easy-to-make tipples that will give these monk-made spirits a spin around a libation or two.

• Champs-Élysées – A French-inspired elixir that features cognac and green Chartreuse.
• Greenpoint – Rye whiskey and yellow Chartreuse help build this Brooklyn-based beverage.
• Bijou – A botanical masterpiece comprised of gin and green Chartreuse.
• Naked and Famous – Yellow Chartreuse and mezcal craft this smoky, contemporary classic.