Step back into the sexy, swinging 70s with this boozy banger of a beverage.
Upon graduating college, a friend of mine recommended that the two of us find a place to have a little celebration. A bite to eat and a few drinks sounded like a great, low-key way to toast our entry into the world of adulthood. As we were in Manhattan and tooling around the Upper East Side, we figured a fancy wine bar or bistro was economically out of the question. My buddy suggested a “bar-slash-restaurant, and not the other way around”, so we were thrilled when we came upon a Louisiana-style, rustic-looking barbecue joint amidst the concrete of the city.
I forget the name of the place. Like so many businesses in New York City, this one has long since moved or closed. I do remember our waitress surprising us with a giant bowl of murky-looking booze that had a bunch of toy alligators floating in it. My friend and I each had a straw and started drinking. Whatever we ordered to eat that day has been lost to the mists of time, but I vividly recall that punch bowl-sized drink, its awful, rough flavor and the headache it floored me with just an hour or so later… the Swamp Water. I vowed to never have one again.
Until I learned that whatever mish-mash drink I had that night wasn’t an actual Swamp Water cocktail. Tonight, we’ll be looking at and making the original recipe, a hidden gem from those wan and wasted days of the 1970s. For this particular tipple, let’s throw on side two of It’s Only Rock n’ Roll by The Rolling Stones to set the mood.
Created during the “Me Decade”, the classic Swamp Water cocktail features Green Chartreuse as well as both pineapple and lime juice. The advertising for Chartreuse at the time suggested that having a few of these cocktails would help you in the dating department, the thinking being a couple of Swamp Waters might help the singles mingle.
For my part, when I made this cocktail at home, I found myself watching reruns of Three’s Company and wondering what my parents were getting up to back then.
What is Chartreuse?
Chartreuse is an herbal liqueur comprised of a top-secret recipe of around 130 herbs and spices. Made by the Carthusian monks since 1737, they ensure their legacy’s secrecy, survival and success by never traveling in the same vehicle together… just in case. The yellow or green varieties of the spirit have been compared to the strong and bitter Campari, regarding the robust and acquired taste they bring to their respective cocktails.
What is the Best Alcohol to Use in a Swamp Water Cocktail?
Green Chartreuse is the base spirit for the Swamp Water. You’ll notice it has an herbaceous aroma, with a citrusy, minty and piney taste, ending with a bitter green tea finish. A bottle of this liqueur can be priced on the steep side, depending where you find it when you’re out shopping. If you’re looking for a more cost-effective alternative, try using Bénédictine, Drambuie, Faccia Brutto Centerbe or Dolin Génépy le Chamois. These aren’t direct substitutes and won’t taste exactly the same, but will have similar complex herbal and spicy profiles.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces Green Chartreuse
- 5 ounces pineapple juice
- 1/4 ounce lime juice
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a shaker, combine Green Chartreuse, pineapple juice, and lime juice.
- Add ice cubes and shake well until the mixture is well chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a lime wheel and serve immediately.
Nutrition
What kind of glassware and garnish to use?
A rocks glass filled with ice and garnished with a lime wheel on its rim is a classy and simple way to enjoy your Swamp Water.
Are there other versions of this drink available?
After doing a little digging, I believe the drink my friend and I shared was called the Bayou Swamp Water, which combines rum, vodka, Chartreuse, blue curaçao and pineapple juice.
Similar Cocktails to the Swamp Water
Feeling swanky and a little saucy this weekend? Found some vintage bell bottoms and a light brown leather coat that has a collar so wide you might fly away in a gust of wind? You’ll need some cocktails to match that vibe, and Twist & Toast is here to help. Check out some of these disco-tinged party favorites here, then explore the site to see what else you’d like to experiment with.
- Long Island Iced Tea – A classic beverage from the 1970s that packs quite the strong punch.
- Harvey Wallbanger – Invented in 1969, this drink proved to be pretty popular throughout the following decade.
- Brass Monkey – That funky monkey burst onto the bar scene during the decade of disco.
- French Connection – This “tough guy” drink was directly inspired by the 1971 film of the same name.
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