Alaska recipe
A cold, bright gin-and-Chartreuse classic with far more character than its two ingredients suggest.
Method: Stir ·
Glass: Nick & Nora glass ·
Time: 3 min ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Family: The Martini Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz London Dry Gin
- 1/2 oz Yellow Chartreuse
- 1 dash Orange Bitters (optional but recommended)
How to make a Alaska
- Chill a Nick & Nora or coupe glass.
- Add gin, Yellow Chartreuse, and orange bitters to a mixing glass filled with ice.
- Stir for 25 to 30 seconds until very cold and properly diluted.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Express a lemon twist over the drink and discard or place it neatly on the rim.
Garnish
Lemon twist, expressed over the surface.
Pro tip
Use Yellow Chartreuse, not Green Chartreuse. The yellow version is softer, sweeter, and lets the gin stay in the conversation.
History of the Alaska
The Alaska appeared in early twentieth-century cocktail books and belongs to the same clean, aromatic family as the Martini. Its name is probably a nod to its icy appearance rather than a confirmed place of origin.
Flavour profile
Herbal, Citrus, Floral, Boozy
Variations
- Green Alaska — Use 1/4 oz Green Chartreuse for a sharper, more alpine drink.
- Vodka Alaska — Swap gin for a clean vodka when you want Chartreuse to lead.
- Alaska 50/50 — Use 1 1/2 oz gin and 3/4 oz Yellow Chartreuse for a richer nightcap.
Practise making the Alaska in the free Virtual Bar game.