Champs-Élysées recipe
A sophisticated Parisian brandy sour pairing rich cognac with herbal Green Chartreuse complexity.
Method: Shake and fine strain ·
Glass: Chilled coupe glass ·
Time: 4 min ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Family: The Sidecar Family
Ingredients
- 50 ml Cognac (VSOP or similar structured expression)
- 15 ml Green Chartreuse (Provides herbal structure)
- 20 ml Fresh lemon juice (Sourced from ripe lemons)
- 7.5 ml Simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water ratio)
- 1 dash Angostura bitters (For aromatic depth)
How to make a Champs-Élysées
- Chill a coupe glass in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Combine the cognac, Green Chartreuse, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and Angostura bitters in a shaker tin.
- Add ice cubes to the shaker and shake vigorously for 10 to 12 seconds until thoroughly chilled.
- Fine strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into the chilled coupe glass.
- Express the essential oils from a lemon peel over the drink and garnish.
Garnish
Garnish with a freshly expressed lemon peel twist dropped into the glass.
Pro tip
Green Chartreuse can easily overpower delicate brandies, so measure precisely and opt for a structured cognac that holds its own against the assertive herbal liqueur.
History of the Champs-Élysées
First appearing in print within Harry Craddock's legendary 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book, the Champs-Élysées is widely attributed to the London hotel's American Bar, though exact authorship remains a subject of historical debate among cocktail historians. The drink operates as a sophisticated evolution of the classic Sidecar family, substituting a portion of the sweet citrus liqueur with pungent Green Chartreuse. This elegant Parisian-named libation bridges French brandy traditions with monastic herbal complexity, establishing itself as a timeless standard for adventurous palates seeking deep structure beyond standard sours.
Flavour profile
Herbal, Citrus, Complex, Spicy
Variations
- Yellow Champs-Élysées — Substitute Yellow Chartreuse for Green Chartreuse for a milder, sweeter, and saffron-forward profile.
- Armagnac Élysées — Replace cognac with rustic, full-bodied Armagnac to add deeper dried-fruit and earthy undertones.
Practise making the Champs-Élysées in the free Virtual Bar game.