Monte Cassino | Cocktail with Rye and Yellow Chartreuse

A cocktail I want to make again

I was excited about Monte Cassino. Rye whiskey isn't always my favorite in a drink, and the combination with two herbal liqueurs intrigued me. After the first sip, the reaction came quite immediately: This was good.

In the video, I say that this is one of the better things I've tasted. That's my reaction to the glass I made that day, and a good reason to try the combination again.

Four ingredients in equal parts

The established Monte Cassino recipe consists of rye whiskey, yellow Chartreuse, Bénédictine, and fresh lemon juice. All four are used in the same quantity.

The correct recipe is 2.25 cl, or 22.5 ml, of each ingredient. During filming, I only had 2 cl of Bénédictine left, so I used 2 cl of all four ingredients. The recipe here shows the original amount of 2.25 cl. The smaller portion in the video has the exact same mixing ratio.

Equal parts make the recipe easy to remember. You can adjust the serving size but keep the ratio between the ingredients. Remember that the ice adds water during shaking, so the finished cocktail needs more space than the sum of the ingredients before shaking.

The connection to The Last Word

Bartender Damon Dyer created Monte Cassino in New York in 2010. The cocktail is based on the same structure as The Last Word: four ingredients in equal parts, with spirits, liqueurs, and citrus.

However, the ingredients are different. Monte Cassino uses rye whiskey, yellow Chartreuse, Bénédictine, and lemon. Bénédictine fills the role that maraschino plays in The Last Word, while lemon is used instead of lime.

The name refers to Monte Cassino in Italy and the connection to the Benedictine order. This is part of the background for the cocktail, but the recipe is a modern bar creation.

Rye, herbal liqueurs, and lemon

Rye whiskey typically contributes a spicy character. Together with yellow Chartreuse and Bénédictine, it creates a cocktail with a distinct herbal note and sweetness. The lemon adds acidity and freshness.

Here, yellow Chartreuse is specified in the recipe. If you use a different liqueur, you will also change the expression of the drink. The same goes for the whiskey: different bottles provide different nuances, even when the measurements are the same.

Use freshly squeezed lemon juice. When citrus is one of the four main ingredients, it's important to measure it as accurately as the rest. In the video, I have to double-check that it is indeed lemon and not lime that should be used.

Shake well and choose a spacious glass

Monte Cassino should be shaken with ice. This chills the ingredients, mixes them, and adds water. Then strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass and serve without ice.

The glass deserves some attention. During filming, my glass ended up quite full, even with the smaller portion. Therefore, choose a glass with a bit of space left after you pour.

A lemon twist finishes the drink. It provides a simple garnish that complements the citrus in the recipe. Serve the cocktail cold, and take your time to savor it.

An honest taste test behind the bar

There were both nearly empty bottles, some small talk, and a nice surprise this time. Snorre was there to help, and I ended up with a cocktail that I decided to make again during the filming.

For me, that's one of the enjoyable aspects of these videos: I can have an expectation beforehand, and then the first sip gives a different answer. Monte Cassino became such an experience.

Serving Tips

Serve in a chilled coupe or cocktail glass with enough space for the drink after shaking. The recipe uses 2.25 cl of each of the four main ingredients. In the video, I make a slightly smaller portion with 2 cl of each because I didn't have more Bénédictine. The ratio remains the same: four equal parts.