Golden, glossy and fragrant with honey, saffron-like herbs and a warm ginger tingle. La Ciudad is a spirit-forward sipper that shows how well green agave and yellow Chartreuse get along, with just enough lime to keep it from turning heavy.
1¼ oz
blanco tequilae.g. Olmeca Altos · Patrón · Don Julio · Espolòn · El Jimador
¾ oz
ginger liqueure.g. Domaine de Canton · The King's Ginger · Giffard
¾ oz
yellow ChartreuseBuy on Amazon →
¼ oz
lime juice
Garnish: Lime wheel or lime zest · Ice: One large cube
La Ciudad
Rich and herbal with honey, ginger warmth and peppery agave; a squeeze of lime lifts the finish. Strong and slow sipping.
La Ciudad, Spanish for "the city", is a modern bar recipe without a documented creator or date. It belongs to the group of stirred, spirit-forward drinks built on a base spirit and one or two liqueurs, a style that became popular again with the craft cocktail revival of the 2000s.
Its most interesting ingredient is yellow Chartreuse, the softer, sweeter and lower proof sibling of green Chartreuse, still made by the Carthusian monks in the French Alps from a secret recipe of herbs and plants. Its honey and saffron notes meet the peppery side of blanco tequila well, a pairing bartenders also use in drinks like the Naked and Famous, where yellow Chartreuse partners mezcal.
Softer and sweeter than green Chartreuse, with honey, saffron, anise and herbal notes, at 43 percent alcohol.
Yes, but use only 10 to 15 ml; it is stronger and more intense and will dominate otherwise.
It is almost entirely spirits and liqueurs, so it lands around 28 percent alcohol, similar to a Negroni.
The perfect sound
Urban, herbal and full of city lights.
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