chartreuse

Definition

A potent French liqueur made by Carthusian monks who apparently took their vow of silence more seriously than their vow of sobriety. Available in green (stronger) and yellow (merely strong), it's that mysterious herbal spirit that tastes like 130 secret ingredients and poor decisions. Also the name of the distinctive yellow-green color that looks great on vintage cars and terrible on bridesmaid dresses.

Example Usage

After two shots of green chartreuse, Marcus understood why the monks kept the recipe secret—it was probably an accident.

Source: Common culinary and beverage terminology

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