Average
Citrusy, Herbal & Spirit-forward
4 Minutes
Cocktail Glass
Ingredients
The Cheeky Monkey is a vodka cocktail – citrusy, herbal and a natural next step for fans of the Cosmopolitan, the Lemon Drop Martini or the Corpse Reviver No. 2.
Created in 2001 at a bar in Knightsbridge, London, it combines vodka, orange juice, yellow chartreuse, simple syrup and orange bitters, shaken and fine strained into a chilled cocktail glass.
The original recipe calls for unflavored vodka – we’ve swapped it for Absolut Citron, and the lemon character of the vodka amplifies the citrus notes that’s perfect for this drink. See for yourself.
How To Make A cHEEKY MONKEY Cocktail
Bar tools you’ll need
Fine Strainer
Jigger
Boston Shaker
Hawthorne Strainer
Peeler
How to Mix
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Pre-chill a cocktail glass.
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Prepare your Orange Juice – cut an Orange in half and juice using a citrus press or citrus elbow. Use a peeler to peel a strip of Orange Zest for garnishing later.
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Use a jigger to measure and pour the freshly made Orange Juice into the shaker.
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Use the jigger to measure and add Simple Syrup.
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Measure and add Absolut Citron, Yellow Chartreuse, and Orange Bitters.
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Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes and then seal the shaker.
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Shake well until the outside of the shaker is ice cold.
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Open the shaker and place a Hawthorne strainer over the opening. Hold a fine mesh strainer over the chilled cocktail glass with your other hand. Pour the cocktail through both strainers into the glass.
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Squeeze the Orange Zest over the glass to express the oils, then drop it directly into the drink to garnish.
All about the Cheeky Monkey Cocktail
The Cheeky Monkey is a shaken cocktail made with Absolut Citron, orange juice, yellow chartreuse, simple syrup and orange bitters, fine strained into a chilled cocktail glass. Yellow chartreuse – a French herbal liqueur made from over 130 plants and spices – is the ingredient that gives it its distinctive character.
Citrusy, herbal and complex. The orange juice and orange bitters lead with a bright, citrus-forward character, while the yellow chartreuse adds a warm, herbal sweetness underneath. Absolut Citron runs through it all – its lemon flavor amplifying the citrus notes and giving the drink a clean, zesty finish.
Created in 2001 at a bar in Knightsbridge, London, the Cheeky Monkey is a relatively recent invention but one that draws on a long tradition of herbal liqueur cocktails that use chartreuse to add complexity and depth to an otherwise citrus-forward base.
Absolut first made it with Absolut Citron in 2014 and it’s my preferred way.
- Always use fresh orange juice
The orange juice is the backbone of this drink – fresh squeezed is non-negotiable. Bottled juice lacks the brightness and natural acidity that makes the Cheeky Monkey work. A citrus press or citrus elbow is all you need. - Don’t skip the orange bitters
Four dashes of orange bitters might seem like a small detail – it isn’t. The bitters add a layer of complexity that ties the orange juice and yellow chartreuse together and gives the drink a depth that would otherwise be missing. - Chill your glass
Place your cocktail glass in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before serving. The Cheeky Monkey is a drink best served ice cold. - Double strain
Always double strain using a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer – it gives you a clean, smooth pour. Here’s how to double strain and why it matters to your cocktails.
- Use unflavored vodka
The original Cheeky Monkey recipe calls for unflavored vodka – swap Absolut Citron for Absolut Vodka and the drink becomes cleaner and more neutral, letting the yellow chartreuse take center stage. A subtly different drink, worth trying if you want to taste the difference. - Try it with Absolut Lime
Swap Absolut Citron for Absolut Lime and the citrus character shifts from lemon to lime – a slightly sharper, more tart version that works particularly well with the herbal notes of the yellow chartreuse. - Add a dash of aromatic bitters
Try aromatic bitters instead of orange bitters, which play beautifully with the herbal complexity of the yellow chartreuse, adding a warm, spiced depth that takes the drink in a slightly different direction. Both are worth trying.
- Glassware
Serve in either a chilled cocktail glass or coupe glass – both are clean, elegant and perfect for this drink. - Orange twist
An orange twist on the rim expresses the oils over the drink before dropping it in – it adds a subtle citrus aroma that complements both the orange juice and the orange bitters, and gives the glass a clean, bright and citrusy finish.
Cheeky Monkey Cocktail FAQ
Yellow chartreuse is a French herbal liqueur made from over 130 plants and spices, produced by Carthusian monks in the French Alps. It is sweeter and milder than its green counterpart, making it more approachable in cocktails while still bringing considerable complexity. It is a very distinctive liqueur and gives the Cheeky Monkey much of its character.
The original Cheeky Monkey recipe uses unflavored vodka – we’ve swapped it for Absolut Citron because the natural lemon character of the vodka amplifies the citrus notes of the orange juice and orange bitters, giving the drink a brighter, more citrus-forward character. That said, if you prefer the original, unflavored vodka works just as well.
Yes, you can…but it will significantly change the character of the drink. Green chartreuse is considerably more herbal, complex and intense than yellow chartreuse, giving the Cheeky Monkey a bolder, more spirit-forward character. It’s a different drink rather than a variation but one worth trying if you enjoy intensely herbal cocktails.
