This cocktail, from Difford’s Guide, is call a Ray Gun, and comes with a side note that is a warning: “not for the faint-hearted.”

Oh, there’s a kick, from the Chartreuse, one of those mystical European creations. Made in France by monks, the liqueur is alcohol with 130 herbs. I did not know there were 130 herbs. The color is, naturally, chartreuse, and the liqueur is said to actually continue to age and mature in the bottle. The flavor is intensely herby with no single note that you can recognize. I would not drink this straight and that’s one reason we have this bottle lying around. For a long time.

Several years ago, Cooking by the Book was the test kitchen for the Joy of Cooking — actually for the last two editions. As part of the testing, there was a need one day for a very little Chartreuse. That test came and has gone. The bottle of Chartreuse, a nearly full bottle, has rested untouched on our shelves ever since.

Now I guess in a normal household, after a while, you would toss out a bottle that never gets used. But when I was growing up and started to do that, my mom would say something like: “You silly child. Think of all the poor little bartenders in China with nothing to pour. Your father and I will finish the bottle.” And by God they finished that bottle and every other.

Looking back, maybe Mom and Dad had a little problem.

Anyway, I don’t throw away bottles, but it can be difficult to find uses for the liqueurs. Things are easier now. I went to diffordsguide.com, searched based on my Chartreuse dilemma, and presto came up with this solution: Chartreuse, Blue Curacao, and Champagne.

Is there anything that doesn’t taste better with Champagne?

In the recipe below, there are calls for “partial” shots. How big is a shot? Three tablespoons, so you can round off accordingly. The Blue Curacao, mixed with Champagne and the chartreuse of the Chartreuse, produces a color that Jacque Cousteau would have loved.

Ray Gun

Yield: 1 Champagne flute

Ingredients:

• ½ shot Chartreuse Green Liqueur
• ¾ shot Blue Curacao Liqueur
• Champagne

Preparation:

Pour the two liqueurs into a chilled flute and top with Champagne.

Source: diffordsguide.com