Chartreuse, a rare liqueur with ancestral origins

Chartreuse is a rare liqueur with a secret recipe made by monks for decades. Only a few of them still possess it today and produce it in very limited quantities. Chartreuse fascinates and offers a few exceptional bottles to spirit enthusiasts around the world.

Yellow Chartreuse vs Green Chartreuse

Chartreuse is a liqueur with a well-guarded secret. It is only known that it contains about 130 plants from the Chartreuse Valley, in the heart of the French Alps, where the monks established their hermitage in 1084.

Chartreuse is believed to be derived from an elixir of long life, the original recipe of which was offered to the Carthusians by the Duke of Estrées in the 17th century, before becoming the liqueur we know today in 1840. As for the rest, it's a mystery... The production method is just as confidential.

After the distillation of the plants, the alcohol ages in oak casks to develop complex aromas and give rise to two types of Chartreuse: Green Chartreuse at 55°, and Yellow Chartreuse at 43°, each deriving its natural color from the maceration of the plants.

The original bright green Chartreuse has a very powerful herbal and peppery bouquet. Its flavor is fresh, with aromas of mint and pine, as well as a certain bitterness at the end. Yellow Chartreuse has a beautiful golden color and more subtle aromas than green Chartreuse. The palate is floral, slightly aniseed, with notes of turmeric and lemon.

Chartreuse, bottles as rare as they are prestigious

The Carthusian fathers, dedicating themselves primarily to prayer, make Chartreuse a rare spirit. Nonetheless, it boasts exceptional vintages that offer enthusiasts prestigious bottles and a unique tasting experience. This is the case with Chartreuse V.E.P. (Exceptionally Prolonged Aging), available only in sealed and numbered bottles.

Chartreuse Tarragona is equally precious. It was produced by the Carthusian monks in Tarragona, Spain, where they took refuge in 1903 after being expelled from France. This Carthusian distillery closed its doors in 1989, and the remaining production was brought back to the Carthusian cellar in Voiron, Isère. Every bottle released now garners significant interest from spirit enthusiasts.

There are also special vintages, unique blends created to celebrate particular events, such as the Liqueur d'Elixir 1605, marking the discovery of the original recipe. The Liqueur du 9ème Centenaire celebrates the 900th anniversary of the Carthusian Order, while the Liqueur du Foudre 147 is a mellow blend from a single, unique cask.

All these liqueurs of unparalleled quality are the result of ancestral know-how that sustains the legend of Chartreuse.