Chartreuse

Chartreuse is a unique liqueur, produced by Carthusian monks for over 400 years. Made from a secret blend of 130 plants, this exceptional beverage is renowned for its complex flavor and medicinal properties. Available in two main variants, Chartreuse Verte and Chartreuse Jaune, this liqueur is a true treasure of French heritage. Since its foundation in 1605 by the Carthusian fathers, Chartreuse has preserved the secrets of a unique recipe and created liqueurs of unrivalled quality.

In the heart of the French mountains, in the Grande Chartreuse monastery, the Carthusian monks, following the path laid down by Saint Bruno, perpetuate a centuries-old heritage by devoutly producing a plant elixir, Chartreuse liqueurs. The rare and precious plants, carefully selected, are macerated according to secret methods handed down from generation to generation.

Chartreuses have the ability to age and become more complex in the bottle. In other words, this alcohol has the ability to improve with age. For example, yellow Chartreuses, with an alcoholic strength of 40 (or 43 for bottles produced before 1973), have a higher sugar content and therefore a greater aptitude for aging, as their sugars combine with the alcohol in the same way as old Sauternes. Green Chartreuses, on the other hand, have a much higher alcohol content, and have the effect of freezing the liqueur, evolving much more slowly than yellow Chartreuses.

La Chartreuse has a rich and intense history, following the path of the Carthusian monks since 1605. Around 1895, an anti-clerical coalition in France forced the expulsion of the Carthusian fathers from France. In 1904, they officially set up the distillery in Tarragona, Spain, and did not take over the Fourvoirie distillery until 1932. In the end, a number of twists and turns forced the Carthusian monks to change location, bottling plant and label, and that's why, even if it's rather complex, it's possible to trace the period and place of production of a Chartreuse according to the characteristics appearing on the bottle. You'll find on our website a wide selection of Chartreuse collections from these different periods, often very rare, and making the history of this liqueur that has become mythical. <