Chartreuse

Chartreuse is a unique liqueur that has been produced by Carthusian monks for over 400 years. Made from a secret blend of 130 plants, this exceptional drink is renowned for its complex flavour and medicinal properties. Available in two main variants, Chartreuse Verte and Chartreuse Jaune, this liqueur is a veritable treasure trove of French heritage. Since it was founded in 1605 by the Carthusian monks, 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, the Chartreuse liqueurs. The rare and precious plants, carefully selected, are macerated using 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 improves with age. 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 ageing, as their sugars combine with the alcohol like old Sauternes. The green Chartreuses, on the other hand, have a much higher alcohol content, which freezes the liqueur and develops much more slowly than the yellows.

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 events forced the Carthusian monks to change location, bottling plant and labels, and this is why, even if it is rather complex, it is possible to find the period and place of production of a Chartreuse according to the characteristics appearing on the bottle. You will find on our website a wide choice of Chartreuse collections from these different periods, often very rare, and making the history of this liqueur that has become mythical. <