For more than four centuries, Chartreuse has been one of the world’s most mysterious spirits. Its story begins in 1605, when French Carthusian monks received an ancient manuscript describing an “elixir of long life.” The recipe was unlike anything else: a blend of more than 130 herbs, plants, and spices, carefully measured and infused to create a complex herbal liqueur.
Over time, the monks refined the process, protecting it with absolute secrecy. To this day, only two monks at a time know the complete recipe, and the knowledge is passed down from generation to generation. Not even modern technology has managed to uncover its full formula.
Originally produced at the Grande Chartreuse monastery in the French Alps, the spirit later moved to Voiron, and today is crafted in Aiguenoire. Through wars, political upheavals, and even temporary exile of the monks, Chartreuse has survived unchanged — a symbol of resilience and devotion.
Chartreuse comes in several iconic versions: Green Chartreuse, with its intense herbal power at 55% ABV; Yellow Chartreuse, softer and sweeter; and the legendary Elixir Végétal, a concentrated version still sold in small bottles for its medicinal roots.
Beyond its flavor, Chartreuse carries an aura of mystery and authenticity. It is not just a liqueur, but a piece of living history — a liquid link between the past and present, crafted by hand, guarded by faith, and shared with the world.