Spirits · Aiguenoire, Entre-deux-Guiers, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Chartreuse

A centuries-old herbal liqueur made by Carthusian monks in the French Alps.

Founded by: Carthusian monks of the Grande Chartreuse
Based in: Aiguenoire, Entre-deux-Guiers, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Shop all Chartreuse (1)Our featured pick

Their story

Chartreuse is made by the Carthusian monks of the Grande Chartreuse, a monastery in the mountains north of Grenoble. Its story starts in 1605, when a manuscript for an "elixir of long life" was given to the order. The formula called for more than 130 plants and spices, and it took until 1737 to produce the first finished version.

The Élixir Végétal followed in 1764, and Green and Yellow Chartreuse arrived in 1840. When the order was expelled from France in 1903, the monks carried production between France and Spain before eventually coming home.

Today only two monks know the full recipes. Production moved to a new distillery at Aiguenoire in 2018, with the aging cellars following from Voiron.

How it's made

Plants are distilled, macerated and infused, then blended by the monks with purified water and cane sugar. The liqueurs age in barrels of several sizes in humid cellars, and the monks decide when each batch is ready or deserves extra-long aging. A light filtration keeps them clear without stripping flavor.

Our featured pick

Aperitif Gentiane Liqueur (700ML)

$75.00

A limited-release gentian aperitif from Chartreuse, with earthy alpine herbs, bright bitterness, and a clean, dry finish. Excellent chilled, over ice, or as a distinctive cocktail ingredient.

Full product details