Initially launched in 1737, Chartreuse is a darling of the cocktail world, starring in drinks just like the Final Phrase, the Bijou, and extra. The beloved spirit has been produced in France by the Carthusian monks for over 250 years, and its recipes are fiercely protected. The truth is, solely two monks on this planet know the recipe in its entirety, guaranteeing that the order is the one group able to manufacturing. That’s why it was such large information when, three years in the past, the Carthusians introduced that they might not be producing sufficient to meet demand.
However whereas conventional inexperienced and yellow Chartreuse may be barely more durable to search out at present than they had been a couple of years in the past, another Chartreuse bottlings are a lot rarer. These are, after all, special-edition Chartreuse expressions, which are typically offered in extremely particular areas and aren’t accessible globally.
From ultra-aged expressions to people who harken again to the liqueur’s unique 1605 recipe, listed here are seven Chartreuse choices everybody ought to know.
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The Natural Elixir de la Grande-Chartreuse
Packaged in small, 100-milliliter bottles, the Natural Elixir de la Grande-Chartreuse is bottled at 69 % ABV and is basically a pure, concentrated expression of the unique inexperienced Chartreuse recipe. Referred to as “Elixir Végétal de la Grande-Chartreuse” — or, extra merely, “Végétal” or “the elixir” — the product solely turned accessible within the U.S. in 2022, however has been offered in France since 1764. And its recipe is even older than that.
In 1605, the Duke of Estrées supplied the Carthusian monks with a manuscript containing a recipe for what was known as an elixir for lengthy life created from 130 components. For the following 150 years, the monks tinkered with the recipe earlier than touchdown on the model of the product accessible at present. Initially known as the “Plant Elixir of the Grande Chartreuse” the elixir was offered as a well being product all through France, significantly throughout the cholera epidemic in 1832.
Right this moment, Végétal is a well-liked element in cocktails, however be aware that it shouldn’t be used as a one-to-one substitute for inexperienced Chartreuse. Because the proof is way larger than that of the usual expression, which is available in at 55 % ABV, a splash or two of Végétal is greater than sufficient to ship its woodsy, botanical taste. Whereas some special-edition Chartreuse bottlings may be a problem to trace down, Végétal is, fortunately, fairly straightforward to acquire — and also you received’t break the financial institution shopping for some. Every miniature bottle retails for round $30.
Liqueur d’Elixir 1605
To have a good time the four-hundredth anniversary of the Carthusians receiving the recipe for the elixir for lengthy life, the monks launched Liqueur d’Elixir 1605 in 2005. The Twenty first-century spirit was impressed by the monks’ nineteenth century creation, Liqueur de Santé, which was later renamed Chartreuse Verte, or inexperienced Chartreuse, in 1840. Bottled at 56 % ABV, the liqueur is made by mixing a small proportion of the Natural Elixir de la Grande-Chartreuse into the usual 55 % ABV providing.
Accessible in each 700-milliliter and three-liter (double magnum) bottles, the liqueur delivers robust botanicals corresponding to that of inexperienced Chartreuse, although tastes peatier and barely much less candy than the unique. Retailing for at the very least $200, although generally way more, every classic Chartreuse Liqueur d’Elixir is extremely allotted and might solely be discovered at choose retailers.
Chartreuse Cuvée des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France Sommeliers (Chartreuse MOF Liqueur)
First created in 2008, Chartreuse MOF Liqueur was a collaborative effort between the Carthusian monks and Meilleur Ouvriers de France (MOF) sommeliers. The MOF title, which loosely interprets to “one in all France’s greatest craftsmen” is simply awarded to those that have achieved superior excellence of their commerce. For French sommeliers to be awarded, they need to compete in a variety of competitions held by the French Ministry of Nationwide Schooling and the COET-MOF, the organizer of the examination.
Bottled at 45 % ABV, the liqueur is a mix of yellow Chartreuse distillates created from 130 crops, bark, roots, spices, and flowers. Mentioned to have a extra nuanced taste profile than commonplace yellow Chartreuse, MOF delivers notes of gentian, chamomile, and anise, with a cool mint end. Normally offered for round $200, Chartreuse MOF can usually be discovered at specialty liquor retailers each in individual and on-line.
“Foudre 147” Liqueur
Supposed to be loved as a digestif, Chartreuse “Foudre 147” Liqueur is a mix of inexperienced and yellow Chartreuse that’s aged for a number of years in a single oak vat in Voiron, France. From 1860 to 1903 — after which once more from 1935 to 2017 — all Chartreuse was produced within the small French commune, although manufacturing moved to a brand new distillery within the Aiguenoire neighborhood of Entre-deux-Guiers in 2018. Whereas manufacturing may happen at a special distillery, the Voiron website stays house to a museum and what the model claims to be the world’s longest liqueur-maturing cellar.
Inside that cellar lives barrel #147, which was used to age the primary and solely batch of Foudre 147, which hit the market in 2019. Furthermore, Foudre 147 was the ultimate spirit to age on the Voiron facility earlier than manufacturing was relocated, additional including to its attract. To craft the liqueur, the monks hand-select the strongest inexperienced and yellow Chartreuse expressions, mix them collectively, and depart the mix to age within the giant oak vat for a number of years. The result’s a liqueur that’s mentioned to have advanced earthy botanicals and slight natural sweetness. Usually retailing for round $600, Chartreuse Foudre 147 is completely accessible on the model’s boutique in Voiron, however bottles can generally be discovered at choose retailers.
Liqueur of the ninth Centenary
Debuted in 1984, Liqueur of the ninth Centenary was crafted to have a good time the 900th anniversary of the Carthusian Order’s founding in 1084. That 12 months, Saint Bruno of Cologne established the order’s first monastic quarters in France’s Chartreuse Mountains, the Grande Chartreuse Monastery, the place Chartreuse was initially produced. Although manufacturing has since relocated, the campus stays an vital fixture of the Carthusian Order, serving as its head monastery.
Believed to be a mix of Chartreuse VEP Yellow (see beneath) and commonplace inexperienced Chartreuse, the liqueur is described as pungent, with notes of lemon, basil, botanical roots, and anise. Launched solely in choose years, Liqueur of the ninth Centenary could be very uncommon to come back throughout, with bottles anyplace from $200 to $1,900, relying on classic and bottle dimension.
Chartreuse VEP Inexperienced / Chartreuse VEP Yellow
Each Chartreuse VEP Inexperienced and VEP Yellow are produced from the inexperienced and yellow expressions which might be broadly utilized in cocktails at present. However that VEP is a crucial distinction, which means Vieillissement Exceptionnellement Prolongé, or Exceptionally Extended Growing old. Relatively than bottling every at its commonplace maturation time, which is usually between three and 5 years, the VEP expressions spend between 11 and 20 years in barrel. The precise time, nevertheless, like the remainder of Chartreuse manufacturing, stays a thriller.
First launched in 1963, VEP Inexperienced and VEP Yellow are mentioned to have a taste profile much like their commonplace counterparts, although are notably extra mellow of their depth. Each VEP Inexperienced (bottled at 54 % ABV) and VEP Yellow (42 % ABV) are launched yearly in extraordinarily restricted, allotted portions, and promote for eye-popping costs. Relying on the 12 months of launch, Chartreuse VEP Inexperienced can promote for anyplace between $300 and $7,000, whereas VEP Yellow is listed for as excessive as $16,000 at some retailers.
