Chartreuse is an herbal liqueur produced by Carthusian monks in the French Alps. With almost 400 years of history, Chartreuse is one of the oldest and most mysterious spirits still available. Only three monks from the order know the secret recipe, each hold one third of that recipe and all have taken a vow of silence, so the secret recipe is kept safely. The liqueur was originally created as an "Elixir of Long Life" in 1605 by Peres Chartreux. The formula was perfected over the years and by 1737 the liqueur was released to the world in a form that is close to what we drink today.
Distilling Chartreuse:
Chartreuse is made by macerating the select herbs with a neutral alcohol spirit which is then distilled and aged for five years in oak vats (the only liqueur to do so).
Chartreuse Green is used more often than the yellow version. It is made from 130 herbs, plants and flowers found in the French Alps. It is 110 proof and has an intense floral and herbal flavor with hints of cloves, citrus, thyme, rosemary and cinnamon.