CHARTREUSE - 9th Centenary Liqueur - Jeroboam Format - 47%
The Order of Chartreuse, a true emblem of French spiritual and culinary heritage, had already existed for over 500 years when, in 1605, at a Chartreuse monastery in Vauvert, near Paris, the monks received a precious gift from Duke François Hannibal d'Estrées: an ancient manuscript of an "Elixir" called the "Elixir of Long Life." This mysterious manuscript was likely the work of a 16th-century alchemist, possessing deep knowledge of herbs and the unique mastery to assemble, infuse, and macerate over 130 plants to create a perfectly balanced unique tonic. The detailed recipe was so complex that only certain parts could be understood and implemented at Vauvert. In the early 18th century, this manuscript was transferred to the Order's Mother House, La Grande Chartreuse, nestled in the mountains near Grenoble. The monastery's apothecary, Brother Jérôme Maubec, finally managed to decipher the secret and, in 1737, established the precise formula for preparing the Elixir, which was finalized in 1764. In 1903, the French government nationalized the Chartreuse distillery, forcing the monks to leave. After a difficult period marked by bankruptcy in 1929, the monks reclaimed the Chartreuse brand, thus reviving their spiritual and artisanal legacy. They returned to their original distillery, established in 1860 at Fourvoirie near the monastery, and relaunched the production of authentic Chartreuse liqueurs. Following a destructive landslide in 1935, production was moved to Voiron, where it continues with care and passion to this day.
The rigorous selection, meticulous grinding, and skillful blending of secret herbs, rare plants, and medicinal botanicals are carried out in the monastery by two expert monks. After this careful preparation, the ingredients are transported to Voiron, where they undergo slow maceration in an alcohol of exemplary purity, followed by precise distillation. The resulting liqueurs are then aged for several years in large oak barrels in a cellar whose mastery of aging methods grants Chartreuse liqueurs some of the longest and highest-quality maturations in the world.
The 9th Centenary Liqueur was created in 1984 to honor the 900th anniversary of the founding of the Chartreuse Monks, marking the historic creation of the Grande Chartreuse Monastery in 1084, a symbol of exceptional and unique monastic craftsmanship and tradition.
Due to its exceptional format, this exceptional product is not available for online sale. It is exclusively accessible in our boutique in Bordeaux, where you will be welcomed to discover the richness and nobility of traditional spirits.
