CHARTREUSE - Génépi of the Carthusian Fathers - 40%
The Order of the Chartreuse has a history spanning over 500 years. In 1605, within a Carthusian monastery located in Vauvert, a small suburb of Paris, the monks received a precious gift from Duke François Hannibal d'Estrées: an ancient manuscript titled "Elixir," also nicknamed "Elixir of Long Life." This valuable document was likely the work of a 16th-century alchemist, an expert in botany, mastering the art of selecting, infusing, and macerating more than 130 plants and herbs. The goal was to concoct a tonic with perfectly balanced and unmatched properties.
The recipe, remarkably complex, was initially only partially understood and used in Vauvert. At the beginning of the 18th century, this manuscript was transferred to the Mother House of the Order, La Grande Chartreuse, nestled in the mountains near Grenoble. It was there that the monastery's Apothecary, Brother Jérôme Maubec, managed to unlock the secret of the blend, drafting in 1737 the practical preparation formula of the Elixir, finalized in 1764. In 1903, following the nationalization of the distillery by the French government, the monks were forced to leave. However, after the distillery's bankruptcy in 1929, they recovered the Chartreuse brand and returned to the Fourvoirie distillery, built in 1860, not far from the monastery, where they resumed authentic production of Chartreuse liqueurs.
In 1935, a landslide severely damaged Fourvoirie, leading to the transfer of production to Voiron, where the activity continues to this day.
All essential processes, from rigorous selection to grinding and then mixing of the secret herbs, medicinal and aromatic plants, are carried out in the monastery by two specialized monks. The prepared ingredients are then transported to Voiron, where they undergo meticulous maceration in high-quality alcohol before being expertly distilled. Finally, the liqueurs age for several years in large oak barrels, placed in a remarkable maturation cellar, known for housing some of the longest aging periods in the world.
This exceptional spirit is based on an ancient secret formula, a unique distillate made from génépi and multiple aromatic plants, crafted through several complex phases of maceration and distillation that guarantee its aromatic richness and incomparable virtues.
