CHARTREUSE - VEP Green VEP - 1 Liter Bottle - 2023 Bottling - 54% ABV
The Order of the Chartreuse has a rich history spanning over 500 years, beginning in 1605 when an ancient manuscript titled "Elixir" or "Elixir of Long Life" was offered to the monks of the Chartreuse monastery in Vauvert, a small suburb of Paris, by Duke François Hannibal d'Estrées. This precious manuscript, likely written by a learned 16th-century alchemist, demonstrates profound knowledge of plants and their medicinal powers. It reveals the subtle art of assembling, infusing, and macerating more than 130 carefully selected herbs, thus creating a perfectly balanced tonic known for its exceptional virtues. The complexity of the recipe allowed only partial understanding at first, and it was not until the early 18th century that the manuscript was transferred to the Order's Mother House, La Grande Chartreuse, nestled in the mountains near Grenoble. Under the direction of the monastery's apothecary, Brother Jérôme Maubec, the mystery was finally solved, and in 1737 he wrote the practical preparation formula for this Elixir, which was officially established in 1764. In 1903, following the nationalization of the Chartreuse distillery by the French government, the monks were expelled. After the 1929 bankruptcy, they regained ownership of the brand and resumed authentic production of this legendary liqueur from their historic distillery, built in 1860 in Fourvoirie near the monastery. Following a devastating landslide in 1935, production was transferred to Voiron, where it continues today, ensuring the continuity of this unique expertise.
The rigorous selection, precise grinding, and subtle blending of the secret herbs, aromatic and medicinal plants used in the making of Chartreuse are meticulously carried out in the monastery by two dedicated monks, ensuring the impeccable quality of each batch. The prepared ingredients are then sent to the Voiron distillery where they undergo prolonged maceration in a finely selected alcohol, followed by artisanal distillation. These liqueurs then age for several years in huge oak barrels housed in the Chartreuse aging cellar, renowned for offering the longest and most exceptional maturations in the world, contributing to the aromatic richness and depth of flavor.
An exclusive portion of this liqueur undergoes privileged treatment. Aged even longer through a unique process, this special selection is declared ready for bottling only after approval by the master distiller. Marketed under the name V.E.P. Chartreuse ("Exceptionally Prolonged Aging"), each bottle is an authentic replica of the one used in 1840, individually numbered, elegantly wax-sealed, and presented in a custom wooden box, symbolizing rare prestige and unparalleled tradition.
