CHARTREUSE - Elixir Liqueur 1605 - Bottling 2026 - 56%
The Order of the Chartreuse had existed for over five centuries when, in 1605, at a Chartreuse monastery located in Vauvert, a small suburb of Paris, the monks received a precious manuscript offered by Duke François Hannibal d'Estrées: an ancient grimoire of an "Elixir" recognized as the "Elixir of Long Life." This rare document was likely created by a 16th-century alchemist, expert in herbalism and medicinal preparations, capable of combining, infusing, and macerating no fewer than 130 plants and herbs to give birth to an exceptionally balanced tonic. While the original recipe remained complex, only certain aspects could be understood and used by the monks at Vauvert. At the beginning of the 18th century, this precious manuscript was transferred to the Order's Mother House, La Grande Chartreuse, nestled in the mountains near Grenoble. There, under the expert hand of the monastery's apothecary, Brother Jérôme Maubec, the secret formula was finally decoded and, in 1737, he wrote the complete and practical recipe allowing the preparation of the Elixir, which was perfected in 1764. In 1903, following the nationalization of the Chartreuse distillery by the French government, the monks were forced into exile. After the distillery's bankruptcy in 1929, they regained ownership of the Chartreuse brand. Production of the authentic liqueurs then resumed in their historic distillery, built in 1860 at Fourvoirie, then continued in Voiron from 1935 after a landslide destroyed the previous facilities.
The meticulous harvesting, secret selection, grinding, and blending of the plants, herbs, and other medicinal botanicals used in the making of Chartreuse liqueurs are carried out directly by two monks within the monastery. These rare ingredients are then shipped to Voiron, where the meticulous maceration process begins in exceptionally high-quality alcohols, before being distilled according to ancestral know-how. The spirits are then transferred into huge oak barrels to patiently age for several years, in one of the longest maturation cellars in the world, ensuring a unique aromatic profile.
The Elixir Liqueur 1605 was created in 2005 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of this legendary manuscript, a testimony to a unique monastic know-how dedicated to spirituous excellence.
Find this essential reference of rare spirits on Clos des Spiritueux, a true invitation to history and authenticity of exceptional liqueurs for all Chartreuse enthusiasts and collectors.
