Green Chartreuse is one of the most legendary and singular liqueurs in the world, made by Carthusian monks in the French Alps from a secret recipe of 130 herbs, plants and flowers. Its origins trace to a 1605 manuscript entrusted to the order, an ancient formula for an elixir of long life, which the monks refined into the liqueur enjoyed today. It carries a mystique unmatched in the spirits world: only two monks alive at any time know the complete recipe, including which botanicals must be macerated to produce the liqueur's entirely natural green color, and they alone supervise its slow aging in oak casks. This is the only liqueur in the world whose green hue comes entirely from its ingredients, with no added coloring. Bottled at a formidable 55 percent alcohol by volume, it is intense, complex and unmistakable. The nose bursts with fresh alpine herbs, pine, mint, anise and citrus zest, while the palate is bold and layered, weaving mint, thyme, rosemary, cardamom, wormwood, sweet licorice and fennel over a honeyed sweetness, and the finish is long and warming with lingering botanicals, spice and earthy depth. Powerful enough to anchor a cocktail yet elegant enough to sip neat or over ice as a digestif, it has been the structural backbone of modern classics like the Last Word, the Bijou and the Chartreuse Swizzle for over a century. Supply is famously limited worldwide because production is tied to the abbey's output, which has made it increasingly sought after and hard to find. Enjoy it neat, over ice, or in a classic cocktail, and pair it with dark chocolate, aged Comte or a herb crusted roast.
ABV / Proof
| Brand |
Chartreuse |
| Producer |
Carthusian Monks (Pères Chartreux) / Chartreuse Diffusion, Voiron, France |
| Category |
Herbal Liqueur |
| Expression |
Green Chartreuse |
| Composition |
130 herbs, plants and flowers (secret recipe); naturally green |
| Maturation |
Aged in oak casks |
| ABV |
55% |
| Proof |
110 |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Country |
France |
| Region |
Isère / Voiron (Alps) |
Tasting Notes
Color: Bright, entirely natural green.
Nose: Fresh alpine herbs, pine, mint, anise and citrus zest.
Palate: Bold and complex, mint, thyme, rosemary, cardamom, wormwood, sweet licorice and fennel over honeyed sweetness.
Finish: Long and warming with lingering botanicals, spice and earthy depth.
FAQ
What is Green Chartreuse? It is a French herbal liqueur made by Carthusian monks from a secret recipe of 130 botanicals, dating to a 1605 manuscript, and it is the only liqueur in the world with a completely natural green color.
What proof is it? It is bottled at 55 percent alcohol by volume, which is 110 proof, unusually high for a liqueur.
Why is it so hard to find? Production is controlled by the monks and tied to the abbey's output, so global supply is famously limited and demand often outstrips it.
What cocktails use Green Chartreuse? It is essential in classics like the Last Word, the Bijou and the Chartreuse Swizzle, and adds herbal complexity to many modern drinks.
How should I drink it? Neat, over ice as a digestif, or in a cocktail. It pairs well with dark chocolate, aged cheese and herb crusted roasts.
Where can I buy Green Chartreuse Liqueur online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
