CHARTREUSE - VEP Yellow - 1 Liter Bottle - 42%
The Order of the Chartreuse has existed for over 500 years since in 1605, in a Chartreuse monastery located in Vauvert, a historic suburb of Paris, the monks received a precious gift from Duke François Hannibal d'Estrées: an ancient manuscript detailing a famous "Elixir," nicknamed the "Elixir of Long Life." This precious manuscript was likely the work of a 16th-century alchemist with deep knowledge of medicinal herbs and unique techniques to assemble, infuse, and macerate about 130 plants to create a tonic with perfectly balanced and beneficial health properties. The extreme complexity of the recipe meant that only certain extracts were understood and exploited in Vauvert. In the early 18th century, this exceptional manuscript was transferred to the Order's Mother House, La Grande Chartreuse, nestled in the majestic mountains near Grenoble. It was there that the Monastery's Apothecary, Brother Jérôme Maubec, managed to unlock the secret of the formula and, in 1737, wrote the practical version for preparing this elixir, which went into production in 1764. After the nationalization of the Chartreuse distillery by the French government in 1903 and the expulsion of the monks, they reclaimed the brand following the 1929 bankruptcy. They then returned to their historic distillery built in 1860 at Fourvoirie, near the Monastery, to relaunch the authentic production of Chartreuse liqueurs. In 1935, a landslide almost completely destroyed Fourvoirie, forcing the transfer of production to Voiron, where distillation continues to this day.
The meticulous process of selecting, grinding, and blending the secret herbs, aromatic and medicinal plants used in the liqueurs' production is carried out in utmost secrecy by two specialist monks within the monastery itself. Once perfectly combined, these rare ingredients are transported to Voiron where they undergo slow maceration in a specially chosen alcohol before being rigorously distilled. The resulting liqueurs are then aged for several years in majestic oak barrels. They rest in the aging cellar, renowned for some of the longest and highest quality maturation periods in the world, ensuring exceptional taste and a unique aromatic palette.
A very special selection of this liqueur is reserved for a special treatment: it benefits from an extended additional aging. When the master distiller deems this batch has reached perfection, it is bottled under the emblematic name Chartreuse V.E.P. ("Vieillissement Exceptionnellement Prolongé" - Exceptionally Prolonged Aging). Each V.E.P. bottle, a faithful reproduction of the historic bottle used since 1840, is individually numbered and carefully sealed with wax, making each piece a true high-end collector's item.
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