1 bottle CHARTREUSE "Tarragone" green (1973-1985, ela) Chartreuse is a French monastic liqueur produced by Carthusian monks according to a recipe whose origins date back to a manuscript handed down in 1605 describing a mysterious "elixir of long life". Unlike eaux-de-vie obtained by distilling a fermented product, Chartreuse belongs to the liqueur family: it results from the maceration, distillation or infusion of a large number of plants, flowers and spices in alcohol, giving it its richness and complexity. The formula, which tradition has it involves more than a hundred plants, remains strictly secret to this day, known only to a handful of monks. Over time, various expressions were developed, including the powerful, intensely aromatic Chartreuse verte, and the softer, rounder Chartreuse jaune. These liqueurs are matured in oak tuns, contributing to their complexity and remarkable ageing capacity. Some bottles also bear witness to particular episodes in the liqueur's history, notably those produced in Tarragona, Spain, when the monks had to leave France in the early 20th century.