Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
You can skip ahead, but you’ll miss a lot of great information along the way!
Shortcuts/Timecodes:
0:00 – Intro
5:17 – Reg Nosing
6:22 – VEP Nosing
6:54 – Veg138 Nosing
7:23 – Reg Tasting
9:05 – VEP Tasting
12:02 – Veg138 Tasting
Chartreuse is a unique herbal liqueur made by Carthusian monks, a reclusive Catholic order founded in 1084. Produced from a secret blend of 130 herbs, only two monks at a time know the full recipe. First developed in the 18th century from a manuscript given to the monks in 1605, Chartreuse comes in green and yellow varieties, differing in strength and flavor. Though distilled in Voiron, France, its spiritual home is the Grande Chartreuse monastery in the Alps. The monks intentionally limit production to maintain their quiet, contemplative lifestyle, prioritizing monastic values over commercial growth. Personally, I’ve always preferred the green over the even sweeter Yellow Chartreuse. And while there are a few other international expressions, today we’re going to sit down with the 3 that we get here in the US.
Chartreuse Green (Regular / Verte) is the most widely available expression of Chartreuse and a staple in many bars around the world. Bottled at 55% ABV, it boasts a vivid, naturally-derived bright green color thanks to a secret blend of over 130 herbs. Its flavor profile is bold and complex, featuring intense herbal, spicy, and slightly sweet-bitter notes with hints of mint, anise, sage, and citrus peel. Known for its powerful punch and pungent aroma, it’s often used in classic cocktails like The Last Word or enjoyed neat, preferably chilled. This standard expression typically retails for around $60–$70 USD for a 750ml bottle.
Chartreuse V.E.P. (Vieillissement Exceptionnellement Prolongé) is a premium, aged version of the Green Chartreuse, bottled at 54% ABV. It is matured for an extended period in oak barrels, which gives it a deeper, more golden-green hue and a smoother, more refined taste. Compared to the regular version, V.E.P. offers a richer mouthfeel with less bite, showcasing mellow spices, woody undertones, and a deeply integrated herbal character. Presented in a wax-sealed bottle housed in a wooden box, it’s a collector’s favorite and best savored neat or over ice. Due to its rarity and aging, V.E.P. usually sells for $200-$350 USD per 1-liter bottle.
Elixir Végétal de la Grande-Chartreuse, also known as Vegetal 138, is the most concentrated form of the Chartreuse recipe, originally created in 1764 as a medicinal tonic. With a formidable ABV of 69%, it comes in a small 100ml vial stored inside a wooden case. This elixir is extremely potent and intensely herbal, delivering powerful notes of mint, camphor, eucalyptus, and bitter herbs. While it's not technically a liqueur, it’s traditionally consumed by placing a few drops on a sugar cube or mixing into hot water or tea. Some bartenders use it sparingly in cocktails due to its strength. Retail pricing for this unique elixir is typically around $25–$35 USD per 100ml bottle.
As of August 2025, my current bottle count is over 3,400. I am a Certified Specialist of Spirits and have also been accredited by the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT). I've been actively collecting for 31 years and what started as a small basic home bar has transformed (with the help and understanding of my wonderful wife) into this collection and career. Speaking of my career, I’m super proud to announce that my “Saints Alley “Nobleman” Rye Whiskey was named “Best American Rye” at the 2024 World Whisky Awards! But don’t forget that our other Bourbons have also won multiple big awards and are on Total Wine shelves now! Our Flagship Port & Cognac received a Double Platinum at Fred Minnick's 2024 Ascot Awards, and "The Herald” - our Armagnac finished Bourbon - took Double Gold at the Whiskies of the World competition! Our $40 Ironroot "Sleight of Hand" (soon to be renamed "Assemblage") Rye Whiskey won Best in Class Double Gold and is in the running for Worlds Best Rye at the San Francisco Spirits Awards! And stay tuned for my 10 Year Saints Alley "Herald Cigar Blend" coming fall of 2025! Given my decades of consumer/reviewer experience, you know I’m working hard to continue bringing you great whiskeys that I'm proud of as a collector, reviewer & blender! Thank you for watching & please remember to drink responsibly. Cheers!
You can skip ahead, but you’ll miss a lot of great information along the way!
Shortcuts/Timecodes:
0:00 – Intro
5:17 – Reg Nosing
6:22 – VEP Nosing
6:54 – Veg138 Nosing
7:23 – Reg Tasting
9:05 – VEP Tasting
12:02 – Veg138 Tasting
Chartreuse is a unique herbal liqueur made by Carthusian monks, a reclusive Catholic order founded in 1084. Produced from a secret blend of 130 herbs, only two monks at a time know the full recipe. First developed in the 18th century from a manuscript given to the monks in 1605, Chartreuse comes in green and yellow varieties, differing in strength and flavor. Though distilled in Voiron, France, its spiritual home is the Grande Chartreuse monastery in the Alps. The monks intentionally limit production to maintain their quiet, contemplative lifestyle, prioritizing monastic values over commercial growth. Personally, I’ve always preferred the green over the even sweeter Yellow Chartreuse. And while there are a few other international expressions, today we’re going to sit down with the 3 that we get here in the US.
Chartreuse Green (Regular / Verte) is the most widely available expression of Chartreuse and a staple in many bars around the world. Bottled at 55% ABV, it boasts a vivid, naturally-derived bright green color thanks to a secret blend of over 130 herbs. Its flavor profile is bold and complex, featuring intense herbal, spicy, and slightly sweet-bitter notes with hints of mint, anise, sage, and citrus peel. Known for its powerful punch and pungent aroma, it’s often used in classic cocktails like The Last Word or enjoyed neat, preferably chilled. This standard expression typically retails for around $60–$70 USD for a 750ml bottle.
Chartreuse V.E.P. (Vieillissement Exceptionnellement Prolongé) is a premium, aged version of the Green Chartreuse, bottled at 54% ABV. It is matured for an extended period in oak barrels, which gives it a deeper, more golden-green hue and a smoother, more refined taste. Compared to the regular version, V.E.P. offers a richer mouthfeel with less bite, showcasing mellow spices, woody undertones, and a deeply integrated herbal character. Presented in a wax-sealed bottle housed in a wooden box, it’s a collector’s favorite and best savored neat or over ice. Due to its rarity and aging, V.E.P. usually sells for $200-$350 USD per 1-liter bottle.
Elixir Végétal de la Grande-Chartreuse, also known as Vegetal 138, is the most concentrated form of the Chartreuse recipe, originally created in 1764 as a medicinal tonic. With a formidable ABV of 69%, it comes in a small 100ml vial stored inside a wooden case. This elixir is extremely potent and intensely herbal, delivering powerful notes of mint, camphor, eucalyptus, and bitter herbs. While it's not technically a liqueur, it’s traditionally consumed by placing a few drops on a sugar cube or mixing into hot water or tea. Some bartenders use it sparingly in cocktails due to its strength. Retail pricing for this unique elixir is typically around $25–$35 USD per 100ml bottle.
As of August 2025, my current bottle count is over 3,400. I am a Certified Specialist of Spirits and have also been accredited by the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT). I've been actively collecting for 31 years and what started as a small basic home bar has transformed (with the help and understanding of my wonderful wife) into this collection and career. Speaking of my career, I’m super proud to announce that my “Saints Alley “Nobleman” Rye Whiskey was named “Best American Rye” at the 2024 World Whisky Awards! But don’t forget that our other Bourbons have also won multiple big awards and are on Total Wine shelves now! Our Flagship Port & Cognac received a Double Platinum at Fred Minnick's 2024 Ascot Awards, and "The Herald” - our Armagnac finished Bourbon - took Double Gold at the Whiskies of the World competition! Our $40 Ironroot "Sleight of Hand" (soon to be renamed "Assemblage") Rye Whiskey won Best in Class Double Gold and is in the running for Worlds Best Rye at the San Francisco Spirits Awards! And stay tuned for my 10 Year Saints Alley "Herald Cigar Blend" coming fall of 2025! Given my decades of consumer/reviewer experience, you know I’m working hard to continue bringing you great whiskeys that I'm proud of as a collector, reviewer & blender! Thank you for watching & please remember to drink responsibly. Cheers!
