Chartreuse Jaune (Yellow) – Bottled 1956–1964

A truly historic and deeply evocative bottle, this Chartreuse Yellow dates from the post-war golden era of the Carthusian monks’ production, estimated to have been bottled between 1956 and 1964. It is a rare survivor from a time when Chartreuse was still firmly rooted in long traditions of patience, secrecy, and monastic devotion.

Chartreuse is unlike any other liqueur in the world. Created by the Carthusian Order and produced according to a closely guarded recipe first devised in 1605 by Marshal d’Estrées, it is composed of extracts from 130 plants, flowers, roots, and spices. Only the monks know the full formula - a secret preserved for more than four centuries.

The 20th century brought turmoil to this ancient craft. Following the nationalisation of the monastery and distillery by the French government, the monks - unwilling to surrender their knowledge - moved production temporarily to Tarragona, Spain. Eventually, they returned to France, and today all Chartreuse is once again produced on home soil. This bottle belongs to the era shortly after their return, carrying with it the quiet resilience of the order and the continuity of tradition.

Yellow Chartreuse, bottled at 43% ABV, is the softer, more honeyed sibling to the green expression. Extended ageing in oak casks lends it a gentle warmth and layered complexity, marked by floral sweetness, delicate herbs, soft spices, and a rounded, digestif-style elegance that unfolds slowly and serenely.

Produced entirely naturally in the distillery and cellars of the Carthusians in Voiron (Isère), France, this bottle is not merely a liqueur - it is a liquid manuscript of monastic history, spirituality, and botanical mastery.

Specifications

Type: Herbal Liqueur (Digestif)
Name: Chartreuse Yellow (Jaune)
Origin: France
Producer: Carthusian Monks (Les Pères Chartreux)
Estimated Bottling: 1956–1964
Alcohol: 43% ABV
Bottle Size: 75 cl
Botanical Composition: 130 plants, flowers, roots, and spices
Maturation: Long ageing in oak casks
Production: Fully natural, monastic production
Distillery & Cellars: Voiron, Isère, France

About Chartreuse

Since 1737, Chartreuse has been produced by the Carthusian monks as both a spiritual vocation and a work of discipline. Crafted in silence and secrecy, it remains one of the world’s last truly monastic spirits - untouched by industrialisation, trends, or compromise.