Shop Chartreuse at LoveScotch While It's Available →
Not sure which Chartreuse to buy?
Green Chartreuse (55% ABV): Bold, intensely herbal, anise-forward. For cocktails like The Last Word or sipping neat if you like a challenge.
→ Green Chartreuse, $94.99 ✅ In Stock
Yellow Chartreuse (43% ABV): Softer, sweeter, honey and saffron. Better as a digestif, in lighter cocktails, or if you're new to Chartreuse.
→ Yellow Chartreuse, $94.99 (join waitlist — currently sold out)
Chartreuse Elixir Vegetal: The original 18th-century concentrate. Tiny bottle, massive potency (69% ABV). A collector's curiosity.
→ Elixir Vegetal, $31.99 (on sale from $36.99) ✅ In Stock
What Is Chartreuse?
Chartreuse is a rare and distinctive herbal liqueur with a fascinating history dating back to the 18th century. Produced exclusively by Carthusian monks in the French Alps, its recipe remains one of the best-kept secrets in the spirits industry. The liqueur comes in two main variations, Green Chartreuse and Yellow Chartreuse, each offering a unique blend of 130 herbs, plants, and botanicals, creating a flavor profile unlike anything else on earth.
Since 2021, when the monks announced they would cap production to protect their way of life, Chartreuse has become one of the hardest bottles to source reliably anywhere in the world. When LoveScotch has it in stock, it moves fast.
Check Current Chartreuse Availability →
The History and Origins of Chartreuse
Chartreuse's story begins in 1605, when French monks received a manuscript detailing a recipe for an "Elixir of Long Life." After more than a century of refinement, the Carthusian monks of the Grande Chartreuse Monastery perfected the formula and officially introduced Green Chartreuse in 1737. In 1838, Yellow Chartreuse, a milder, sweeter version, joined the lineup.
The production process remains uniquely artisanal:
- Maceration: 130 herbs and botanicals are steeped in alcohol
- Distillation: The infused mixture is distilled to extract the herbal essence
- Aging: Aged in oak barrels, where flavors evolve over time
The exact combination of herbs is known to only two monks at any given time — one of the most closely guarded secrets in the history of food and drink.
Green vs. Yellow Chartreuse, Full Comparison
| 🟢 Green Chartreuse | 🟡 Yellow Chartreuse | |
|---|---|---|
| ABV | 55% | 43% |
| Flavor | Bold, herbal, anise, mint, citrus | Sweet, honey, saffron, floral |
| Intensity | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Bold | ⭐⭐⭐ Approachable |
| Best For | Bold cocktails, neat sipping | Lighter cocktails, digestif |
| Price | $94.99 | $94.99 |
| Availability | ✅ In Stock — Order Now | ⚠️ Sold Out — Join Waitlist |
Shop Chartreuse at LoveScotch
Chartreuse is notoriously hard to find — production is strictly limited by the Carthusian monks, and global demand has far outpaced supply since 2021. LoveScotch is one of the few retailers with consistent access. Don't wait on the ones in stock.
🟢 Chartreuse Green Liqueur: ✅ In Stock
Best for: The Last Word, Chartreuse Swizzle, Bijou, bold neat sipping
The iconic original, 55% ABV, intensely herbal, with bold anise, mint, and citrus. Green Chartreuse is the bottle that bartenders and collectors fight over. It's in stock now, one of the most hunted spirits in the world since the monks capped production in 2021. Don't wait on this one.
Price: $94.99
🌿 Chartreuse Elixir Vegetal: ✅ In Stock
Best for: Collectors, gift buyers, the genuinely curious
This is the original, the direct descendant of the 1605 "Elixir of Long Life" manuscript. At 69% ABV in a tiny 100ml bottle, it's not a casual sipper. It's meant to be taken in small doses as a digestive tonic, or mixed sparingly into cocktails for an intense herbal hit. A collector's curiosity and a genuinely unique gift for any spirits enthusiast.
Price: $31.99 $36.99
🟡 Chartreuse Yellow Liqueur: ⚠️ Currently Sold Out
Best for: Beginners, digestifs, lighter cocktails (Alaska, Bijou), dessert pairings
Softer and sweeter than Green Chartreuse, honey, saffron, and delicate floral botanicals at 43% ABV. Yellow Chartreuse is more approachable as a neat pour and ideal in lighter cocktails. Currently sold out, join the waitlist and be the first to know when we restock.
Price when available: $94.99
Classic Chartreuse Cocktails
The Last Word
The cocktail that made Green Chartreuse famous. Originated in Detroit during Prohibition, revived by bartenders in the early 2000s, and now a modern classic.
- ¾ oz Green Chartreuse
- ¾ oz gin (London Dry or Old Tom)
- ¾ oz maraschino liqueur
- ¾ oz fresh lime juice
Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry or lime twist. Perfectly balanced sweet, sour, and herbal, one of the greatest cocktails ever created.
Variations: Final Ward (rye whiskey + lemon instead of gin + lime) | Ultima Palabra (mezcal for a smoky twist)
Chartreuse Swizzle
Tropical, refreshing, and surprisingly complex, this tiki-adjacent cocktail is one of Green Chartreuse's finest showcases.
- 1½ oz Green Chartreuse
- 1 oz pineapple juice
- ¾ oz fresh lime juice
- ½ oz falernum
- Dash of Angostura bitters
- Crushed ice
Fill a tall glass with crushed ice. Add all ingredients and swizzle well. Top with more crushed ice, a few dashes of bitters, mint sprig, and grated nutmeg.
Alaska Cocktail
A gin cocktail where Yellow Chartreuse does the heavy lifting, delicate, floral, and sophisticated.
- 1½ oz gin (London Dry or Hendrick's)
- ¾ oz Yellow Chartreuse
- 1 dash orange bitters
Stir with ice until well chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a lemon twist. The floral sweetness of Yellow Chartreuse enhances gin's botanicals without overpowering them.
Bijou
A late 19th-century classic, the name means "jewel" in French, representing three precious stones: Green Chartreuse (emerald), gin (diamond), sweet vermouth (ruby).
- 1 oz Green Chartreuse
- 1 oz gin
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 1 dash orange bitters
Stir all ingredients with ice until well chilled. Strain into a Nick & Nora glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or cherry.
Variations: White Bijou (dry vermouth instead) | Emerald Bijou (add orange curaçao)
Creative Ways to Use Chartreuse in Food
Chartreuse's complex herbal, floral, and spice notes make it surprisingly versatile in the kitchen:
Desserts
- Ice Cream & Sorbet: A drizzle of Yellow Chartreuse over vanilla or citrus sorbet adds aromatic depth
- Chocolate Truffles: Infuse ganache with Green Chartreuse for an intensely herbal-chocolate pairing (dark chocolate 70%+ works best)
- Crème Brûlée: Replace some vanilla extract with Yellow Chartreuse for honey and saffron notes
Savory
- Green Chartreuse pairs with game meats, duck, and lamb, adding anise and citrus complexity to sauces
- Yellow Chartreuse works in butter-based sauces for seafood and chicken
- Chartreuse Compound Butter, blend with softened butter, garlic, and fresh herbs for steak or grilled fish
Cheese Pairings
- Green Chartreuse → Roquefort, Manchego, Pecorino Romano (aged, sharp)
- Yellow Chartreuse → Brie, Camembert, aged Gouda (creamy, mild)
Chartreuse Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Chartreuse so hard to find?
In 2021, the Carthusian monks who produce Chartreuse announced they would voluntarily cap production to protect their contemplative way of life. The monks are not a business — they're a religious order that happens to make spirits. They refused to scale up to meet exploding global demand, which means supply has been constrained ever since. When it's in stock, it sells fast.
What's the difference between Green and Yellow Chartreuse?
Green Chartreuse (55% ABV) is bolder, more intense, and anise-forward, the choice for The Last Word and other cocktails where you want the herb front and center. Yellow Chartreuse (43% ABV) is softer, sweeter, and honey-driven, better as a digestif or in lighter cocktails. Both use the same 130 botanicals; the ratio and processing differ.
What is Chartreuse Elixir Vegetal?
It's the closest thing to the original 1605 "Elixir of Long Life" manuscript recipe, a high-strength concentrate (69% ABV) in a tiny 100ml bottle. Traditionally taken in tiny amounts as a digestive tonic. A collector's item and a fascinating curiosity. Currently in stock at $31.99 →
How should I store Chartreuse?
Store upright in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight and heat. Unlike wine, Chartreuse is shelf-stable and doesn't need refrigeration. Once opened, it keeps well for years due to its high alcohol content and botanical preservatives.
Is Chartreuse worth the price?
Yes, unambiguously. There is nothing else like it. The 130-herb recipe has never been replicated; no other liqueur comes close to the complexity. Monks have been perfecting it for nearly 300 years. At $94.99, it's expensive for a liqueur, but it's not expensive for something this rare, this unique, and this irreplaceable.
Where can I buy Chartreuse online?
LoveScotch is one of the few retailers with consistent access to Chartreuse. Green Chartreuse and Elixir Vegetal are currently in stock →. Yellow Chartreuse is currently sold out — join the waitlist to be notified when it's back.
Shop Chartreuse at LoveScotch
One of the hardest bottles to find in the world, we carry the full lineup when available. Green Chartreuse and Elixir Vegetal are in stock now. Yellow Chartreuse is sold out, join the waitlist.
Limited supply · Ships fast from Southern California · Flat rate shipping
Shop Green Chartreuse — $94.99 → View Full Collection →
