Chartreuse Liqueur and Cocktails

Chartreuse is an interesting 400-year-old herbal liqueur that was first produced by Carthusian monks in France. The original recipe for Chartreuse remains carefully guarded, as only 3 monks who have have taken a vow of silence know the recipe and each holds only 1/3 of the recipe in hand.

Originally created in 1605, the formula for the liqueur was eventually perfected and released to the public in 1737.

Creating Chartreuse begins by macerating a selection of herbs with a neutral spirit which is distilled and then aged in oak vats for around 5 years, making this the only liqueur aged in such a way. Both green and yellow varieties can be found at most liquor stores in South Beach Miami, although the green version is more common.

Green Chartreuse has over 130 different flowers, plants and herbs from the French Alps, has a strong herbal flavor that includes rosemary, cloves and citrus and is 110 proof. Yellow Chartreuse, on the other hand, has a different selection of herbs that gives it its unique color and taste, which has citrus and huney flavors with a bit of anise and saffron. Yellow Chartreuse is also only 86 proof.

You can also find a more expensive version of the liqueur called Chartreuse V.E.P., which stands for Vieillissement Exceptionnellement Prolonge.

This is basically the same liqueur although it's aged for a longer amount of time and has a more complex yet mellow flavor than younger versions.

Chartreuse is best enjoyed with chocolates and sweet desserts and is found in many cocktails, such as Chartreuse Martini, Chocolate Cocktail, Green Ghoul, Herbal Pleasures, Yellow Parrot and Full House. This is a liqueur that's definitely worth a try, along with another monastic liquor produced in the French Alps called Stellina.

If you would like to find the best Miami beach liquor store then I highly recommend you visit Bacchus Liquors today.