Green Period 1978-83
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Ready to drink now, with virtually indefinite aging potential due to its high alcohol and sugar content.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
dark chocolate desserts, blue cheese, roasted duck
✨ wine.spec_sheet
The Green Chartreuse from the Tarragona period, specifically bottled between 1978 and 1983, represents a legendary chapter in spirits history. Following their expulsion from France in 1903, the Carthusian Monks established a distillery in Tarragona, Spain, where they produced their enigmatic liqueurs until 1989. This specific release, crafted from the secret recipe of 130 botanicals macerated in grape-based alcohol and aged in oak, is highly coveted by collectors. The Tarragona bottlings are celebrated for a distinct character that differs from their French counterparts, often showing a richer, more anise-forward, and slightly sweeter profile. Decades of bottle aging have transformed the fiery 55% ABV spirit into an incredibly complex, harmonious elixir with notes of candied mint, rosemary, thyme, and warm baking spices.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Dating back to 1605 when the Carthusian Monks of the Grande Chartreuse monastery received a manuscript containing the recipe for an 'Elixir of Long Life,' Chartreuse is one of the world's most storied and enigmatic spirits. Handcrafted by the Monks of the Order of the Chartreux, production historically centered in Voiron, France, with a significant period of exile in Tarragona, Spain, before moving to the modern Aiguenoire distillery in Entre-Deux-Guiers. The production process remains a closely guarded secret known to only two monks, involving the maceration of 130 botanicals in grape-based alcohol followed by extensive aging in oak casks. Renowned for its complex herb-forward profile, the house is celebrated for its iconic Green (Verte) and Yellow (Jaune) expressions, alongside highly coveted V.E.P. (Vieillissement Exceptionnellement Prolongé) and historic Tarragona bottlings. This legendary producer continues to bridge centuries of monastic tradition with unmatched artisanal excellence in the world of fine spirits and liqueurs.