Chartreuse

Since January 2022, CAVE SA has become the official importer and exclusive distributor of Chartreuse liqueurs in French-speaking Switzerland. This partnership marks an important step in the dissemination of ancestral know-how, at the crossroads of monastic tradition and artisanal excellence. Restaurateurs, wine merchants, hoteliers, or simply enthusiasts: we invite you to contact us to find out about our preferential terms, available formats, delivery times, and prices, all displayed in CHF. We offer a variety of vintages — classic, rare, and limited editions — available individually or by the case, depending on the type of liqueur desired.

But to understand the true richness of Chartreuse, you have to go back to the source of this fascinating story, whose roots lie deep in the Chartreuse mountains in the heart of the French Alps.

It all began in 1084, when Saint Bruno, born in Cologne around 1030, decided to renounce the honours of a brilliant ecclesiastical career. An eminent theologian, renowned professor and then rector of the cathedral school in Reims, he nevertheless chose to leave the pomp and circumstance of the world behind to embrace a life of silence, solitude and prayer. He did not act alone: six companions accompanied him on this spiritual quest. After several unsuccessful attempts, the group reached the city of Grenoble, where they met Bishop Hugh. Troubled by a vision in which God was building a sanctuary for his glory in a remote valley, the bishop saw Bruno's arrival as a sign from above. The valley was then called ‘Chartreuse’, a place so isolated that it was nicknamed ‘the desert’.

Guided by Providence, Bruno discovered a wild clearing, nestled between the limestone walls of the massif, not far from Mont Granier. The landscape was spectacular: dense forests, steep cliffs, pure springs, and absolute silence. It was there, in this unspoilt natural setting, that the first outline of the Grande Chartreuse soon took shape. Wooden cells were built, connected to a chapel by a common gallery. Like a new Alpine Jerusalem, the Carthusian Order took shape. The balance between hermit life and community life became central to the order, a unique feature of this monastic order that is still unique in the world today.

The history of Chartreuse liqueurs began later, in 1605. Marshal François Hannibal d'Estrées entrusted the Carthusian monks of Paris with a mysterious manuscript, a complex grimoire said to contain the recipe for an elixir of life. It took more than a century of research and experimentation before Brother Jérôme Maubec, the monastery's apothecary, managed to unlock its secrets. This meticulous work gave rise to an exceptional beverage that was both invigorating and medicinal, with a unique fragrance: Chartreuse was born, the first alcohol made from more than 130 plants, flowers, barks and alpine herbs.

Even today, only two monks are allowed to know the entire formula. Hidden from view, they select, measure, grind and then mix the plants according to a method that has been passed down orally for centuries. Maceration gives the liqueurs their natural colour: green, yellow or amber, depending on the vintage. The blending process requires complex expertise, rigour, silence and prayer.

After distillation, the liqueurs are transferred to the new distillery in Aiguenoire, a site inaugurated in 2019, nestled in a peaceful setting at the foot of the Chartreuse mountains, a stone's throw from the Col de Frenay. Surrounded by forest and built on a former farm, this modern distillery is equipped with the latest technology, while respecting the monks' traditional methods. In large wooden casks and demi-muids, the liqueurs age slowly, sometimes for several years. This process allows their complex, floral, spicy and sometimes resinous aromas to develop until they reach perfect harmony.

Liqueur des Pères Chartreux is much more than just an alcoholic drink; it has become a symbol. It embodies the French art of living, a rare alliance between the sacred and the profane. Each bottle is a fragment of history in a bottle, shaped by time, faith and nature. In addition to classic vintages such as Verte (55°), Jaune (40°) and V.E. P., limited editions attract a passionate clientele: Chartreuse MOF (in partnership with the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France), the 9th centenary liqueur, and the special ‘Tarragona’ editions, remnants of the monks‘ forced exile in the early 20th century. These bottles sometimes fetch impressive prices on the collectors’ market.

At CAVE SA, we are committed to introducing this thousand-year-old tradition to the Swiss public. We stock a range of products, which are regularly updated according to the varieties produced and the Order's availability. Our bottles are available for purchase directly or through a network of partners in Switzerland. Giving a bottle of Chartreuse is like giving a cornerstone of French monastic heritage, a bottle born of prayer, nature and time.

And for those who want to learn more, a museum, completely renovated in 2022, traces the entire history of Chartreuse. Located not far from the monastery, it offers a total immersion in the world of the monks, with ancient objects, manuscripts, vintage labels and previously unseen videos. Combined with a hike in the Alps, a climb to the Col de l'Alpe or a walk along the Granier ridges, the visit becomes an unforgettable experience combining culture, nature, history and spirituality.

Chartreuse is not just a name: it is a legend, a living heritage passed down for nearly a thousand years.