Mystery surrounds the origins of Chartreuse. In 1605, one of Estrées’‘ marshals presented the Carthusian Monks at Vauvert, Paris with a manuscript containing the formula for a plant elixir. In 1764, this formula using 130 plants was perfected and formalized by Father Jérôme Maubec, who created the Elixir Végétal de la Grande-Chartreuse, the monastery where Chartreuse would be produced until 1864. After a difficult end to the century marked by a French Revolution that posed many problems for religious orders, green and yellow Chartreuse were created in 1840 and quickly became popular. In 1903, the monks were expelled from France and sought refuge in Tarragona, Spain, where they continued to produce Chartreuse, despite the brand being sold to a group of liquor producers. They recovered the brand in 1929 and returned production to France, although the Tarragona distillery would continue operating until 1989. Today, Chartreuse Diffusion manages production, now at the Aigueneoire Distillery, which follows in the footsteps of Fourvoirie and Voiron. Various types of Chartreuse are distributed, from green Chartreuse, to yellow Chartreuse, the Elixir Végétal and VEPs. Older versions and limited editions are hugely popular among enthusiasts and collectors, who have nicknamed it the “Queen of Liqueurs”.

Yellow Chartreuse was created in 1840, by Brother Colomban and Brother Bruno Jacquet, who provided the finishing touch. It is sweeter than Green Chartreuse and bottled at only 43% (or 40% depending on the period) but uses the same plants. Its colour led to it being officially named Yellow Chartreuse by Father Garnier, the agent responsible for liqueurs at the time. The V.E.P. (Vieillissement Exceptionnellement Prolongé; Exceptionally Long Ageing) expression was first launched in 1963. Produced using the same recipe as Yellow Chartreuse, it differs by undergoing additional ageing in barrel. Limited quantities are produced every year, alongside an equivalent Green version. This version was bottled in 2023.