Végétal de la Grande Chartreuse

In 1605, the Duc d’Estrées entrusted the Carthusians with a manuscript containing a mysterious recipe composed of 130 plants which could be used to produce an “elixir for long life”. For over one and a half centuries, the Carthusians worked to perfect this recipe, which resulted, thanks to Brother Jérôme Maubec, in a final product established in 1764 called the “Elixir Végétal de la Grande Chartreuse”.
It was rapidly distributed to the local populations as a remedy, especially during the cholera epidemic in 1832. Brother Charles was the first to sell it at the local markets, riding down from the monastery on a donkey.
The recipe for the Végétal has remained unchanged ever since 1764.

P r o d u c t i o n
Production of the Végétal takes several weeks and includes three stages: distillation to obtain the aroma, maceration, which gives the natural colour, and extraction to recover the beneficial properties from the 130 plants, flowers, bark, roots and spices. Its properties lie primarily in the use of the plants in their natural state.

I n g r e d i e n t s
Alcohol, sugar, water, herbal ingredients (130 plants).

A l c o h o l c o n t e n t
69 % vol.

Pa c k a g i n g

A bottle placed in its own wooden case which protects it from the light and keeps it in optimum condition.

F o r m a t

100 ml.

U s e

It is a cordial, an after-dinner drink and a very effective tonic :

– Pure in a teaspoon.

– In herbal tea or as a toddy with honey and lemon.

– A few drops on a sugar lump or a meringue.

– In a cup of water if you feel tired, ailing or under the weather.

– A few drops in a cocktail for a herbal note.

E n h a n c e d  L a s t W o r d

0.75oz Gin
0.75oz Green Chartreuse
0.75oz Maraschino Liqueur
0.75oz fresh lime juice
4 dashes of Végétal
Pour all ingredients into a shaker tin, shake until chilled, strain into a coupe or Martini glass.