Chartreuse, the liqueur

Chartreuse, the liqueur (English edition) is the first book on Chartreuse liqueurs published by Chartreuse Diffusion. This monumental work required more than three years of effort, given its remarkably dense content and iconography.

The great strength of this book lies in its authenticity. Thanks to the involvement of the Reverend Father of the Grande Chartreuse, who opened and worked with his personal archives, the book reconstructs the authentic history of the liqueur, clearing away the approximations conveyed by oral tradition.

The working group, composed of former leaders of Chartreuse Diffusion and friends of the Carthusians, aimed to offer everyone—curious individuals, enthusiasts, tourists, and collectors—the true epic of Chartreuse liqueur. Their unique experience enriches the book, and the testimonies of former Chartreuse members bring a significant soul to this work.

The exceptionally high-quality photographs, taken by Stéphane Couchet, a photographer based in Chartreuse, capture the depth and grandeur of the Grande Chartreuse monastery, the authenticity of the monks, and bring the Chartreuse bottles and flasks to life.

A complete and unprecedented bottle catalog is presented at the end of the book. This catalog is the result of extensive work based on the precious notes left by a former distiller brother, Brother Marie Bernard. It illustrates the bottles of Chartreuse throughout history, a true treasure for collectors.

The content of this book includes:

• A preface by the Reverend Father
• A comprehensive history from the origin of the liqueur (1605) to the present day
• Testimonies from three former leaders of Chartreuse Diffusion
• The promising future of the liqueur
• An illustrated booklet of Chartreuse bottles throughout history

Here is a revealing excerpt from the work: "The recipe for making Chartreuse, which tells a story that is not a legend, was given to the Carthusians by someone who was indebted to them and wanted to settle his account with them: Marshal d'Estrées, in 1605 (...) No doubt this primitive secret has not remained as it was originally; it has been perfected, but by whom? By the Carthusians themselves (...) It matters little that the secret has undergone changes, improvements, as long as it has always remained a secret. That alone is interesting. As long as the secret has been preserved, it is irrelevant, in law and in fact, whether it has remained the same as at its origin, or whether it has undergone modifications that were improvements." (Revue des grands débats parlementaires, 1911).

Specifications:

• Authors: Martine Galiano, Philip Boyer, Christian Delafon, Antoine Munoz, Jean-Marc Roget
• Publisher: Pères Chartreux
• Publication Date: June 2019
• Pages: 348
• Dimensions: 28.7 x 23.3 x 3 cm
• Weight: 1950 g

Chartreuse, the liqueur is an indispensable work for anyone interested in the history, culture, and secrets of the famous Chartreuse liqueur. Add it to your collection and dive into a fascinating historical adventure.