Yellow Chartreuse

Yellow Chartreuse is a 43% ABV (86 proof) French herbal liqueur distilled from 130 plants, bark, roots, spices, and flowers by the Carthusian monks — a recipe known in full to only two of them — in this 750mL bottle. Created in 1840 and inspired by a 1605 elixir manuscript, it is sweeter and milder than its green sibling, with a natural golden color and no artificial flavors or preservatives. Order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.

• ABV: 43% (86 proof) — current official spec
• Size: 750mL
• Recipe: 130 plants, bark, roots, spices, flowers — known in full to only two monks
• Origin: Distilled by the Carthusian Fathers in France (Voiron/Aiguenoire)
• Notes: Created 1840; continues to age in the bottle; natural color

Four Centuries in a Yellow Bottle

The story starts in 1605, when François Annibal d'Estrées handed the Carthusian monks a manuscript for an "elixir of long life." It took until 1840 for that inspiration to become Chartreuse Jaune — registered in 1852 by Father Garnier — and the recipe has stayed with the monks ever since: 130 botanicals, a secret only two living monks hold in full, distilled and aged in the French Alps' foothills. Among liqueurs it stands alone — and the full Chartreuse range is worth exploring.

Tasting Notes

Softer and sweeter than Green Chartreuse: honeyed herbs, saffron, and citrus peel, with gentle anise, mint, and a warm spice hum underneath. The 130 botanicals resolve into something harmonious rather than loud — long, mellow, and faintly medicinal in the best way, finishing with sweet herbs and a whisper of wood.

How to Enjoy

Neat or over a single large cube to open the herbal layers; it is also a classic cocktail builder — try a Yellow Chartreuse Swizzle, an Alaska (with gin and orange bitters), or simply lengthened with tonic. Keep it cool and dark; it continues evolving in the bottle.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Yellow and Green Chartreuse?
Yellow Chartreuse (43% ABV) is sweeter and milder than Green (55% ABV), with a softer herbal profile built on honey and saffron notes rather than green's intense pine-and-herb punch.

Who makes Chartreuse?
The Carthusian (Chartreux) Fathers — Catholic monks who have distilled it in France since 1840. Only two monks know the complete 130-botanical recipe.

Is Yellow Chartreuse 40% or 43% ABV?
The current official spec is 43% ABV (86 proof). Some older US bottlings were 40%, which is why old listings disagree.

Add a bottle of living history to your bar — buy Yellow Chartreuse online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA, with pickup or delivery.