Green VEP (NV)

"Green Chartreuse V.E.P. is, without question, the best liqueur on earth. A secret recipe protected by the Carthusian monks of the French Alps since 1737, V.E.P. (vieillissement exceptionnellement prolong), which means exceptionally long aged, spends a minimum of 5 years in barrel. You only need to drink a few ounces, then strap yourself inconversations are more interesting; life is simply more colorful, and sleep exists only in the distant future. I dont know what they put in this stuff (only about seven monks in the world do), but the experience is one of a kind."

"It's not easy being green, unless you're the centuries-old "elixir of long life" known as Chartreuse. An emerald-hued, flower-flavored digestif made by Carthusian monks high in the French Alps, green Chartreuse is among the most revered liqueurs in the world, and its VEP offering (which stands for vieillissement exceptionnellement prolonge-- basically extended aging) is one of our top splurges this year. Crafted from the same top-secret honey-sweetened blend of 130 herbs, flowers and spices as regular green Chartreuse, the VEP spends more than a decade aging in Turkish oak vats, resulting in a refined, luxurious liqueur that's heavenly sipped on its own or chilled over a giant ice cube."

"Equal parts booze, herbs and awesome, Chartreuse is the drink that Sir Henry Stanley guzzled in the African bush on his way to rescue Dr. Livingstone, and it’s what French badass Charles de Gaulle spiked his chocolate with each evening before devising ways of kicking Nazi asses out of his country’s colonial interests during World War II."

“Aged “extra long” in oak cases, the flavors – Alpine herbs and exotic spices – are perhaps too intense for mixing. But it’s a miracle of ancient liqueur-craft (the secret formula is more than 400 year old) and it’s glorious on its own.”

“It’s made with orange bitters, french dessert wine, tea from south africa, and a supreme tequila. One of Harry’s favorites is the angels share. It’s made by flavoring a snifter with Chartreuse V.E.P., and adding brandy, walnut liqueur, and 20-year-old port. The heavenly dram starts with fresh lemon juice, which is enhanced with honey syrup, sweet, raisin-flavored sherry, and a 25-year-old scotch. If you’re feeling festive, you might wanna try drinking the stars… Its full-bodied and luscious with a rich, plum-like flavor. A tawny port from Portugal, it warms your mouth with a dry nutty taste and a hint of vanilla. And a rare French liqueur called Chartreuse V.E.P. It’s made by monks from a secret recipe and has a mellow flavor that reminds me of honey, saffron, and licorice. Isn’t that interesting? Feeling like I had the hang of it, I headed out to the dining room to rev up some appetites. Good evening you will become ravenous after I serve you the aperitif… Cheers! Cheers! Mmm, yummy. A-ha, a diner in need of an after-dinner drink. I’m gonna have the Chartreuse V.E.P. All right. You’re the first Chartreuse I’ve had tonight, and I just well, hopefully you know how to pour it and serve it properly, right? Ill be right back. Chartreuse V.E.P.’s alcohol content is a whopping 11o proof, thats why you only pour a small amount. Oh, it smells good, huh? Yeah? Yeah, its mixing with his cologne its good. I’m wearing ‘eau de Chartreuse.’ Ah, the right drink at the right time. That’s how you create a dining experience.”

“Extra-aged Green Chartreuse. Aromas are keenly botanical and vegetal/woodsy. The palate shows peppermint, citrus peel, and sage along with the herbs and botanicals. Concludes with finesse and power.”

“Harry Denton’s features several ultra-elegant specialties laced with fortified wines that are dubbed the Million Dollar Cocktail Collection.…the Angel’s Share, a decadent combination of Remy Martin Louis XIII Cognac, Charbay Walnut Liqueur, Rocha 20-Year-Old Port and a splash of Chartreuse VEP.”

“Chartreuse, an herbal liqueur created by Carthusian monks in France, is being spotlighted all month at Nopa (560 Divisidero St., San Francisco. A shot of green or yellow Chartreuse is $7, or splurge on the Chartreuse VEP ($12), which is made from the same recipe as green Chartreuse and aged for an extra-long time in oak casks.The bartenders are also mixing up cocktails with the French liqueur, such as the Last Word ($7), made with gin, green Chartreuse and Luxardo Maraschino, and the Widow’s Kiss ($9), with Calvados, yellow Chartreuse, Benedictine and angostura bitters.”

"Extra-aged Green Chartreuse. The pale lime green color is eye-catching and flawlessly free of sediment. In the opening sniffs, the aroma is keenly botanical (anise, licorice, fennel) and seed-like (caraway, coriander); additional time in the copita stimulates more vegetal/woodsy scents to emerge, especially sawdust, pine bark, cardamom, basil, and grass. The palate entry is off-dry to bittersweet and concentrated on peppermint, citrus peel, and sage; the midpalate taste profile is harmonious as the various components of herbs, sweetness, alcohol, and woodsy botanicals meld perfectly into a single flavor thrust that is unforgettable. Concludes with finesse and power."

"Originally produced as an elixir of long life by Carthusian monks from a recipe they acquired in 1605, Chartreuse—named for its green hue—has survived revolutions, landslides, and tangles with the French government, which twice attempted to appropriate the recipe. In 1810, Napoléon ordered that all secret medicinal recipes be delivered to the ministry of the interior, but the emperor returned the Chartreuse recipe to the monks without divulging its contents. In 1903, the monks temporarily fled to Spain with the recipe when the French government nationalized the distilling industry. Today the Alpine herb liqueur is still made by Carthusian monks, whose tradition of silence prevents them from speaking of the secret ingredients. Chartreuse V.E.P. (Vieillissement Exceptionnellement Prolongé) is made from those same ingredients as the traditional green liqueur, but extra-long aging makes it heady and herbaceous, with just a touch of sweetness. The bottle is a replica of the packaging that was used in 1840."

"Chartreuse VEP Green and Chartreuse Yellow: Perhaps the greatest digestifs ever conceived. The Green version, at 110 proof, is extra potent. The Yellow version, at 80 proof, is less demanding, but equally effective." -- F. Paul Pacult

Double Gold Medal

Licorice and flower aromas, with sweet herbal notes. Sweet middle finish, with flavors of herbs, licorice, white pepper and burnt flowers. Very elegant and well made.