Chartreuse

A French liqueur produced by an ancient order of monks, Chartreuse takes its name from the Carthusian Monks’ Grande Chartreuse monastery. This alcohol possesses a vibrant green hue from the blend of over 130 plants used in its creation. (A yellow, less stringent version is also now becoming a popular drink ingredient). The taste is very complex, at once sweet and spicy, with a full spectrum of herbal flavors. To this day, the exact ingredients are known only by two monks at a time, and the secret formula has been passed down through the monastery for thousands of years. The legend goes that in 1605, the monks received an ancient manuscript that once belonged to an alchemist who hoped to produce an “Elixir of Long Life.” By deciphering the text, the monks were able to produce chartreuse.

Photo via Flickr/Jeremy Brooks