Chartreuse Tarragone Santa Tecla Verte 2012

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Chartreuse Tarragone Santa Tecla Verte 2012

Tasting

Colour
A rich, vivid green hue reveals itself in the glass, offering a vibrant, noble colour achieved entirely naturally through the infusion of plants.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with dominant, herbaceous notes. These are elegantly underpinned by warm, peppery and minty impressions, all wrapped in the freshness of wild herbs.

Palate
The attack is marked by pronounced power and freshness. The mid-palate reveals superb complexity built around peppermint, pine sap, floral elements and a gentle herbaceous bitterness. The finish, surprisingly long and perfectly integrated, extends this delicate interplay between alcoholic strength and botanical depth.

Food Pairing Tips and Tasting Moments
To unlock all of its aromatic subtleties, it is strongly recommended to serve this liqueur very cold, or even on ice, in digestif glasses. It will beautifully enhance the end of a meal or boldly accompany intense dark chocolate desserts.

Mixology
Thanks to its herbaceous profile and power, this expression fits perfectly into classic cocktails such as the "Last Word" or the "Chartreuse Swizzle", where its green colour brings an undeniable touch of visual and gustatory elegance.

A Monastic Liqueur, a Historic Link with Tarragona

The Age-Old Heritage of the Carthusian Fathers
The story of Chartreuse begins in 1605, when Marshal François Annibal d'Estrées entrusted a mysterious manuscript to the monks. Transferred to the Grande Chartreuse, the recipe featuring 130 plants gave rise to the Elixir Végétal in 1764. Expelled from France in 1903, the monks went into exile and produced their famous liqueur in Spain, in Tarragona, until 1989, before consolidating their return to Isère. Today, the Carthusian Order owns almost all of Chartreuse Diffusion. Under the spiritual authority of Prior Dom Dysmas and the lay direction of General Manager Emmanuel Delafon, production is deliberately limited in order to preserve the community's contemplative life and protect a fragile natural environment.

The Santa Tecla Edition: A Tribute to the Catalan City
Since 2000, the monks have crafted an annual limited edition to celebrate Saint Thecla, the patron saint of Tarragona, honouring the unbreakable bond forged during their Spanish exile. The Chartreuse Tarragone Santa Tecla Verte 2012 continues this prestigious tradition.

Produced at the time at the Voiron facilities, this herbal liqueur embodies a fascinating period of transition before the move to the new Aiguenoire distillery. Its production relies on the exclusive expertise of two monks, who select, grind and measure out the 130 plants in the monastery's secret plant room. The botanicals then undergo distillation in copper stills, alcoholic maceration and cold infusion, before careful ageing in large oak foudres. Each bottle in this series bears a back label reproducing that year's festival poster, making this bottle a highly sought-after collector's item that bears witness to the resilience and genius of the monastic community.