Green Chartreuse, a rare herbal spirit made by Carthusian monks in France, has become a popular choice among patrons at Remedy, a bar located at 1910 North Milwaukee Avenue in Bucktown. The bar was the second-leading seller of Green Chartreuse by volume in the United States in 2024, according to general manager Steven Nolan.
The liqueur’s appeal lies not only in its unique flavor but also in its storied history and limited availability. Green Chartreuse is produced exclusively by a cloistered order of Catholic monks who have been making it since the 18th century. Only two monks know the recipe at any given time, and both are sworn to secrecy. The drink is distilled from about 130 herbs and is known for its vivid green color and high alcohol content.
Sarah Becan, a Chicago-based author and illustrator of the upcoming book “Let’s Make Cocktails!”, said, “Green Chartreuse is just great story, beginning to end. The Carthusian order was founded around the Battle of Hastings. Hundreds of years later, some nobleman brings them the recipe for an ‘elixir of life’ and they spend over a century deciphering it.” She added that when the monks began distributing it to nearby towns in the mid-1700s, people enjoyed it so much that it became recreational rather than medicinal.
Nolan recalled past promotions at Remedy: “I used to work Sunday nights, and I remember the Sunday special was $2 Green Chartreuse shots.” He noted that while prices have risen—bottles that cost $60 before the pandemic now sell for about $125—the demand remains strong. Becan explained this surge: “During pandemic lockdowns, people got into making cocktails at home and there’s this huge spike in demand, and the monks are like ,‘Meh, we’re not in this to make money. We’re in this to sit in our monastery and be cloistered and think about God all day.’ So bottles that were $60 before the pandemic are like $125 now, and they were impossible to find for so long.”
The most famous cocktail featuring Green Chartreuse is The Last Word—a mix of gin, Green Chartreuse, cherry liqueur and lime juice—which has seen renewed popularity after being rediscovered by bartenders in recent decades. Becan said she kept returning to include The Last Word recipe in her book because “it’s just such a unique liqueur and a unique story.” Nolan described drinking Green Chartreuse as an experience: “A sip takes you on a journey,” he said. “The nose is so loud. It speaks to you before it even gets onto your tongue. You’re in an apothecary, digging your nose into spices.”
As interest continues among both casual drinkers and cocktail enthusiasts alike—and with production limits firmly set by the monastic order—Green Chartreuse remains both elusive and captivating for those able to find it.
