Category Liqueurs

Chartreuse FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About the Green Liqueur Shortage

illustration of monks making chartreuse in the alps

The Chartreuse shortage isn't due to supply chain issues or production problems—it's because the Carthusian monks made a conscious decision in 2021 to cap production at roughly 1.2 million bottles per year. Their reasoning? 'Making millions of cases does not make any sense in today's environmental context and will have a negative impact on the planet in the very short term.' The monks also wanted to 'protect their monastic life and devote their time to solitude and prayer' rather than scale up production to meet growing demand from the craft cocktail world.

What is a Liqueur? The Sweet Spot Between Wine and Spirits

illustration of wine and beer and liqueur

A liqueur is essentially a sweetened spirit that's been infused with flavors—fruits, herbs, spices, or even chocolate. Unlike wine (fermented grapes) or straight spirits (pure distilled alcohol), liqueurs get their character from this flavor infusion process. In the US, liqueurs must contain at least 2.5% sugar by weight and have minimum 15% ABV to qualify legally.