Although no one knows the full recipe, it is believed to contain mint, licorice, lime, and ginger to name a few. All total, it is made of 130 different herbs found in the Alps.

The recipe was passed on to the Carthusian monks in 1605 by the Marechal d'Estrees. The alchemist monks spent 10 years perfecting the recipe before passing it on as a health tonic. The elixir became world-renowned for it's curative powers. The recipe was reworked again in 1757 to become just a liqueur.

Chartreuse comes in two colors, green and yellow. The green has an almost florescent color, although the yellow also has a vibrant color to it. These colors are natural.

Descriptions of the taste vary greatly, ranging from "It tastes like heaven in a bottle," to "Oh god, I swear it's floor polish remover." It's an herb liqueur so it has quite a range of flavors in one sip. It is also potently strong and has a heady aroma to it. The yellow has a slightly more citrus-y flavor.

The green, nicknamed green fire tops off at a lovely 110 proof, while the yellow is mellower at 80 proof. Many add Chartreuse to a mixed drink so one can enjoy the added flavor of the herbs without worrying about burning a hole in one’s throat.

There is also a special kind of Chartreuse called Vieillissement Exceptionnellement Prolonge, (V.E.P.) which comes in an original bottle from the 1840's and is encased in a wood box. The V.E.P.'s are slightly mellower in flavor so they go down smoother.

Liquor stores in bigger cities usually carry it, and an extremely well-stocked bar will have it. A regular bottle of Chartreuse runs around $40. The V.E.P. can be upwards into $80-$100 or more. Bars tend to serve it for about $5 for a glass that has around 2-3 shots in

Legend has it that Chartreuse makes your eyes glow green if you drink enough of it, but apart from severe intoxication, large quantities offer no unusual side effects.