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AUCTION OF FINE & RARE SPIRITS
An Extraordinary Single Cellar Collection Directly from France,
featuring Over 400 lots of Rare Chartreuse
Saturday, December 14, 2024
11:00am ET | "Live Online"
Marea NYC
240 Central Park S, New York, NY 10019
A landmark moment in fine spirits collecting arrives this December as Acker presents what may be the most comprehensive single-owner Chartreuse collection ever offered at auction. Spanning 150 years of production, this extraordinary assemblage tells the story of one of the world's most complex and coveted spirits through its rarest expressions.Highlighting the collection is an exceptional 1878 Yellow Chartreuse from the legendary Fourvoirie distillery, representing the golden age of French production before the monks' exile in 1903. This pre-exile bottle, among the most significant examples to appear at public sale, anchors a collection that includes pristine examples from every pivotal era of Chartreuse production. The December 14th auction at Marea in New York City presents an unprecedented opportunity for collectors and connoisseurs to acquire pieces of liquid history.
A HISTORICAL GUIDE OF THE COLLECTION
THE ERAS OF CHARTREUSE
Representing one of the most fascinating narratives in spirits history, this auction presents an extraordinary opportunity to acquire bottles from pivotal moments in this centuries-old tradition, each representing a distinct chapter in the evolution of this remarkable, highly coveted spirit.
Fourvoirie Period (1737-1903)
The lore of Chartreuse, spanning nearly a millennium, begins in the French Alps with the founding of the Grande Chartreuse monastery in 1084. While the Carthusian Order's early focus centered on contemplative life and herbal medicine, their expertise in botanical preparations would eventually lead to creating one of the world's most complex and sought-after spirits. This extraordinary auction presents an incredibly rare opportunity to acquire bottles that represent pivotal moments in this remarkable journey, from pre-exile French production through the legendary Tarragona period and into the modern era.
In 1737, the Carthusians began producing their herbal elixir for sale beyond monastery walls. The establishment of the Fourvoirie distillery in 1860 marked the beginning of standardized production. This facility, located several kilometers from the monastery, allowed the monks to separate their commercial activities from their contemplative life. The period saw the introduction of Yellow Chartreuse in 1838, expanding their repertoire and reaching new audiences.
Tarragone Period (1903-1989)
Following the French government's expulsion of religious orders in 1903, the Carthusians faced their greatest challenge. Relocating to Tarragona, Spain, they re-established production using their carefully preserved knowledge. This exile period produced distinctive variations in Chartreuse, as Spanish-sourced botanicals and different water sources subtly altered the liqueur's character. The monks created several unique expressions during this time, including specialized export bottlings for various international markets.
Mythical bottles from this period include the 1L 1903-1930 Yellow Tarragone, representing the first era of production of Chartreuse by the Carthusian fathers since their arrival in Spain; the supremely special 1912-1913 Yellow Tarragone produced these 2 years only, released in a special 1L bottle; and the Tarragone Export Argentine, intended for export to Argentina; and the Marseille commemoratives released in 2021 in tribute to the Marseille distillery established in 1931, limited to 760 blown glass bottles with a stopper and neck reminiscent of bottles from the era.
Parallel Production Era (1929-1935)
A complex period emerged when French investors (Compagnie Fermiere de la Grande Chartreuse), unauthorized, began producing their own version of chartreuse at the original Fourvoirie site, while the monks continued production in Tarragona. This created a unique situation where two distinct Chartreuses existed simultaneously, though only the monks possessed the authentic recipe.
While maintaining the distillery in Tarragona, the Brothers established the Voiron facility in 1932. Both facilities operated until 1941 when French production was consolidated fully to Voiron. In celebration of their official return to France in June of 1940, the Green Voiron released (1941-1951), displaying the 1869 labels. Both a callback to the golden Fourvoirie period, and savvy economic decision, the utilization of the 1869 labels made it possible for the Order to utilize the large stock of watermarked paper they kept since 1903.
Produced during this exquisite era, the Reine d’Angleterre 1963 - aged upon the 1953 coronation of England’s Queen Elizabeth II and released a decade later in her honor, proudly displaying the royal Coat of Arms on the bottle. Only 1000 bottles each of green and yellow were produced.
Fragile bottles that would break frequently upon colliding, the Tarragone Cabochon Gruno, displaying the Cabochon (or gemstone) embossed on the shoulder of each bottle. Dubbed “The Seisenta” and “The Sinfonia de plantas” (symphony of plants) this series beckons the advertising slogan of Tarragone Chartreuses of the early 1960s.
The Brandy CAR Era (1944-1965)
The Brandy CAR era represents a significant chapter in Chartreuse history, specifically during the Tarragona period. From 1944 through 1965, the Carthusian monks expanded their repertoire beyond their legendary herbal liqueur to include a distinctive brandy production. The designation "CAR," reflecting the Spanish and Catalan words for Carthusian (Cartujano/Cartoixà), became a hallmark of this era.
This period of production tells an intriguing story of adaptation. While maintaining their centuries-old liqueur traditions, the monks embraced local Spanish distilling heritage through brandy production. Bottles from this time feature distinctive back labels marked "CONTRE ETIQUETTE BRANDY CAR," particularly during 1944-1945, making them readily identifiable to today's collectors.
The significance of Brandy CAR era bottles extends beyond their relative scarcity. These bottles represent a unique moment when Carthusian tradition merged with Spanish spirits culture, creating expressions that would never be replicated. As the monks eventually returned their focus solely to their traditional liqueur production, this chapter closed, leaving behind a finite number of bottles that document this remarkable period of experimentation.
For collectors and enthusiasts, bottles bearing authentic Brandy CAR identification offer a tangible connection to this distinctive phase of Chartreuse history, when the exiled monks not only preserved their ancient liqueur tradition but also embraced new expressions of their craft.
This era is particularly significant for collectors because it represents a unique intersection of Chartreuse's traditional production with local Spanish influence. Bottles from this period, especially those bearing the distinctive Brandy CAR back labels (1944-1945), are highly sought after for their historical significance and representation of this distinctive chapter in Chartreuse production history.
The Brandy CAR period ended as the monks began to focus exclusively on their traditional liqueur production, making bottles from this era important markers of a unique diversification in Carthusian spirits production.
Post-War Evolution (1945-1989)
The post-war period saw significant evolution in Chartreuse production. The monks maintained operations in both Voiron and Tarragona, leading to some of the most sought-after expressions among collectors. The introduction of V.E.P. (Vieillissement Exceptionnellement Prolongé) in 1963 marked a new chapter in Chartreuse's premium offerings.
Released in this period are the legendary Yellow and Green Tarragone La Fabiola, bottled in honor of Spanish Princess Fabiola of Aragon who married King Baudouin of Belgium in 1960; the Yellow and Green VEP “Olympique Cuvee” of which only 4,870 were produced, released in custom owc; and the 1984 release of the Liqueur du 9e Centenaire in honor of the Carthusian Order’s 900th anniversary of its founding by St. Bruno in 1084.
El Licor Cumbre (1951-1959) both Yellow and Green, known as “the summit of liqueur” represent the pinnacle of Spanish production expertise, used in Spanish marketing campaigns in 1951. Liqueurs produced during this period include Tarragone Anisette, Myrtille (blueberry), and Orange liqueurs, and the centuries old medicinal Green Elixir Vegetal with cup and serving spoon.
Modern Era (1989-present)
The consolidation of all production in Voiron in 1989 marked the beginning of the modern era for the Carthusian Order. Skilled at balancing tradition with careful innovation, the Order introduces special releases while maintaining its core expressions. Since 2000, only a few thousand bottles of the Santa Tecla have been released each year, both yellow and green, produced in Voiron and sold in Tarragona on the feast of Santa Tecla.
In 2008, the Cuvee des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France Sommeliers was released, a collaboration between the Brothers and the best sommeliers in France.
Released in 2017, the incredibly elusive Cuvee Tau Episcopal (a blend of yellow chartreuse with a touch of green) of which only 5000 bottles are produced annually, and marketed only in the Tarragona region.
Ensuring the preservation of the Carthusian legacy for future generations, after the establishment of the Aiguenoire distillery in 2018 even more extraordinary bottlings were released, starting with the Copper Edition Yellow Chartreuse, and the Carbon Edition green Chartreuse – limited to 999 double magnums across four vintages, each one unique and decorated with 3D immersion printing.
In 2021, the Marseille Commemorative Edition paid tribute to the 1921 Marseille distillery, limited to only 760 bottles and featuring historically inspired glasswork. Then, “The Queen of Liqueurs”, the 2022 Reine des Liqueurs, as named by Tsar Nicolas II of Russia, the Cuvee Les Fetes Verte et Or, a limited edition created for the Voiron festivals in celebration of Chartreuse.
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