Amber Lane head distiller explains world-first Chartreuse cask whisky – V.2

If you aren’t familiar with Chartreuse (this is a whisky magazine after all), it is one of the world’s most beloved and historic herbal liqueurs. Since 1605, it has been brewed at the Grande Chartreuse monastery to the same recipe, which remains a secret even to most of the monks that make it to this day.

As such, barrels of Chartreuse are rarely released for public sale. 

“Our barrel broker happened to get by accident a yellow Chartreuse barrel,” Berry tells Whisky Magazine. “He sent the message out to the producers saying, ‘Who'd like this barrel? We're not quite sure why we've got it’, and I put my hand up.” 

This was a few years ago, with the first-fill release selling out within a matter of weeks this time last year. Now it is back for a second and final time. 

Rod Berry is happy with how it turned out: “We think it’s even better than last year’s release due to the more elegant impact of a second-fill, where flavour extraction is gentler.”

Although a second-fill cask, Amber Lane has used a number of tricks to extract as much flavour from the barrel as possible. This includes inverting it to expose parts of the cask not previously in contact with the liquid, along with leaving it in for a touch longer. 

In total, the 2026 release was finished for nine months in the 225L ex-Yellow Chartreuse cask following four years in an ex-Heaven Hill 200L bourbon cask. 

“This is a classic exercise in finding that balance between the bourbon cask and the Chartreuse cask,” explains Rod Berry. “The botanicals of the Chartreuse work well with the bourbon and I think we've nailed it: it's like drinking a cocktail.” 

Amber Lane Rue de La Liqueur 2026 was bottled at 46% ABV, which Rod says was definitely the sweet spot. 

Only 247 bottles were made, each becoming available from this Saturday, International Chartreuse Day, at $225 each.