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supern0vayesterday at 9:58 PM2 repliesview on HN

It's possible to separate out these tasks such that no single person or group has every needed piece of the puzzle.

The Carthusian monks who produce Chartreuse (a collection of herbal liqueurs popular for use in cocktails) have been producing it and protecting the secret 130 ingredient recipe for over 400 years successfully. At any given time no more than three of the monks hold the entire recipe, and yet they have a company they have formed to execute most of the production without the secret being leaked.

The designated monks coordinate production and are involved in QC, as well as developing new blends for special releases, but much production is done by paid employees who do not know the complete recipe.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartreuse_(liqueur)


Replies

legitsteryesterday at 11:00 PM

I suspect though that a lot of the secret behind Chartreuse isn't just the recipe, but the actual sourcing of the ingredients.

Presumably the recipe relies on very unique and location-specific herbs to the alps. Part of the justification for limiting supply is concern for the environment and sustainability of their production. The order also had to cease production while they were evicted.

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the key ingredients weren't wild foraged or at least very unique species.

ASalazarMXyesterday at 11:45 PM

> secret 130 ingredient recipe

One of the greatest use cases of security by obscurity, specially if part of the ingredients are decoys.