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Bénédictine D.O.M. Liqueur
About Bénédictine D.O.M. Liqueur
Bénédictine D.O.M. Liqueur is produced at Le Palais Bénédictine, located in Fécamp in the Normandy region of France. Originally produced by local monks, the creation of this liqueur dates back to approximately 1510, and has been preserved as a secret recipe since then. Today, the legacy of the Bénédictine Abbey is carried on by the Le Grand family, who produce this liqueur using the same traditional processes.
Bénédictine is created with 27 herbs and spices, most of which are secret. Ingredients that are known include honey, saffron, angelica root, myrrh, hyssop, arnica, juniper, aloe, and cinnamon. The ingredients are prepared in 4 separate batches, each with a separate recipe. The 4 batches are also distilled separately with copper stills, and aged for 8 months before blending. The blended mixture then goes through a heating process, and rests for 4 months before filtration and bottling.
Bottle Specs
❖ ABV: 40%
❖ Distillery: Le Palais Bénédictine
❖ Aging: 8 months
❖ Price Point: Lower Moderate Price
Tasting Notes
Nose:
❖ herbal
❖ spicy
❖ tangerine zest
❖ pine
Palate:
❖ honey
❖ citrus
❖ almond
My Tasting notes
I took my first whiff of this liqueur, and the aroma was a sweet and herbal journey. It seemed that every split second, a new scent came out – too fast for my brain to even process. Overall, the honey notes were prominent, and the herbs and spices added a pleasant and complex character. I found the nose notes to be exquisite and delightful.
My first sip was similar to what I smelled. The overall flavor was sweet and complex. The herbal notes blended together nicely, and my brain could not keep up with parsing them. However, it was very enjoyable. After several sips, a spiciness began to come out.
There was a slight alcohol burn in the back of my throat, though the burn didn’t affect my mouth and tongue at all. My taste buds were really able to focus on the flavor. There was a slight thickness to the mouthfeel, but it was very subtle.
Cocktail
For my cocktail, I decided to try out the classic B&B. In the past, I have mainly experienced Bénédictine in experimental recipes, but never in a classic drink. In addition, I was excited about the prospect of practicing my float skills, as this is not something I often attempt. The B&B seemed like a great choice!
B&B
❖ 1.5oz Brandy
❖ 1.5oz Bénédictine
- Pour the Bénédictine into a small cocktail glass (a snifter if you have one).
- Using a bar spoon, gently float the brandy over the Bénédictine to layer.
Inside of this cocktail, the Bénédictine was very subtle. Overall, I found the B&B to be interesting, but not my favorite drink. The herb and spice notes were quite vague against the strong and flavorful brandy.
As I mentioned above, I’ve often tried Bénédictine in other types of drinks. I personally think it shines best against weaker mixers such as lemon juice, fruit juices, and/or soda water. It allows the unique honey and herbal notes to really come out.
Bottom Line
RATING: 4/5
Overall, I think Bénédictine is an excellent liqueur, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a nice herbal flavor in their cocktails. For the quality, I would expect it to be priced a little higher than it actually it. It’s positively delicious!
That said, the flavors are subtle, and can sometimes get lost against strong spirits and mixers. This makes it less versatile than some other herbal spirits. Still, it’s a great way to add dimension to cocktails at an affordable price – especially if you enjoy experimenting with flavors and inventing your own drinks. I would definitely choose it again!
As always, drink responsibly.
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