Bénédictine

TASTING NOTES:

• Colour: This liqueur is a light amber-brown colour.
• Aroma: This drink has a total of 27 botanicals, giving it a one-of-a-kind scent profile. Notes of juniper, cloves, lemons, honey, and red berries shine through.
• Taste: Liqueurs tend to be sweet and this drink is no exception. Only 21 of the 27 botanicals in this drink are known to the public. Some of these that contribute to the flavour include Angelica, mace, lemon balm, thyme, and cinnamon. This drink tastes great when drunk neat or used in cocktails.

PRODUCER: According to Benedictine, the recipe was cemented in 1519 by Don Bernardo Vincelli, a Benedictine monk. This recipe was likely handed down to monks for centuries. The recipe was not sold to the public until 1863 when Alexandre Le Grand put the drink on the market.

COUNTRY: France

PRODUCTION DETAILS: The complete recipe for this drink is a closely-guarded secret. Rumour has it that only three people know the recipe at any given time. For this reason, only 21 of the botanicals are known. These are angelica, aloe, arnica, clove, coriander, cinnamon, fir cones, lemon balm, lemon, orange peel, red berries, nutmeg, myrrh, juniper, hyssop, saffron, tea, thyme, mace, honey, and vanilla. After the botanicals are added, the drink is aged for up to 17 months. Finally, it is bottled and sold.

ALCOHOL: 40%