A famous French herbal liqueur, which has been on the market since the 1800s.

Said to have been derived from a recipe created by Benedictine monks, the liqueur was created by Alexandre Le Grand, a chemist. The label features the abbreviation D.O.M., meaning Deo Optimo Maximo meaning “to God, the Most Good” (which Benedictine monks often began their letters with) as a nod toward this ecclesiastical history.

The recipe is known to contain 27 botanicals, 21 one of which are publicly known: angelica, hyssop, juniper, myrrh, saffron, mace, fir cones, aloe, arnica, lemon balm, tea, thyme, coriander, clove, lemon, vanilla, orange peel, honey, red berries, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The final 6 herbs and spices are unknown to all but one person.

The resulting liqueur is rich, herbaceous, flavoursome and sweet. Benedictine is an important ingredient in many cocktails, most notably the New Orleans favourite, the Vieux Carré.

Benedictine has endured many forgeries, so much so that they maintain a Hall of Counterfeits, containing examples of fakes, on their grounds. There’s nothing like the real deal, however.

• Product type
  Herb Liqueurs
• Distillery / brand
  Bénédictine
• Country
  France
• Bottler
  Distillery Bottling
• SKU
  033927