The same company also produces "B & B" (or Bénédictine and Brandy), developed in the 1930s in response to a shift in taste toward drier (less sweet) liqueurs, simply by blending Bénédictine with brandy. Originally both products were 43% alcohol by volume (86 proof), but are now 40% alcohol (80 proof). [ when?] Directions: Shake the first five ingredients well with ice. Top with club soda, and strain into a highball glass with fresh ice. Garnish with a lemon slice.

The replacement, completed in 1898, the year Alexander Le Grand died, is both splashy and ornate at the same time. It is a flamboyant palace with gothic and renaissance characteristics at play, in some ways, a tribute to the complexity that is this French iconic drink. The recipe is a closely guarded trade secret, purportedly known to only three people at any given time. [8] So many people have tried to reproduce it that the company maintains on its grounds in Fécamp a "Hall of Counterfeits" ( Salle des Contrefaçons). The bottle and label have been imitated, as has the name Bénédictine. The company prosecutes those it feels are infringing on its intellectual property. So, along comesAlexandre Le Grand, a wine merchant. One day, as he was going through old documents in his family’s treasure of a library, he came across an aged manuscriptfor the study ofhermeticism and alchemy. The manuscript inevitably included the search for the elusive and legendary Philosopher’s Stone, thedesideratum for almost every alchemist of that time. Incidentally, the world’s largest consumer of Bénédictine is a gentlemen’s club in Burnley, right here in the UK! Nose – as mentioned, D.O.M. Bénédictine is very herbal, after the first hit of alcohol fumes! Definite hints of orange, honey and an indefinable subtle alchemy – very, very pleasant indeed.What is verifiable, however, is that the recipe for Benedictine is a closely guarded trade secret, known by only a handful of people at one time. It contains 27 herbs and spices, including saffron, cinnamon, fir cones and juniper, but six of its ingredients remain unknown. If you do want to have it on its own, add some ice cubes to it and let it settle for a couple of minutes. This releases its aromatic constituents, letting one appreciate its mysterious bouquet even more. We say: Gin botanicals and herbal Bénédictine combine harmoniously with bitters contributing to the balance.

One last thing before I leave you. If you find yourself in Normandy, a visit to the Palais Bénédictineis a must! Purpose built to house the D.O.M. Bénédictine distillery, as the original was burned down in 1892. By 2010 around 75% of the production was exported. This marked a significant increase in its popularity in France. The biggest consumers of Bénédictine are the United States, Malaysia and Singapore. [6] [7] Recipe [ edit ] A poster from 1908 advertising Bénédictine For the Jasmine tea honey syrup, combine 1 tea bag jasmine tea, a quarter cup of water and aa quarter cup of honey in a small saucepan. Heat until the honey has dissolved and steep for five to 10 minutes before removing the tea bag.

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With: Gin, Bénédictine D.O.M., apricot brandy liqueur, lime juice, sugar syrup, and aromatic bitters. Wantingto pay homage to the drink’s origins, our wine merchantobtained permission to use the name and the coat of arms of the Benedictine Abbey in Fécamp and called his liqueur BÉNÉDICTINE®.