Sipping Elegance: What Does Benedictine Taste Like?

It isn’t surprising to see people chasing after this classic French herbal liqueur.

Many liqueur lovers list Benedictine as one of their favorite drink mixers to score a wonderful cocktail.

If you’ve never heard about this exquisite blend of herbs, you’ll be thrilled to know what does Benedictine taste like.

If you’re keen to know more about benedictine, don’t let anything stop you.

The good news is that you can check out the details on this quality distilled spirit below.

If you’re a cocktail lover, you’ll surely love the sweet addition of benedictine that features a blend of different herbs.

What is Benedictine?

Benedictine is a France-produced herbal liqueur that first came into existence in the 19th century.

It was made by Alexandre Le Grand in 1863 using an old monk recipe that contains a blend of 27 flowers, herbs, spices, roots, and berries.

However, the exact ingredients are not available because of commercial purposes.

Benedictine has a long history involving monks and is believed to be a recipe produced by Dom Bernardo Vincelli, who was an alchemist.

The spirit was first marketed in France and then exported to other countries, including the US and the UK, turning it into a worldwide delight.

Today, benedictine is mostly consumed in the US, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Benedictine was sold in the US in 1863, and the imports began in 1888.

Currently, it is owned by Bacardi Limited. Today, you can find two different versions of benedictine.

These include B&B Benedictine and the Benedictine single cask.

What Does Benedictine Taste Like?

Benedictine is a taste of so many things at once, and it can be difficult to label an individual taste or flavor.

According to the recipe, the drink uses 27 different ingredients of berries, herbs, roots, flowers, and spices.

Not one of the ingredients overpowers the flavor and smell of the liqueur.

While it is general knowledge that benedictine features 27 ingredients, only 21 ingredients are known to the public.

These ingredients include vanilla, thyme, tea, angelica, mace, hyssop, arnica, coriander, lemon balm, fir cones, juniper, saffron, myrrh, aloe, honey, nutmeg, cinnamon, red berries, lemon, and even orange peel.

The ingredients are then blended in a neutral spirit sweetened with honey.

Benedictine offers a unique taste, and it isn’t an easy task to describe what it tastes like.

This herbal drink isn’t medicinal like most other herbal drinks and therefore does not have a medicinal taste.

Rather, it tends to lean more on the sweet side as it is mixed with honey.

If you wish to know how benedictine tastes or is close to how it tastes, you can have a cocktail of gin and brandy sweetened with honey.

This will give you a taste almost similar to this exquisite drink.

The best way to enjoy the full taste and flavor of benedictine is to add an ice cube to the drink.

Benedictine has a velvety and silky texture, given the number of ingredients blended.

Therefore they make great cocktails for thinner liquor.

If you wish to taste the original liqueur, don’t hesitate to get a bottle.

How to Use Benedictine?

Benedictine involves an elaborate manufacturing process involving multiple distillations.

It can either be used as a standalone drink to be enjoyed on its own or added to other drinks for enhancement.

As it features some warm spices as ingredients, it will surely accentuate any drink you wish to mix with.

Benedictine can have different tastes depending on what you use it with.

It is perfect for both modern and classic recipes. You can use it on whiskey, gin, vodka, and brandy.

There are several ways to use benedictine.

One of the best ways to use them is with other darker spirits, as the ingredients in the liqueur can soften the hard and raw taste while adding more depth to your drink.

You can add a little to stirred whiskey cocktails, as a little bit of benedictine does not overpower whiskey.

Benedictine is a great product used in many dark liquors to warm the flavor and balance the taste.

But if you plan on having benedictine on its own, the trick to get the best flavor out of it is to add a large ice cube to it.

You can even mix the ice in the drink and shake or stir and strain the liquid in a glass.

3 Substitutes for Benedictine

There are several liquors that can be used as a replacement for Benedictine.

But while they can come close to the taste and flavor of benedictine, nothing really cuts the mark perfectly.

However, if you’re bent on finding a benedictine substitute, here is a list of the best substitutes for Benedictine.

1 – Chartreuse

Blended with spicy flavor, herbs, and flowers, Chartreuse is a popular French liqueur that can be used as a close substitute for Benedictine.

Be sure to get the yellow Chartreuse sweetened with honey, as it will deliver the closest taste and flavor.

2 – Drambuie

Drambuie is another close replacement for Benedictine and features a dark and herbaceous liquid.

Like Benedictine, this drink is also sweetened with honey, but the taste and flavor of honey can be overpowering.

They are perfect for Monte Carlo and Vieuxx Carre cocktails.

3 – Italicus

Italicus is a blend of flowers, herbs, and citrus with a neutral spirit.

This drink serves as a good substitute for Benedictine as it has a subtle flavor and an unsweetened taste.

It will taste close to Benedictine when used in Honeymoon Cocktail or Frisco Sour.

It will also enhance the flavor of bitter drinks such as Aperol.

Conclusion

From being a standalone drink to a wonderful addition to various other drinks, Benedictine is surely something for every wine lover to taste.

Whether you wish to taste the exotic flavor of Benedictine on its own or pair it with another drink, this sweetened liqueur won’t let you down.

This drink that features an exquisite blend of quality ingredients will surely turn your day into a vibrant and refreshing one.

Treat your guests with this exquisite liqueur and make it a memorable experience for them.

It’s never too late to experiment with Benedictine and see how far this premium French liqueur goes.