Bénédictine liqueur
Is history goes the Bénédictine is the oldest liqueur continuously made, having first been developed by Dom Bernardo Vincelli in 1510, in Normandy? The production of the liqueur was stopped by the monks in the nineteenth century, taken over by a private company founded in 1863 by Alexandre le Grand, which continues to produce the liqueur today.
The recipe is a closely-guarded trade secret, apparently known to only three people at any given time. So many people have tried (and failed) to reproduce it that the company maintains on its grounds in Fécamp a "Hall of Counterfeits" (Salon de Contrefaçons) displaying bottles of the failed attempts.
The manufacturing process involves several distillations which are then blended.
The same company also produces "B & B" (or Bénédictine and Brandy), which is Bénédictine diluted with brandy, making it less sweet than Bénédictine. B & B was created in the 1930s when consumers began a trend of mixing Bénédictine with brandy to produce a drier taste.
Bénédictine liqueur is also great with
Singapore Sling
The Singapore Sling is a gin-based sling cocktail from Singapore developed sometimes before 1915. The earliest published version of the recipe appeared in "The Savoy Cocktail Book", a 1930 classic written by Harry Craddock. It was initially called the gin sling – a sling was originally a North American drink composed of spirit and water, sweetened and flavored.
Vieux Carre
The Vieux Carré is an IBA official cocktail made with rye whiskey, cognac, sweet vermouth liqueur, Bénédictine, and Peychaud's bitters. The cocktail is a slightly sweet, spiced, and warming drink with herbal, citrus, and smoky notes. The recipe was first stirred to life during the 1930s by Walter Bergeron, a bartender at New Orleans Carousel Bar.
B and B
B&B stands for Bénédictine D.O.M. and Brandy. Creating the drink is as simple as combining the two ingredients. This is one of the best classic cocktails, ideal for an after-dinner drink or nightcap. The producers of Bénédictine also create a pre-mixed B&B which is good. However, if you have a favorite brandy of your own, you will find a made-from-scratch B&B the better choice. One of the best classic cocktails served on ice. A B&B is often served on the rocks. Some drinkers prefer it straight up and others like it slightly warmer. It is almost always served in a brandy snifter, which grabs the aroma and improves the enjoyment of drinking it. The brandy brings dryness to the sweetness of Benedictine whose full texture hides the tongue with sweet flavors. This original and classic B and B drink's light herbal flavor is a sensual experience as its long and soft after taste. Any cocktail that uses a liqueur mixed by monks has got to be good. It is warm, smooth, and has a slight herbal taste from the Benedictine. It starts somewhat sweet, and ends with a comforting warmth. While there are other Benedictine cocktails, none can be compared to the B&B in taste and smoothness.