Bénédictine D.O.M. (70cl)

Bénédictine D.O.M. is a herbal liqueur made in Fécamp, Normandy, and traditionally taken as a digestif. Its recipe is still secret. It is made in four stages. Twenty-seven spices and a number of local plants, among them angelica, juniper, myrrh, saffron, aloe, lemon balm, black tea, Madagascan vanilla and Ceylon cinnamon, are distilled in copper stills, then macerated in beet spirit. The blend is aged in four oak casks for two years, assembled for eight months, then blended with honey and saffron for four more. The nose is intense and layered, with citrus, mint, walnut, honey, herbs, vanilla and caramel. The palate is warm and soft with clear spice, ending in a long finish of vanilla and orange. It can be drunk neat or mixed in cocktails.