BENEDICTINE-001 Benedictine D.O.M

🍸 Bénédictine D.O.M

Developed in 1863 by merchant Alexandre Le Grand in the town of Fécamp, Normandy. He revived and refined an ancient recipe believed to have originated from Benedictine monks in the 16th century.

The name D.O.M stands for the Latin phrase Deo Optimo Maximo (“to God, the Best and Greatest”), which is also the traditional motto of the Benedictine Abbey.

It is currently produced at the Palais Bénédictine, a luxurious palace built in 1900 on the site of the old abbey, serving both as the production facility and a museum dedicated to the liqueur.

🧪 Ingredients & Flavor Profile

The secret recipe includes 27 herbs, spices, flowers, and roots, with some known ingredients such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, saffron, myrrh, angelica, hyssop, juniper, orange peel, honey, and various vegetable oils.

Standard alcohol content is 40% ABV (80 proof), though some older versions were bottled at 43%.

Flavor is a balanced blend of light sweetness from honey and saffron, with a deep herbal finish that offers warmth without excessive sweetness.

🏛 History & Brand Culture

The original recipe traces back to 1510, when Dom Bernardo Vincelli—a monk and alchemist at Fécamp Abbey—developed the liqueur for medicinal purposes. Over nearly 300 years, the formula was lost during the French Revolution and was only revived by Le Grand in 1863.

The Palais Bénédictine was rebuilt after a fire in 1892, showcasing a grand Gothic-Renaissance architectural style. It houses both the production site and a museum dedicated to Bénédictine.

Since 1984, the brand was sold to Martini-Rossi, and in 1992 became part of the Bacardi-Martini group (now owned by Bacardi).

🥃 Usage & Cocktail Applications

Typically enjoyed neat or over ice, served at room temperature or slightly chilled to fully appreciate its complex aroma layers.

A key ingredient in many classic cocktails such as Vieux Carré, Bobby Burns, Singapore Sling, Chrysanthemum, and B&B (half Bénédictine, half cognac), which originated in the 1930s.

In modern mixology, Bénédictine is highly valued for adding complexity and depth to cocktails without overpowering other ingredients.

👍 Quick Summary

Bénédictine D.O.M stands as a testament to the fusion of French monastic tradition and modern brand ambition. With its deep flavor profile and rich poetic history, it is a “herbal elixir” cherished by cocktail enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates the subtle sophistication in every drop of liqueur.