From Sparrow’s liqueur list, Benedictine is one of the great old herbal liqueurs of France, a storied after-dinner sipper with centuries of history in the bottle. It is $13 by the pour, or $19.50 for a larger pour.
About Benedictine
The Benedictine story traces back to 1510 and a Benedictine monk, Dom Bernardo Vincelli, at the Abbey of Fecamp on the Normandy coast of France. Benedictine is a blend of 27 exotic botanicals, both regional and from abroad. The actual recipe is a secret, but it is known to contain angelica root, honey, and most notably saffron. The original elixir was lost during the French Revolution, and in the 1860s a Fecamp wine merchant named Alexandre Le Grand reconstituted and trademarked it, building the flamboyant palace distillery that still produces it. The D.O.M. on the label stands for the Latin Deo Optimo Maximo, a nod to the monastic roots. There is a great deal of real history here, and it is a treat to pour it on the Eastside.
Tasting Notes
Honeyed and aromatic, with layered herbal and spice notes, a touch of saffron, and a warm, lightly sweet body. It is complex and rounded, more honeyed than bitter, finishing long and gently spiced.
What to Pair It With
Benedictine is a classic after-dinner sipper, lovely neat or over a large cube. It pairs beautifully with the close of a meal from the Sparrow dinner menu, especially after one of the American Wagyu steaks or alongside the Truffle Deviled Eggs. Enjoy it in our quartzite-bar lounge, or work it into an after-dinner cocktail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Benedictine made from?
Benedictine is a French herbal liqueur first created in 1510 at the Abbey of Fecamp in Normandy. It is a secret blend of 27 botanicals known to include angelica root, honey, and saffron, sweet and aromatic with centuries of history.
How much is a pour of Benedictine at Sparrow in Kirkland?
At Sparrow in Kirkland, Benedictine is $13 by the pour, or $19.50 for a larger pour.
Find it on the Sparrow beverages menu near other herbal pours like Becherovka. We are in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood on the Eastside, so reserve a table and savor a glass.