From the moment it was created, Benedictine met with worldwide success, even as far afield as the United States. In the 1930s, during Prohibition in the United States, a barman at Club 21 in Manhattan came up with the idea of mixing brandy with the Benedictine liqueur. The drink rapidly became famous under the name of B&B (Benedictine & Brandy), to the extent that, in 1937, it was decided to produce B&B at the Palais. Nevertheless, a slight improvement was made to the original recipe because now it is cognac and not brandy that is added to the Benedictine. The cognac is added during the final blending operation before the last four months of ageing. This harmonious marriage of cognac and Benedictine gives B&B remarkable lightness and a mouth-watering mellow softness.
Tasting Notes:
A blend of original Benedictine and Cognac. Smells assertively of herbs, honey, quinine and baking spices with added aromas of black tea and tobacco. Entry tastes of tea, sage, fennel and a touch of quinine; the Cognac emerges at midpalate, lending a layer of elegance and genuine distillate presence. Finishes like a champion, long, semisweet, intensely herbal, mildly spicy and satiny.
