What are the different types of french liquor
French liquor is known the world over. Much like French food and everything else that is French, French liquor is unusual and exquisite in taste. They form an integral part of the French way of life and are used not only for after dinner sipping but also as an excellent ingredient to make a classic dish come to life. Liquors are used extensively in French recipes and are also used in making special cocktails.
One of the most popular of all the French liquors is Benedictine. It was developed in the 19th century by Alexander Le Grand. It is a herbal liqueur and is made with almost 27 herbs and spices.
The recipe of Benedictine liquor was developed by the monks in the Benedictine Abbey in Normandy. It was used as a medicinal beverage and the abbey produced it until its destruction during the time of the French Revolution. It was after that that Le Grand developed the formula which is now in use. The recipe is a well guarded secret and many attempts have gone into replicating but have failed.
The other famous French liquor is Chartreuse. It was again the French monks who were at work very hard in producing this fabulous liquor. This liquor was being made by the Carthusian Monks since 1740. It was developed as an elixir that gave the promise of a long life. This liquor is made with distilled alcohol and contains over 130 herbal extracts. This is also one of the few types of liquor that continue improving even after it has been bottled.
There are two types of Chartreuse varieties. One is the Green Chartreuse and the other is the Yellow Chartreuse. The green Chartreuse contains 132 plant extracts and gets the green color from chlorophyll. The yellow Chartreuse contains comparatively fewer plant extracts and is more aromatic and sweeter than the green variety.
Cointreau is a triple sec liquor made in the suburbs of France. Though it has been imbibed as an aperitif it is also used as a ‘digestif’. It has an alcohol content of 40% and is considered a bit too strong for a triple sec. This liquor distillery was established in 1849 by Adolphe Cointreau and was called Cointreau Distillery. The recipe of this liquor is a Cointreau family secret. However the distillery remains open for visitor tours.
The Crème de Menthe is a very famous French liquor. This liquor was also Hercule Poirot’s, Agatha Christie’s famous Belgian detective, favorite drink. This liquor is very sweet and minty to taste. There are two versions of this drink, one which is clear and the other which is bright green. It is an excellent after dinner drink and goes exceptionally well with desserts, especially ice cream.
When we are talking of French Liquors, one has to mention the Grand Mariner. This liquor is a type of triple sec and is made with aged cognac. What gives this drink its exceptional taste is the Bigardia oranges. All the oranges used to make the Grand Mariner re cultivated in Caribbean plantations and are picked when they are at the height of their flavorful aroma. This drink was invented by Louis-Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle over 120 years ago. The popularity of this drink hasn’t waned and is still considered one of the best after dinner drinks.
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