Benedictine was not invented by the Benedictines

Friday, June 8th, 2012

Benedictine has nothing to do with the Benedictines. It was developed by the wealthy industrialist Alexandre Le Grand in the 19th century, and may or may not be based on some centuries-old recipe. Regardless, no monk has come near the brand since the French Revolution.

Liquor makers aren’t required to list their main ingredients on labels and legends and fables rush in to fill the void. These legends, moreover, don’t typically arise through generations of storytelling: rather, they’re manufactured for use in marketing campaigns and on distillery tours.

Continue reading in Atlantic Monthly

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