All over the world there are countless liquors. This spirit drink has become essential for the creation of many cocktails and its consumption is now very popular, especially as an aperitif. But in this immense diversity, there are some which, over the years, have remained unbeatable in terms of quality and taste. Among these “cult” liqueurs, there are those of French houses which are particularly distinguished by their identity.
Discover them through this small ranking of the 10 best liqueurs in France.
1- The Benedictine:
At the top of the ranking, we have the Bénédictine liqueur which is an alcohol made mainly from plants and spices. According to legend, its origin dates back to the Renaissance when a Venetian monk decided to create a health elixir from 27 plants and different oriental spices such as thyme, Ceylon cinnamon, red berries, vanilla from Madagascar, etc. . The resulting beverage would then have been highly appreciated by King François 1er. Since then, he has enjoyed great success. Today, Bénédictine is even used in the preparation of confectionery or desserts such as the famous Bénédictine soufflé!
2- The Capricious:
Little known but very appreciated, the coffee-based liqueur Capricious is a liqueur made from goat’s milk from Berry. It comes in 6 different versions: with herbs, coconut, fleur de sel caramel, calvados apple, chestnut and gingerbread.
How to taste it? As an aperitif with lots of ice cubes or at the end of a meal as a digestive. Go here to buy the Capricieuse at La Maison du Fromage .
3- The Charterhouse:
The Chartreuse has also earned its place in this ranking. It was born in 1605 thanks to monks from the Charterhouse of Vauvert in Paris. Only, among all the liqueurs in our classification, its manufacturing method and its recipe remain unknown to this day. But one thing is certain, its manufacture requires the use of 130 different plants! It has an original and unique taste that is well worth its place in this top 10.
4- Cedratine:
Cédratine is a spirit drink produced from Corsican citrons (a kind of lemon with a bitter taste), sugar and extracts of Mediterranean aromatic plants which give it an exquisite aroma and taste. A treat for the palate! Very pleasant on the palate, it is drunk neat and very cold. We love it as a digestive!
5- The Cointreau:
Then, the legendary Cointreau extends the list. It is a categorized triple sec liqueur, made from sweet and bitter orange peel from France and Brazil. Its origin dates back to 1849 in Angers where it was created by Edouard Cointreau. It is highly prized for its strong taste and aroma. But despite this, it can be drunk alone or used to prepare a cocktail. Up to you !
6- Plougastel Strawberry:
The Plougastel Strawberry is an absolute classic! It is one of the most fragrant liqueurs and is undoubtedly one of the best known throughout the world. As its name suggests, it is made from carefully selected fresh fruit, then macerated and pressed to extract all their aromas.
7- Genepi :
Génépi is a spirit as old as the world. Indeed, it was created in the Middle Ages from aromatic plants from the Alps to treat gastric problems. Today, it is served as a digestive at the end of a meal or as a drink to warm up the body after a session of skiing in the mountains. Be that as it may, this liqueur has a frank, fresh and very pleasant flavor on the palate.
8- L’Izarra:
Izarra or the star in Basque is a liqueur made from plants and spices, nuts, prunes and Armagnac. It is quite young compared to those mentioned above because it was born in 1906 thanks to its creator, a botanist named Joseph Grattau. This emblematic drink of the Basque Country is available in 3 different bottles including the green Izarra, the yellow Izarra and the Izarra 54 . They each have their own identity, but all are highly appreciated for their taste and aromas. Izarra is best enjoyed neat or in a cocktail.
9- Grand Marnier:
Penultimate in this ranking, Grand Marnier has nothing to envy to other liqueurs. It is also well known throughout the world for its quality and elegance, so much so that it is generally only served in the most chic bars in France. This one is perfectly savored as a digestive and is excellent for preparing a cocktail.
10- And Kamok :
Finally, it is impossible to close this classification without mentioning Kamok or Moka. It is a coffee-based liqueur, hence its name “coffee liqueur” . It is a creation of Paul-Emile Vrignaud who is a great fan of this energy drink. Kamok is consumed as much as a digestive as an aperitif and preferably savored pure. Alternatively, it can be used to prepare coffee flavored desserts.
