THE MANUFACTURE OF BENEDICTINE.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 21, 2 January 1907, Page 5

THE MANUFACTURE OF BENEDICTINE.

The common belief that the famous Benedictine liqueur is manufactured by Benedictine monks in a French monastery is not correct. It is produced in the distillery at Fecaanp, in Normandy, which is built somewhat in the style of a religious house with stained glass windows, arched roofs, etc,, and occupies the site of the old abbey.

It is said that in the thirteenth century the liqueur was invented by a learned monk as preventive against malarial fevers which were very common in the valley. It was found to be efficacious and obtained a great reputation in the district. The recipe for it 9 production was written on parchment and passed down from abbe to abbe till the time of the French Revolution, when the Abbey was destroyed, and for nearly 100 years no Benedictine liqueur,was distilled. However, in 1863, M. C. Grand became possessed of the relics of the Abbey, and amongst them was the precious receipe. Some parts of the Abbey had been restored and the manufacture of the liqueur was re-commenced in the old laboratory. Fifteen years ago, however, the Abbey was burnt down and the present palatial building was erected by the limited company which had been formed. Many of the shares are hd&ttf the Benediotine order, and a gooff proportion of the profits is heed infeUgftous and charitable woy in