Ooh la la!

This will be one of our shortest reviews, because the headline exactly sums up our thoughts about this stunning liqueur from La Distillerie de Grandmont, based in the Haute-Vienne 15 miles north-east of Limoges.

Le Chemin des Moines is smooth, complex and very satisfying, which we sampled neat and neat over ice, as is how we sample every spirit that we’re sent to evaluate.

On the nose you get the hyssop, marjoram and angelica, underpinned with earthiness of cut grass, ivy and vetiver (whose calming properties are used to make an essential oil that can help reduce stress).

Its mouthfeel is very rewarding and despite the liqueur’s dense texture it is surprisingly light and easy drinking, with the earthiness giving way to the subtle infusion of spices and summer fruits.

The finish reinforces its smoothness and elegance, with a lingering warmth from the spices and subtle sweetness from the blueberries and flowers of the meadow.

It is perhaps no coincidence that the distillery is located close to Limoges, which for nearly 200 years was the city of distilleries, which was home to over 40 producers by 1930.

With direct links to Paris and Toulouse, and with good east-west links to Lyon and the ports of Bordeaux and La Rochelle, Limoges was at the crossroads of important trade routes and became a hub for producers of fine spirits; the city also established a reputation for high quality porcelain.

Although we only sampled one product from the distillery, we can only assume that their full line-up of drinks, most of which are ancient spirits that have been revived by their distillers, we expect demand to remain strong and that this company continues to thrive.

https://handcrafteddrinksmag.co.uk/ooh-la-la/