Cocktail Workshop at the Palais Benedictine

Step into the world of mixology with a historical twist! Drawn by a fascination with the art of cocktail making, we joined a hands-on workshop at the Benedictine Palace in Fécamp. Surrounded by centuries of tradition, we had the unique opportunity to learn the craft of creating cocktails with Normandy’s most iconic liqueur, Benedictine. It was the perfect blend of history, heritage, and a touch of modern creativity.

A Tour of the Palais Bénédictine Museum 

A monumental staircase leads visitors up to the first floor of the palace. The large rooms, which are steeped in history, house numerous objects and documents from the period. These items tell the story of how, in the 16th century, Dom Bernardo Vincelli, a Benedictine monk at Fécamp Abbey, created an elixir from plants and spices. Nearly 300 years later, Alexandre Le Grand, a wine merchant from Fécamp, succeeded in reproducing the recipe found in an old grimoire. A huge stained-glass window pays tribute to the man who founded the palace and produced the first official bottle of Bénédictine in 1863. The bottle’s unusual shape has remained unchanged ever since.

A Tribute to the 19th Century

Following this initial introduction, the group meets Pierre, one of the palace’s tour guides. The young man then recounts the major milestones in the site’s history. “The palace was founded for the sole purpose of honouring Bénédictine liqueur and the Benedictine monks who inspired Alexandre Le Grand,” he notes. “At the time, alcohol was already being produced and stored in the cellars. Visitors could also explore a museum displaying the collections of Alexander the Great and his family” he continues.

Unveiling the flavours of Bénédictine

But what about the traditional production of the liqueur? It is a drink whose exact recipe remains a secret. We do, however, know that it is made from 27 plants and spices. The group then follows Pierre into the distillery. They all sit down in front of the large copper stills and vats and listen to Pierre explain the different stages of Bénédictine production. The ingredients are infused and/or distilled, blended, aged in oak barrels, heated and aged again, before being filtered. “After the first ageing process, two important ingredients are added: honey and saffron. The former gives Bénédictine its smoothness and sweetness, while the latter changes its colour” the guide explains, before heading down to the cellars.

Barman for a day

After the theory, it’s time for some practical work and a little tasting! Pierre will lead the group to the cocktail workshop room. All the equipment is in place. But before they get started, everyone gets to taste Bénédictine. Opinions vary: some note its famous aromatic and honey notes, while others find it ‘rather strong’ (it has 40% alcohol content).

“You’ll see that Bénédictine goes well with lots of flavours. So we’re going to try three different cocktails,” Pierre explains. The apprentice bartenders examine the various utensils with curiosity: the jigger, the strainer, the cocktail spoon, the mixing glass and, of course, the shaker. First, they make the Béné-Rinha, a cocktail consisting of 2.5 cl of Bénédictine, lime juice and plenty of crushed ice. The acidity of the lime balances the sweetness of the Bénédictine.

Still accompanied by their teacher, Pierre, the group moves on to a Norman Spritz, also known as a B-Spritz, which is made with prosecco and tonic water. They then move on to a more technical cocktail: the Vertigo. After adding all the ingredients, including gin and Martini, it’s time for the eagerly awaited moment when they get to shake the cocktail shaker to ‘instantly cool the liquid’ and ‘shake the ice cubes for ten seconds’. The activity concludes with a group choreography, followed by a tasting session at the La Verrière bar, located just a few metres away.

Alcohol abuse is harmful to health. Please drink responsibly.

Useful Information

An iconic place

The Palais Bénédictine

Located in Fécamp, Seine-Maritime, the Palais Bénédictine was built by the liquor merchant Alexandre Le Grand. The palace houses a museum and continues to serve as the production site for Bénédictine liqueur.