Benedictine B & B

B & B is a pre-blended liqueur from Benedictine in Massachusetts, combining the herbal Bénédictine liqueur with brandy. Styles like this usually come in drier and less sweet than Bénédictine on its own. The brandy cuts the honeyed sweetness of the herbal base and adds a warm, grape-derived backbone. Expect a rounded, amber-colored pour that opens with baked spice and dried herbs, then moves through honey, orange peel and a light woody note. Treat these notes as the typical profile for the style, not a lab-measured description of this bottle. The blend works best as a digestif. Pour about an ounce or two neat into a small snifter or a cordial glass at room temperature, which lets the herbal and spice aromas open up. Over a single large ice cube it softens and gains a little dilution. That makes it an easy choice when you want something slower and less intense than straight brandy. A twist of orange or lemon peel expressed over the glass sharpens the citrus edge and balances the sweetness. B & B also works as a ready-made cocktail ingredient, because it supplies both a spirit base and a sweetener in one bottle. It suits stirred, spirit-forward drinks. Try it in place of the sweet vermouth and some of the base spirit in a Manhattan-style drink with rye and bitters. It also works in a Vieux Carré-inspired build with rye, cognac and aromatic bitters. For a simple long drink, add a small measure to hot coffee or a mug of black tea. A splash of soda water over ice with a lemon wedge makes a lighter, less sweet highball. For food, serve it after dinner with aged hard cheeses, roasted nuts, dried figs or dark chocolate. It also goes well with spiced baked desserts such as gingerbread, apple tart or fruitcake, where its herbal and honeyed notes echo the dessert's flavors.