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Liqueurs

Benedictine

  • Liqueur
  • 40% ABV
  • 33 drinks

Is this for me?

Choose this if…

  • ✓You want sweetness, flavour depth and lower ABV in your cocktail.
  • ✓Features in 33 WhatDrink drinks.

Skip if…

  • ✗You want a dry, neutral or high-ABV spirit base.

At a Glance

90 kcalCalories
40%ABV
7.5gSugar
10.5gCarbs
LiqueurType
33Recipes

Ingredient nutrition is approximate and varies by brand, recipe and preparation.

What is Benedictine?

Benedictine is an herbal liqueur used in classic cocktails, stirred drinks and after-dinner recipes. It adds honeyed sweetness, spice and herbal depth, often in small amounts alongside brandy, whiskey, gin or citrus.

What does Benedictine taste like?

Sweet, herbal and spiced, with honey, baking spice, citrus peel and botanical notes. Benedictine pairs well with brandy, whiskey, gin, lemon, bitters, vermouth, apple and warm spices.

Benedictine profile

Mixability: HighIntensity: BoldSweetBeginner-friendly: High

Best used for: sours, refreshing drinks, aromatic cocktails, tropical drinks

  • Appears in 33 recipes
  • Has 4 common substitutes
  • High-strength spirit (40% ABV)

Ways to use benedictine

Cocktails (31)Punches (2)

Benedictine is an herbal liqueur used in classic cocktails, stirred drinks and after-dinner recipes. It adds honeyed sweetness, spice and herbal depth, often in small amounts alongside brandy, whiskey, gin or citrus.

Flavour profile

BotanicalHerbalHoneySpice

Recipes using this

Observed quantities

Observed in single-serve recipes: middle half 22.18–59.15 ml; median 44.36 ml.

In the measured recipes in this dataset — from 30 observed uses.

Scoped nutrition

Calories (per 100 ml)
300
Sugar (per 100 ml)
25 g
Carbs (per 100 ml)
35 g

Ingredient nutrition is approximate and varies by brand, recipe and preparation.

Diet compatibility

  • Gluten-FreeCompatible
  • KetoNot compatible
  • Low-CarbNot compatible
  • Low-SugarNot compatible
  • Veganvaries
  • VegetarianCompatible

Based on the listed ingredient only — a public recipe facet, not medical, allergy or coeliac advice. Specific brands and preparation can change compatibility.

Commonly observed with

Lemon TwistBourbonSweet VermouthDry Vermouth

Observed co-use in the reviewed recipe corpus — not a universal pairing recommendation.

Trust & methodology

Canonical ingredient/component authority assembled from reviewed identity, recipe, flavour, nutrition, diet and substitution evidence. Observed quantities and co-use patterns are descriptive, not prescriptions or universal recommendations.

Evidence last updated: 2026-07-16T02:53:30.320595+00:00

Substitutes

How to swap Benedictine

When replacing Benedictine, match both flavor and sweetness. A liqueur substitute can change the aroma, sugar level and color of the drink at the same time.

When to choose it

When to choose Benedictine

Choose Benedictine when the drink needs sweetness plus a specific aroma or flavor accent. Use it carefully because liqueurs can change both taste and sugar balance.

Skip if

Do not choose Benedictine when...

Do not choose Benedictine when the drink is already sweet or heavy. Liqueurs add both flavor and sugar, so they need acidity, dryness, bitterness or spirit strength for balance.

What it is

What kind of liqueur is Benedictine?

Benedictine adds sweetness, aroma and a specific flavor accent. It usually needs balance from citrus, bitterness, dryness or a stronger base ingredient.

Drink counts and recipe data are based on published WhatDrink recipes. Figures may vary as new recipes are added.

Benedictine — common questions

How many cocktails are made with Benedictine?
There are 33 cocktail recipes featuring Benedictine in the WhatDrink database.
What are the most popular cocktails made with Benedictine?
Top-ranked cocktails made with Benedictine include Bobby Burns Cocktail, Chas, El Profesor. Rankings are based on recipe quality and data completeness.
What is the ABV of Benedictine?
Benedictine has an ABV of approximately 40%. The exact strength varies by brand and expression.
What do the sensory profile dimensions mean?
Sensory profile dimensions describe key flavour characteristics: Intensity (light to bold), Sweetness (dry to sweet), Mixability (how versatile it is in cocktails) and Beginner-Friendly (acquired taste to easy intro). Each scale helps you compare Benedictine with similar ingredients at a glance.
How do I use the Benedictine sensory profile to find drinks I like?
If you enjoy the intensity and flavour profile of Benedictine, look for other ingredients or cocktails with a similar profile. Compare Intensity, Sweetness and Mixability to find substitutes or discover new cocktails in the same flavour family.