MEZENK Gentiane Liqueur à l'Alambic (40%)

Description As with verbena, almost every Auvergne mountain family has its own recipe for gentian. I've adapted the recipe of my Cantalien ancestors from the Cistercian tradition of Feniers Abbey, where they were churchwardens, to make an elixir that balances the sweet concentration of the distillate with the harsh bitterness of the root. This product is not what is commonly known as a 'gentian-based aperitif', a simple maceration of the roots in alcohol or white wine with varying degrees of sweetness, but a true spirit made like an eau de vie, with all the distiller's skill going into making it round and powerful. To make it more accessible to those who might be worried about excessive bitterness, the eau de vie has been aged as a liqueur, so that it can be drunk directly on the rocks or as a long drink, without altering its character.

Aromatic profile Gentian is present but not overpowering: the nose is complex and balanced between round, fruity notes and the rusticity of the root. The palate is aromatic, full-bodied but fluid, with honey imparting a subtle sweetness that coats the characteristic final bitterness without altering it.