This quite ominous wanting liqueur launched final 12 months in the US. Along with its arresting, black glass bottle, Villon additionally has fairly the backstory. It’s distilled, blended, and bottled in southwestern France and is known as for the well-known fifteenth century French poet, Francois Villon, who notoriously vanished after killing a “depraved” priest. As for what’s really on this liqueur, the recipe is a intently guarded household secret, but it surely depends on a base of VSOP Cognac and spirits distilled from French wheat (presumably grain impartial). Let’s test it out.
The aroma is punchy with alcohol and intensely candy, like strolling by way of the entrance door of a fudge store. Massive notes of vanilla extract, marshmallow fluff, and buttercream frosting nearly smother the fragile baking spice and unique sandalwood notes beneath. Air may be very a lot a buddy to this one, and after appreciable time within the glass, I began to find a greater, if nonetheless fairly saccharine, stability. The palate is syrupy candy with extra sticky vanilla bean, nutmeg, and gingerbread notes that flip more and more unique throughout the palate, turning to chai spice and powerful black tea. A contact of lemony citrus and sugar cookie linger on the end.
As with most liqueurs, I’m unsure how a lot of this I may sip neat. The web site suggests it as a base for some basic bourbon and Cognac cocktails, however I’d advocate as a substitute dialing it again as a modifier in lieu of the sugar in your recipe.
80 proof.
B+ / $35 / villon.sovereignbrands.com [BUY IT NOW FROM DRIZLY]
Villon Liqueur
$35
About Publish Writer
Drew Beard
Drew Beard is Assistant Editor and Social Media Supervisor for Drinkhacker. He has studied and written about beer, whisk(e)y, and different spirits since he first began consuming them, incomes a number of booze-related benefit badges alongside the best way, together with Licensed Specialist in Spirits and Govt Bourbon Steward. A recovering Federal authorities worker, he’s glad to have lastly discovered a profession the place it’s acceptable to drink on the job.