Note: Like all the spirits I review this was tasted at room temperature for maximum taste and detection of any faults if any in a product. If you chill benzene cold enough you could drink that too (NOT RECOMMENDED!), which is why I try them at room temperature.

In business since 1755, Marie Brizard has a long tradition of excellence and a commitment to use NATURAL products in making its liqueurs-unlike many of the cheaper knock off liqueurs which use synthetic ingredients and chemicals. This is the white (blanc) version of Cacao made from premium cocoa beans from Venezuela and the Ivory coast along with vanilla. The darker (brown or brun) is colored,mostly for aesthetic mixology reasons

First Impression: Wonderful full deep smell of chocolate leavened with vanilla, herbs, and some floral notes.

Appearance: Clear as a bell, looks like a puddle of tree sap or a heavy clear oil. Amazing body. On swirling, leaves a oily even coat on the glass with some amount of legs developing.

Taste: Oily as mineral oil, like drinking a essential oil of chocolate and vanilla. Nicely balanced between the two with the spiciness of the vanilla elevating the bass notes of the cocoa. Hints of other spice around the edges but hard to put a name to. The sugar presence is nicely blended in to the body giving a silk-like feel. A long pleasant finish with almost no alcohol presence just a mild warming.

Drinks: We tried it in some of the usual drinks Alexanders and so forth. It will ruin your ability to use any other brand. It smoothes out the edges of other ingredients to make a wonderful concert of a drink.

Bottle: Signature Marie Brizard bottle-thin neck to flared shoulder to cylindrical body with slightly smaller base below belt line. Signature MB in script on top of cap.

Other: Maker of a large portfolio of other liqueurs, among them: Anisette, Amaretto, Apry, Banana, Cassis, Creme de Cacao (Brown), Curacao, Curacao (Blue), Creme de Menthe, Creme de Menthe (Green), Grand Orange, Raspberry, Strawberry, Triple Sec, and many others that are not imported into the U.S. (much to our loss).

Final Thoughts: Much smoother, more rounded and thicker bodied than the cheap competitors not to mention the flavor. It’s like the difference between Mars and Scharfenberger Chocolates. More expensive than a lot of the cheap syrupy versions but worth the extra money especially if you do the math (see Cocktail Math in recipes section).

Website: http://www.mariebrizard.com orhttp://www.boissetamerica.com/products/BrandDetails.aspx?BrnId=7

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