Verveine Velay Extra

[jmfangio]

Walked into K&L Wines today for some vermouth, and walked out with a bottle of this as an impulse buy. I'd never heard of it before, and can't find much information on it. Just took a little sip, and the flavor is a bit like Yellow Chartreuse, with a dash of Fernet Branca. Alright, maybe that doesn't sound so appealing, so here's the description from the fine folks at Wine Enthusiast Magazine, who gave it a 90-95 rating:

The aroma is floral, herbal and root-like with elegant scents of flowers, and spices. The palate entry is herbal and almost sour; at the midpalate there are melded flavors of mint, sage, fennel, quinine, thyme and honey. Concludes more sweet than sour and delicately herbal/rooty. Lovely and elegant.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it yet, but my first thought is to try it in a Last Word in lieu of the Chartreuse.

Anyone have any more info or recipe ideas?

[eje]

Don't know anything about the liqueur itself.

I do know "Verveine" is the French name for "Verbena", only because French Lemon Verbena soap is one of our favorites.

[jmfangio]

I do know "Verveine" is the French name for "Verbena", only because French Lemon Verbena soap is one of our favorites.

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I love verbana, so that's what drew me to it in the first place. I just tried it in a Last Word, and it's fabulous. Not quite as herbal as the Chartreuse original, with hints of honey and mint. I'd like to try it in some other cocktails that call for Green or Yellow Chartreuse, perhaps a Bijou and a Widow's Kiss.

I think it's worth seeking out. As they say on Cocktail DB: Special Recommendation.