In 1834 Jean-Baptiste Combier and his wife created what is thought to be the first liqueur of this style. The spirit today is still distilled using 100-year copper-pot stills and is made using sun-dried orange skins.
Orange zest and blossom with a hint of lemon grass and Brazil nuts
The mouth-feel is syrupy but with a dry, almost tea-like, quality. The flavour is naturally orange-focussed but with a floral tinge.
The finish is zesty with a sweetness on the tail.
This is a excellent triple-sec from a renowned producer.
I visited the Combier distillery in the Loire Valley and tried a number of their delicious liqueurs of which this is one. I learned, fascinatingly, that Combier invented the world's first orange liqueur – but Mr Cointreau nicked their recipe so from what I remember they had to rethink theirs. I also highly recommend the Guignolet d'Anjou cherry liqueur which is utterly delicious and not too sweet.
