Bacardi Global Travel Retail (GTR) has released Bénédictine 1888, a super-premium version of the French liqueur, exclusively into the Malaysian travel retail and duty free market.

The expression is available at Kuala Lumpur International with both Eraman and Pemborong Bumihijau.

It is also listed with regional airports Penang, Langkawi and Kota Kinabalu.

Bénédictine 1888 is made from the original liqueur and Cognac, and is aged for three months in small oak casks. 

It is said to offer a smooth, complex drinking experience with a herbal aroma, balanced palate, and honeyed finish.

The date 1888 refers to the year Alexandre Le Grand, a wine merchant and art collector, opened the Palais Bénédictine distillery in Normandy, France.

Four years earlier, Le Grand rediscovered the recipe of Venetian monk and herbalist Dom Bernardo Vincelli at the nearby Fécamp Abbey back in 1510.

The half-Gothic, half-Renaissance distillery building is the only site in the world that makes the liqueur. It is also the only other location that sells Bénédictine 1888.

“Bénédictine 1888 pays homage to the wonderful home and heritage of Bénédictine and the farsighted vision of Alexandre Le Grand,” said Gaurav Joshi, Bacardi Global Travel Retail Regional Director Asia Pacific. 

“Malaysian duty free is the ideal market to launch this super-premium expression thanks to its popularity with consumers making the country one of the brand’s top export markets.  

“Bénédictine 1888 offers a tempting trade-up for loyal followers of this famous French liqueur.”

Back in 2018, Bacardi GTR unveiled a special 5cl edition of its Bénédictine liqueur as part of a two-month campaign to celebrate Chinese New Year of the Dog.

The activity targeted 10 Asia Pacific retail locations and included prize draw incentives on the purchase of specific products at different locations.

Last month, Forbes included Bacardi on its list of the World’s Top Companies for Women 2023.