# can you help identify this liqueur? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 11, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-identify-this-liqueur/806418 "2018-01-11T19:33:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cptsquid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3d9bf3/32.png) [@cptsquid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cptsquid)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-identify-this-liqueur/806418/1 "2018-01-11T19:33:38Z")
Hey all, I’m trying to identify a liqueur for a friend and have precious little to go by. Tried googling for several days but no joy. All I have to go by is that it’s a regional liqueur from Carcassonne in France, it’s most likely wine based and that it is violet in color (the color is the part that seemed to have really made an impression on her). I’m trying to source it so I can gift it as a bday present so any help would be greatly appreciated. Anyone have any idea at all what the heck this stuff might be? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-identify-this-liqueur/806418/2 "2018-01-11T19:43:04Z")
Any of these ring a bell? > **[Spirits of Carcassonne](https://francetaste.wordpress.com/2016/11/04/spirits-of-carcasonne/)** > > A cathedral of spirits and wines, many artisanally made on site, Cabanel is a must-see in Carcassonne, France. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-identify-this-liqueur/806418/3 "2018-01-11T20:00:19Z")
I’m going to take a stab and suggest [Benoit Serres Liqueur de Violette](https://www.diffordsguide.com/beer-wine-spirits/1638/benoit-serres-liqueur-de-la-violette). Wikipedia suggests it is made by a family located a bit north of Carcassonne and a bit south of Toulouse. ---
**Author:** ![cptsquid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3d9bf3/32.png) [@cptsquid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cptsquid)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-identify-this-liqueur/806418/4 "2018-01-11T20:42:50Z")
Smartaleq, I thought it might be a micheline as well, but I’ve not found any that were purple or violet in color. Cyros, that looks promising. I’ve been checking with her mom who was with her so I’ll run these by her just to see if any further clues come up. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![cptsquid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3d9bf3/32.png) [@cptsquid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cptsquid)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-identify-this-liqueur/806418/5 "2018-01-11T21:17:22Z")
according to her mom, the liqueur de violette may be it. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![MickNickMaggies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/59ef9b/32.png) [@MickNickMaggies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MickNickMaggies)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-identify-this-liqueur/806418/6 "2018-01-11T21:18:13Z")
Perhaps it’s a hypocras made with red wine? The taste is like a spiced sherry. While it isn’t a speciality of Carcassonne, it’s medieval in origin, so you find it served and for sale everywhere around there. The only liquor that is native to Carcassonne is Micheline, which is yellow.