Other Spirits: Amaro, Herbal Bitters, Nut Spirits, and Cocktails

Here are the bottles that don't fit into a classic category: Amaro and herbal bitters, spirits made from roasted nuts, flavored vodka, port wine, and pre-mixed cocktails. Most of them have one thing in common: they are classified as spirits, meaning alcoholic beverages with at least 15% ABV and a distinct flavor profile, as described by the EU Spirits Regulation 2019/787. Many of these come from small distilleries between the Black Forest, Berlin, and Chiemgau.

What's in this category

Amaro and herbal bitters

An Amaro is an Italian-inspired herbal bitter: roots, barks, peels, and herbs are macerated in alcohol, rounded off with a little sugar, and aged in barrels depending on the producer. Typical bitter notes come from gentian, cinchona bark, and bitter orange. The Amaro Bavarese Rosso from Mondino combines bitter oranges, fresh rhubarb, and yellow gentian from the Alps, while the Amaro Bavarese Stagionato is aged for nearly a year in oak barrels. More potent at 35% ABV are the elixirs from Dr. Jaglas, such as the Artichoke Elixir with gentian and centaury or the Golfer's Ginseng Elixir with ginger and cardamom.

Hazelnut schnapps and other nut spirits

For nut spirits, nuts are roasted and then distilled or macerated in alcohol. The result tastes intensely of nuts but is significantly less sweet than a nut liqueur. Our top seller is the Nutsler Hazelnut with notes of nut nougat and 35% ABV; pistachio, coconut, and cashew complement the family. The hazelnut spirit from Kölsche Kopfnuss comes in at 40% ABV with notes of chocolate, nougat, and caramel. For the Hazelnut Schnäpschen from Fang die Nuss in Munich, whole, freshly roasted hazelnuts are macerated in Korn (grain spirit), resulting in a strong, nutty, and dry taste at 36% ABV.

Vodka, fruit, caraway, and port wine

According to EU law, flavored vodka is a vodka that has been given another predominant flavor, such as the Tea Infused Vodka from Kakuzo, a tea blend of Sencha, Keemun, and Assam. For the Frucht-Williams Goldene Birne (Golden Pear) from STILVOL., hand-cut pears are macerated in brandy for months, resulting in a golden, mild spirit that, at 36% ABV, falls just below the threshold for a fruit brandy. The Alb!Kümmel (caraway spirit) from Jörg Geiger is a caraway spirit based on barrel-aged organic apple brandy. Strictly speaking, port wine is a fortified wine: wine from the Douro Valley, fortified with brandy. The Tawny Port 10 Years is golden brown and nutty, while its white brother is an aperitif.

Our producers of specialty spirits

Dr. Jaglas from Berlin bottles its herbal bitter elixirs in apothecary bottles, available as 500ml bottles and 50ml minis. Mondino from Traunstein in the Chiemgau region creates its organic amari using Bavarian spring water. The nut spirits from Nutsler are produced in a small distillery in the Black Forest using a custom-built copper still, while those from Kölsche Kopfnuss in the Cologne area are available as 40ml shooters, 200ml, and 500ml bottles. STILVOL. has their Golden Nut (made from caramelized hazelnuts) and Golden Pear produced by a small-scale distiller in Baden-Württemberg.

The pre-mixed cocktails from pHenomenal Drinks come from Hamburg, such as a phenomenal NEGRONI with Eversbusch Doppelwacholder (juniper spirit), artichoke-based amaro, and vermouth, with the orange zest already in the bottle. Kakuzo from Berlin macerates tea in multi-distilled vodka, while Wajos from the Mosel puts the lemon directly into their Lemon³ Vodka. The Manufaktur Jörg Geiger from Schlat contributes not only the caraway spirit but also "Don't call me Gin": a quadruple-distilled apple brandy with juniper and 77 other botanicals like meadowsweet and Douglas fir tips, 46% ABV in a stoneware bottle. Port wine in the assortment of the Portuguese brand José Gourmet and the DSM Tasting Box from the Deutsche Spirituosen Manufaktur with 24 miniatures round off the shelf.

Aperitif, digestif, and kitchen

Before a meal, bitter aperitifs and white port wine are the perfect start: Amaro Bavarese Rosso as a Mondino Spritz or with tonic, white port with tonic, ice, and lemon as a Portonic, served with almonds and olives. After the meal, digestifs come in small glasses, such as herbal bitters, caraway, or nut spirits. With espresso, the Kölsche Kopfnuss becomes a "Kölsche Mélange"; with ginger beer, the ginseng elixir becomes a highball. Serve the Tawny Port slightly chilled with apple pie or cheese, and the Golden Pear with tonic becomes a "Willi Tonic." Serve the pre-mixed cocktails chilled over ice or in a frozen cocktail coupe.

Buying guide and storage

• For trying out: The elixirs from Dr. Jaglas and the Kölsche Kopfnuss are available as minis; the DSM Tasting Box showcases 24 spirits at once.
• Please note: Mondino amari contain quinine, nut spirits contain nuts, and port wine contains sulfites.
• Choose your style: Bitter aperitifs with 18 to 24% ABV for spritz and tonic; elixirs, nut, and fruit spirits with 32 to 46% ABV for drinking neat.
• Storage: Store spirits upright, in a dark place, and at room temperature. After opening, seal port wine well, store it in a cool place, and consume within a few weeks.

More from our spirits

This collection is part of our Spirits category. You can find sweeter nut, fruit, and herbal liqueurs under Liqueurs, fruit brandies and spirits like blackcurrant brandy under Brandies & Spirits, and aged grain brandies under Korn. The spiced liqueurs from Dr. Jaglas, such as the mulled wine herb elixir, are also listed under liqueurs.

Order specialty spirits online

Whether you want an Amaro for an aperitif, herbal bitters as a digestif, or hazelnut for your espresso: order specialty spirits online at Leni & Hans, and your package will arrive in 1–3 days. Sales are restricted to individuals aged 18 and over.