Jörg Geiger ALB!KÜMMEL. Caraway spirit on cask-aged organic apple brandy – spicy, with a hint of honey, 35% vol.
Jörg Geiger Albkümmel is a caraway spirit from the artisanal distillery in Schlat on the Swabian Jura mountain ridge: caraway, distilled with coriander, dill seeds, fennel, and cloves, combined with wood-cask-aged organic apple brandy made from Swabian meadow fruit and matured in French oak, 35% vol, 500 ml, EU organic. Not a vodka with caraway, not a herbal liqueur – a spirit for after dinner.
Albkümmel by Jörg Geiger is a caraway spirit with a Swabian foundation. A caraway spirit is a liquor whose character comes from caraway seeds – their essential oils carry the typical aroma and flavor. Jörg Geiger crafts his caraway spirit in two steps: he distills the caraway in small batches together with coriander, dill seeds, fennel, and cloves, and refines this distillate with a brandy made from organic apples from meadow orchards, which has been aged in wooden casks. Afterward, the Albkümmel is stored in French oak barrels. The result is a caraway spirit that is finer and more complex than you might expect from this variety.
Flavor
On the nose, the Albkümmel reveals warm, oriental spicy notes, followed by soft hints of honey and a certain freshness. The caraway is present, but only truly comes to the fore on the palate.
There, it unfolds its full aroma—powerful, yet subtle. Fresh apple notes from the brandy and citrusy hints are added, and a deep sweetness complements finely tart bitter notes. As spicy as the caraway begins, it becomes rounded by the apple and the cask. The distillery describes the result as finer and less intensely upfront, but rather complex. This is exactly what sets it apart from a caraway spirit consisting only of seeds and alcohol.
Usage
Jörg Geiger recommends Albkümmel as a digestif, but also to accompany hearty, fatty foods, meat, cheese, and salty dishes. His suggestions: Székely goulash, grilled pork belly with cider lentils, salt cod (bacalhau), and Moroccan-style couscous with raisins, cumin, and cinnamon. The caraway in the glass picks up on the spice on the plate.
The serving temperature is between 12 and 14 °C (54–57 °F); in summer, it can therefore be slightly chilled. For glassware, the manufacturer recommends a nosing glass, in which the spice can collect. Albkümmel has 35% vol, and the product may only be sold to persons aged 18 and over.
Our tip: The manufacturer's mixing idea for the summer: crush mint and lime in a glass, add 5 cl of Albkümmel, fill with ice, and top up with the non-alcoholic Aecht Kimmel. Caraway meets caraway, one with and one without alcohol.
Origin
The Jörg Geiger distillery is located in Schlat on the Albtrauf of the Swabian Jura. Jörg Geiger is a trained chef and took over his parents' inn, "Lamm," in 1997 at the age of 22. Distillates made from meadow fruit are a family tradition there: his father already distilled a spirit from the old "Stuttgarter Gaishirtle" pear variety in the vaulted cellar beneath the inn, and distilling continues at the Lamm to this day. The fruit brandies are stored there in used wooden barrels, selected according to the character of the variety.
The raw material for the apple brandy is Swabian meadow fruit, here from certified organic orchard meadows. Caraway has always been a feature of the orchards in the Swabian Jura. The caraway for this brandy comes from Römerstein-Böhringen in the Jura, where Wilfried Holder has started cultivating it again. Thus, both main ingredients—apple and caraway—come from the same landscape.
For whom
Albkümmel is the bottle for people who appreciate a spicy spirit after a heavy meal and pay attention to its origin. It pairs well with a goulash evening, a barbecue with pork belly, and as a gift for anyone who collects regional spirits. Those who previously knew caraway as a clear, sharp schnapps will discover a cask-aged, softer side here.
If you are looking for apple brandy with many botanicals, reach for Don't call me Gin; you can find all bottles on our Jörg Geiger page. Albkümmel is not suitable for those expecting a neutral, clear schnapps – the caraway defines every sip.
Caraway from the Swabian Jura on cask-aged organic apple brandy, 35% vol – the caraway spirit from Schlat for after dinner and with hearty dishes.
