Sasse Grafschafter Kräuterwacholder 700ml. Juniper liqueur based on grain spirit with hand-picked berries from the County of Bentheim, mild with herbs and honey, 32% ABV.

Sasse Grafschafter Kräuterwacholder 700ml is a juniper liqueur from the Sasse fine distillery in Schöppingen. Juniper berries from the County of Bentheim are macerated in a wheat-based grain spirit, followed by the addition of a secret herb extract – 32% ABV, 700 ml. Not a gin, not a harsh juniper schnapps – a mild, velvety liqueur with herbal and honey notes.

Grafschafter Kräuterwacholder by Sasse combines two ingredients that could each stand on their own: juniper and herbs. The berries are macerated in the grain spirit. This is the term for the process in which fruits or spices are steeped in alcohol, slowly releasing their aromas into it. Subsequently, Sasse refines the mixture with a herbal extract, the recipe for which the distillery keeps secret. The liqueur was created in 2010 for the 125th anniversary of the County of Bentheim district. As the name suggests, this is about a landscape: the county with its juniper heaths.

Herbs, a subtle hint of almond, and warming honey

Sasse summarizes the character in two words: mild and light. The nose reveals pleasant herbal notes and a subtle hint of almond. On the palate, the herbal juniper is particularly mild and has a velvety, slightly oily texture. Spicy and sweet impressions alternate, underscored by warming honey tones. The juniper remains integrated and rarely pushes to the fore. At 32% ABV, the liqueur has noticeable strength, but the mildness on the palate makes it seem softer than the figure might suggest. Anyone expecting a resinous, dry juniper spirit will find a significantly softer liqueur here.

In a cocktail: the Margarita Regional with Lagerkorn

The distillery itself recommends a drink for their herbal juniper liqueur: the Margarita Regional. For this, combine 20 ml of Kräuterwacholder with 50 ml of Lagerkorn V.S.O.P., 30 ml of lime juice, and 20 ml of agave syrup in a shaker. Shake vigorously with ice and strain into a pre-chilled cocktail glass that has been rimmed with salt. Add a lime slice, and it's ready. The Kräuterwacholder brings the herbs and honey tones to the drink, while the Lagerkorn provides the vanilla. The liqueur has 32% ABV; it is sold only to persons aged 18 and over.

Store it upright in a cool, dark cupboard.

Our tip: Put the cocktail glass in the freezer half an hour beforehand. The Margarita Regional is served without ice, and the cold glass keeps it fresh longer.

Hand-picked in the County of Bentheim

The juniper berries come from the County of Bentheim, from the Tillenberge and Spöllberg juniper heaths and from land owned by the Grafschaft Bentheim Nature Conservation Foundation. Harvesting is done by hand: tarpaulins are placed under the bushes, then the branches are carefully tapped. Afterward, twigs and needles are picked out of the harvest until only the berries remain. Partners in the harvest have included the Nordhorn Zoo and the Blekker Farm in Uelsen. Juniper heaths are open, sandy landscapes that must be regularly maintained to keep them open. According to the manufacturer, a donation from every bottle sold goes to the "Sasse Fond Grafschafter Wacholder," which supports this very maintenance. The liqueur is macerated and bottled at the fine distillery in Schöppingen in the Münsterland region.

For locals and cocktail fans

The Kräuterwacholder is the bottle for everyone who has a connection to the County of Bentheim, whether as a local or a visitor. For cocktail fans, it is the ingredient that gives a margarita a regional touch. And those who like mild herbal liqueurs will find a variant with juniper here. Gin enthusiasts who want to experience juniper from its soft, honey-warm side are also in the right place. As a gift, it carries its origin right in its name. You can find more from Schöppingen on our Sasse page and in the Liqueurs category. It is not suitable as a dry gin for a gin and tonic; it is too mild and soft for that.

Juniper from the County of Bentheim, herbs, and grain spirit, mild with honey notes – the Grafschafter Kräuterwacholder from Sasse for the Margarita Regional and your home bar.