Sasse Münsterländer Lagerkorn V.S.O.P. 200ml. Barrel-aged grain spirit in a small bottle for tasting, gifting, and taking with you, 32% ABV.

Sasse Münsterländer Lagerkorn V.S.O.P. 200ml is the small bottle of aged grain spirit from the Sasse craft distillery in Schöppingen. Inside is the same spirit as in the large bottle: aged for at least four years in ex-cognac barriques, 32% ABV, 200 ml. Not a shot bottle for the cooler, not an off-the-shelf grain spirit – the complete Lagerkorn in a handy format.

Lagerkorn V.S.O.P. in 200 ml by Sasse is intended for your first encounter. Korn is a spirit distilled from grain, and a Lagerkorn has spent years in wood thereafter. The principle behind it is called "marrying": the distillery samples up to 50 barrels of three different ages before blending the suitable ones into a single spirit. Before that, it is distilled from regional malt and grain using a process Sasse calls "Geniale Becker" distillation. At least four years of barrel time turn the clear distillate into a golden spirit. With this maturation period, Sasse justifies the V.S.O.P. label, which, according to the manufacturer, no other grain spirit in Germany carries. The small bottle fits in your jacket pocket, a gift basket, and your luggage.

Honey, white chocolate, and a hint of hazelnut

The spirit glows golden yellow in the glass, its color owed to the long maturation in oak. It smells of honey and white chocolate, with a slight hint of hazelnut behind it. On the palate, it becomes sweet-malty and soft, with vanilla and the spicy toasted notes of the malt. The barriques give it warm wood tones and a fine memory of cognac. At 32% ABV, the spirit remains gentle and round. Those looking for a smoky or particularly robust barrel spirit will find less of that in this bottle.

Neat at about 18 °C, as a digestif, or in a highball

Sasse recommends the Lagerkorn neat at room temperature, about 18 °C, in a nosing or tumbler glass. After a light meal, it works well as a digestif. As accompaniments, the distillery suggests dark chocolate and a mild cigar. For the distillery's Indian Summer Highball, 20 ml of Lagerkorn is enough: add 30 ml of cocoa-nut liqueur, 10 ml of lemon juice, and bitter lemon. The spirit has 32% ABV; sale only to persons aged 18 and over.

Keep the bottle upright, cool, and in the dark. Once opened and tightly sealed, the grain spirit will retain its aroma for many months.

Our tip: Gift the 200 ml bottle together with a bar of dark chocolate. Then the accompaniment that Sasse recommends itself is included right in the package.

Branding on every barrel, matured in Schöppingen

The Sasse craft distillery was first mentioned in 1707 and is located in Schöppingen in the Münsterland region, on the Schöppinger Berg. The barriques for the Lagerkorn come from the Cognac region; each one bears the distillery's brand. For their barrels, the distillery relies on Limousin and Allier oak as well as American oak; the wood is left outdoors for four years before the barrel is constructed. The entire production takes place at this single location, and it is distilled by hand in traditional stills. Maturation takes place in their own warehouse on the mountain, where the barrels are exposed to summer heat and winter frost. Sasse calls this climate-dynamic maturation: as the seasons change, higher alcohols are converted into esters, according to the manufacturer.

For tasting, gifting, and on the go

The 200 ml bottle is for everyone who wants to get to know the Lagerkorn before reaching for the large bottle. As a small gift for dinner or a greeting from Münsterland, it is just the right size. For grain spirit skeptics, it is a manageable experiment; for travelers, a piece of Münsterland in their suitcase. Those who already appreciate the spirit are better served with the Lagerkorn V.S.O.P. in 500 ml for home. Further spirits like the Cigar Special can be found on our Sasse page. The Lagerkorn is not suitable as an ice-cold schnapps from the freezer, as its aromas require room temperature.

The small bottle for tasting and gifting: Sasse's Münsterländer Lagerkorn V.S.O.P. with honey, malt, and at least four years in an ex-cognac barrel.