DSM No. 125 - Sicilian Tarocco Blood Orange. Blood orange spirit from Sicily, 42% ABV, hand-distilled in Berlin.
DSM No. 125 - Sicilian Tarocco Blood Orange is a spirit from the Deutsche Spirituosen Manufaktur in Berlin: Tarocco blood oranges from Sicily, whose thinly peeled zest and freshly squeezed juice are macerated in alcohol before the mixture is distilled and adjusted to 42% ABV with soft water; 350 ml in an apothecary bottle. No liqueur, no added sugar, no added flavoring – just the fruit in the distillate.
No. 125 Sicilian Tarocco Blood Orange by DSM is a fruit spirit. A spirit is created when fruits with little natural sugar are soaked in neutral alcohol and this mixture is subsequently distilled – unlike a brandy, where the fruit itself is fermented. You know the aroma of a blood orange you cut fresh in winter? That is exactly the moment the Berlin distillery has captured in a bottle. The 125 is the distillate number used by DSM to organize their range by raw material groups – citrus fruits are in the hundreds.
Blood orange that lingers for minutes
The spirit tastes like fresh Tarocco blood orange, with the citrus freshness of the zest and the depth of the juice. The producer describes it as follows: gently distributed in the mouth, it leaves behind a memory of the freshest blood oranges that lingers for minutes.
The combination of both is due to the processing: according to DSM, the juice provides short- to medium-chain aldehydes and esters—the juicy fruit note—while the zest contributes essential oil, primarily composed of limonene. Because juice and oil vary depending on ripeness, the distillate also varies slightly from batch to batch – which is why every bottle bears its batch number on the label. Anyone expecting a sweet orange liqueur will find the spirit dry and clear: at 42% ABV, it is a spirit that shows its fruit without any sweetness.
Neat at room temperature, as a hint over dessert, in a cocktail
The manufacturer's drinking recommendation is: undiluted at room temperature. Two centiliters in a small nosing glass are sufficient because the aroma is so dense – DSM says a single teaspoon is enough for a full flavor experience.
According to the manufacturer, a hint of the spirit is the crowning touch for a dessert, such as over ice cream or cheesecake. Experienced bartenders use it in fresh cocktails, for example as a splash in a Gin & Tonic. As a spirit with 42% ABV, it is for ages 18 and up.
Our tip: Add a teaspoon over a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a spoonful of mascarpone – the blood orange remains in the mouth long after the ice cream is gone.
From Ribera on Mount Etna to the Berlin distillery
The Tarocco blood oranges grow on the slopes of Mount Etna and come from Ribera on the southern coast of Sicily. The town is situated on a plateau between the Verdura and Magazzolo valleys. "Arancia Rossa di Sicilia" is an EU-protected geographical indication for these blood oranges; alongside Sanguinello and Moro, the Tarocco is the most sought-after variety according to DSM due to its balanced sugar-acid ratio.
Just one week after harvest, the fruits are processed by hand in Berlin: using special peelers, only the outermost layer of the zest is removed, without the white albedo, which contains bitter substances. The peels are macerated in alcohol along with the freshly squeezed juice, followed by gentle distillation in a copper still and, after a period of maturation, adjustment to drinking strength. The recipe was created by Dr. Konrad Horn, the pharmacist and co-founder of the Deutsche Spirituosen Manufaktur, which was established in Berlin in 2017 and has continued production under new management in Berlin-Marzahn since December 2025 – with the same team and the same recipes.
For citrus fans, dessert chefs, and as a gift from Berlin
The blood orange spirit is the bottle for anyone who likes pure citrus aromas and prefers to drink spirits in small sips. It is perfect for an evening with friends and makes a great gift in its apothecary bottle with a wooden cork.
If you prefer something nutty, you will find its counterpart in the same range with the No. 400 Piedmontese Hazelnut; to get to know the entire range, there is the DSM Tasting Box with 24 miniatures, which also includes the blood orange. You can find all bottles on our DSM page. The spirit is not suitable for those looking for a soft liqueur for dessert – it is dry, clear, and, at 42% ABV, a distillate intended for a small glass.
Tarocco blood orange from Sicily, hand-distilled in Berlin, 42% ABV – the fruit spirit from the Deutsche Spirituosen Manufaktur for room temperature, dessert, and cocktails.
