Becherovka - Herb liqueur from the Czech Republic

[evo-lution]

http://www.becherovka.cz/en/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becherovka

Just back from my local bar, and one of the bartenders there had taken a bottle of this liqueur back over from a visit home to the Czech Republic. Just wondered if anyone here has came across this stuff before?!?

I sampled a little of it (i'm full of the cold just now so my sense of smell and taste bud's aren't the best, ) and I was pleasantly surprised. Can't wait to get rid of this cold and try it in some cocktails.

On the nose, you get a strong aroma of star anise/clove, with light hints of liquorice/cinnamon.

On tasting, you get the initial sweet flavour's of cinnamon, which is slowly followed by the warming/spiced notes of cinnamon, star anise and clove.

It has a long, herbacious (is this even a word?!? ) finish, not dis-similar to the finish you get with Pernod/Absinthe/Chartreuse/etc./etc.

Very, very interesting liqueur. Once i've shaken the cold off, i'll try again in some drinks and let you know what I think...

S'laters,

Adam

Edited January 12, 2007 by evo-lution (log)

[Gifted Gourmet]

I have tasted this fantastic drink when I ate at Slovakia Restaurant here in Atlanta, Georgia .. I wanted to meet the owners, the Benciks, and try their food after a trip to Budapest and Prague earlier in the year ... the owner and chef, Stefan, insisted that we try this drink and it blew us away!

[Maison Rustique]

Oh, yes! I tried way too much of it when in Prague!

[Dave the Cook]

Someone gave me a small bottle of this. The spices evo-lution noted in Becherova are an obvious match for fall fruit. It worked really well as the sweet component in a drink I call the Spiced Pair:

1.25 oz Belle de Brillet

1.00 oz Bacardi 8

0.50 oz Becherova

0.75 oz lemon juice

Shake well with ice and serve in a chilled cocktail glass.

[Rehovot]

Another cocktail with Becherovka is the Beton:

ice

4 cl Becherovka

top up with tonic and lemon juice

twist of citron

The Becherovka recipe / herb mixture is apparently a highly guarded secret. Czechs going on trips abroad often pack a bottle of Becherovka, as Americans might pack Pepto...

Nazdravi!

[Nathan]

its a nice after-dinner sipper.

It's actually widely available at liquor stores in NY..and I imagine elsewhere in the U.S. as well.

[VenerableBede]

Oh, yes! I tried way too much of it when in Prague! 

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same here. national drink of the czech republic i was told after quite a few. . course, my memory could be a little fuzzy.

[JSilbert]

Ditto. I actually like it better than Pernod as stomach defragmenter after a big meal.

Oh, yes! I tried way too much of it when in Prague! 

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same here. national drink of the czech republic i was told after quite a few. . course, my memory could be a little fuzzy.

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[tikibars]

It's actually widely available at liquor stores in NY..and I imagine elsewhere in the U.S. as well.

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Yes, in Chicago it sells for about $17/bottle.

I have been playing with cocktail recipes using this stuff, in any one else has recipes to share, i am all ears with shaker at the ready.

[BonVivant]

i think just about everyone in CZ Rep. drinks it after a meal and/or beer. i even brought back a bottle. took sometime to finish it though. much prefer Franconian smoke(d) schnapp

[marty mccabe]

This is definitely one of the finest uses for Becherovka:

http://imbibemagazine.blogspot.com/2006/11...ix-bitters.html

"The Metamorphosis" from Eastern Standard in Boston.

[viva]

THIS is what I had after dinner in Prague!!!! Thanks for putting a name with my memory.