While bitter apertifs are making a strong comeback, they weren’t always all the rage. In the last ten years or so, we have slowly emerged from a dark age of imbibing: bigger was better, menus were slathered in flavored vodkas, and who can forget Zima? Any bitter liqueurs that grace the shelves today have stood the test of time (most were first made in the 1800′s or earlier) and are a useful component to your collection, or they have an amazing marketing budget and are boozy juggernauts (think Jaegermeister) that can’t be stopped.

Concocted in 1807 by Josef Becher, a Czech apothecary, and Christian Frobrig, an English physician, Becherovka (beck-ur-OHV-kuh) was intended to be what the pair called “the elixir of life”, whatever that means. What they ended up with was a tasty apertif that has enjoyed an underground following of enthusiasts throughout the world for some time, and remains the number one exported spirit of the Czech Republic. The liqueur was picked up by the giant Pernod Ricard in April of this year, which means that crafty American bartenders will soon be experimenting with the stuff right here at home.

Good timing, may we just say, as apertifs such as Fernet, Aperol and Cynar now pepper cocktail menus everywhere. The door has swung wide, and the market is open for a slightly sweeter, tasty bitter such as this one.

Speaking of which, here’s how it tastes:

Tasting Notes
It starts out sweet, with a distinct notes of honey, but ends slightly bitter. Mid palate is spicy, with cinnamon, clove and allspice, and it finishes with orange peel.

Recipes
Because it is a slightly sweeter bitter apertif, we suggest using it in the place of a more well known one in your favorite cocktail. You can also drink it straight (albeit the bottle says it needs to be chilled first), a la Fernet or Jagermeister. But if you aren’t in the shooting mood, try these:

Czech Mule
One of the best known cocktails with ginger beer, minus the vodka of course.

2 oz Becherovka
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
4 oz ginger beer

Build over ice, stir gently. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Prague Pirate
From the Becherovka recipes.

1 oz Becherovka
1 oz Jamaican rum
2 oz pineapple juice
1/2 oz lime juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
6 mint leaves
splash of club soda

Muddle mint, add everything but soda, and shake with ice. Pour into tall glass and top with soda. Stir and top with 2 dashes of Angostura bitters. Garnish with a mint sprig.

Toronto
A classic cocktail with a twist. A traditional Toronto is a Manhattan using Fernet Branca instead of sweet vermouth. We used Becherovka instead with delicious results. One can forgo the sugar, due to the sweeter nature of Becherovka.

2 oz rye whiskey
1/4 oz Becherovka
1/4 tsp sugar
1 dash Angostura bitters

Stir all ingredients with ice, strain into cocktail glass.

liqueur recipes tasting notes