Underberg is one of those German companies that can can look back on some astonishing history. The Underberg Digestive celebrated 170 years not long ago. Created in 1846 by Hubert Underberg, it is a natural herbal digestive that has 44% alcohol by volume, and it is made from the finest aromatic herbs and botanicals selected from 43 countries.
Of course it is, as directed on the label of the classic 20ml bottle, the best “After a Good Meal”. But the historic digestif found its way into the fancy world of cocktails. The small bottle had become a cultish symbol in bars and is used as a cocktail bitters in classic drink recipes and as ingredient for contemporary highballs.
The latest fashion is to serve the cocktail, using Underberg, with the bottle upside down in the glass. Before the bottle will be placed into the crushed ice of the cocktail, the paper will be removed.
Ideal cocktail combinations with the herbal liquor are lemons, limes, pineapple and soda, aligned with the sweetness of passion fruit. But not just soda seems to be a good match. Coke and tonic water are great combinations too. We found some interesting Underberg cocktail recipes for you. They are easy to make and will surprise your taste buds!
You find Underberg in special German shops, online in the Bittersshop, on Amazon, Ebay, etc. and shops such as SmallFlower.com
fresh limes
10 ml (0.3oz) fresh squeezed lemon juice
20 ml (0.6oz) passion fruit syrup or juice
100 ml (3.4oz) Soda or mineral water
100 ml (3.4oz) 7Up or Sprite
1 bottle Underberg (20ml)
1. Place limes into a long drink glass and squash them a bit with with a pestle (muddler).
2. Fill crushed ice into the glass, add all other ingredients.
3. Remove paper from the Underberg bottle, then place the bottle top first into the glass.
4. Garnish with sliced limes.
VARIATIONS:
Use Zitroschnell as Base Recipe
(for 1 cocktail)
1 lemon
1 oz. Asbach Uralt
1 oz. orgeat
1 bottle Underberg bitters (about .75 oz)
Grated nutmeg
Directions Alpine Sour
Shake all ingredients and strain into a coupe. Top with grated nutmeg.
1 1/2 oz Gin
1/8 oz Grenadine
1/4 oz Underberg
3/8 oz Orange Bitters
Directions Angler
Put all of the ingredients into a shaker with plenty of ice, and have a go at it.
Pour it and server exactly like you would an Old Fashioned, with some orange zest.
Nothing really new with this other than using Underberg. I really like taste of this digestif.
2 oz gin
1/2 oz lemon juice
3/4 oz honey syrup
Dash of Underberg
Directions: Mix. Shake. Pour. Enjoy.
Recipe source
Since 2002 Underberg has attracted collectors all over the world. The starting shot for “Tops & More” initiated a huge success because it offers a unique opportunity to collect Underberg bottle tops. You can exchange them for exciting and special awards. Take a look at the Underberg selection of loyalty awards and you might be inspired to become a collector as well.
Enjoy your Underberg and then collect all the Underberg bottle tops. As soon as you’ve collected a sufficient number of Underberg bottle tops, complete our loyalty-card. Every tin box contains the loyalty card that can be sent in in order to get the award. You can download the loyalty order form also here