Dessert liqueur Becherovka. Becherovka - how to drink and with what to drink

Becherovka is a popular liquor born from a medicinal tincture. This fact left an imprint on the ways of drinking the drink. Let's figure out how and with what they drink Becherovka.

In the article:

How to drink Becherovka

A culture of consumption has developed over a two-hundred-year history. Initially, the drink was made for medicinal purposes, and it was taken in small doses strictly according to the doctor's prescription. Over time, the tincture has become widely known throughout the world and still enjoys continued popularity. In the bar of every self-respecting sommelier there is always a branded bottle of this wonderful liqueur.

Becherovka is a rather unusual liquor, it is not a sweet and thick drink, like the usual representatives of this class, for example, or.

Becherovka is a digestif, so it is customary to serve it after eating. This is done in order to speed up the process of assimilation of nutrients by the body. Actually, the tincture recipe itself was developed as a drug for the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The only exception is the Becherovka KV-14 liqueur, as it is an aperitif and is served before meals.

Liquor, as an independent drink, is consumed chilled from small piles, which are cooled in the refrigerator to a temperature of 5-7 ° C.

A chilled drink loses its aroma, but reveals a range of taste sensations. In a warm state, the tincture is not so pleasant in taste and resembles a medicinal preparation. The warm liquor is more fragrant, but it is in the chilled form that all the true potential of Becherovka is hidden. Even the smallest sip will allow you to enjoy the bittersweet taste with an admixture of herbal notes. Within a few minutes, the tastes alternately shift each other, leaving a long aftertaste. It is this feature that has made Becherovka so popular.

There is an opinion that this drink relieves fatigue, toning up the body and strengthening the immune system, which makes Becherovka an almost harmless energy drink.

What to eat Becherovka

Classical Becherovka is not accepted to eat, but as an exception, you can treat yourself to an orange slice. Some people prefer to sprinkle cinnamon on the orange. This enhances the taste of the drink, including its medicinal properties.

Most true fans of Becherovka prefer not to have a snack after drinking the tincture, considering it a full-fledged digestif and a drink that should perform its direct function of enhancing the digestive tract.

Aesthetes are inclined to believe that additional impurities and snacks spoil the amazing taste of Becherovka, preventing you from enjoying each of its many components.

However, the exception is certain varieties of tincture. For example, Cardinal and Lemond are used as a dessert, and it is advisable to eat them with chocolate or other confectionery (cakes, cream cakes, sweets, soft cookies). Also, these subspecies of tincture are ideally combined with fruits like lemon, orange, grapes, lime and apple.

What do they drink Becherovka with?

The most common option is Becherovka with beer

The Czechs' closest neighbors, the Slovaks, have invented their own method of drinking Becherovka. According to their recipe, a glass of chilled liquor should be quickly drunk and washed down with beer (preferably light). Of the minuses, one can name a quick intoxication after combining a strong liquor with beer. However, this combination of hops, malt and herbs will certainly give you an incomparable original taste. According to the comic opinion of the Slovaks, Becherovka was created specifically to drink it with beer. Many tasters noted that the combination of the two components really enhanced the effect of drinking liquor in many ways.

To enhance the medicinal properties of the drink, it is customary to add it to a cup of tea or coffee.. One tablespoon should be poured into a slightly cooled hot drink. The liqueur will add additional flavor and a little bitterness, as well as give a charge of vivacity and strength.

If you add a drop of tincture to your morning tea or coffee during the cold season, it will help to avoid colds and ensure good health and excellent digestion. Some innovators prefer to add more than one scoop to a hot drink. Experimentation is possible, but you should keep in mind that the tincture itself is a complex of herbs that, in large quantities, can have a harmful effect on the gastric mucosa in combination with coffee or tea.

Liquor goes well with other drinks, in particular - with natural juices. Cherry, apple, grape, currant, pomegranate, cranberry and orange juices are ideal for herbal taste. Notes of berries and fruits help to relax, and the contained vitamins enhance the healing effect of the use of tincture. The correct proportion will achieve exceptional taste, but there are no exact proportions, so dilute the liquor with juice to your liking.

The collection of herbs that make up the tincture promote the secretion of gastric juice, reduce spasms in the gallbladder and help relax the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract. 20 milliliters of the drink, taken after a meal, has a healing effect on the body. Snacking liquor is not accepted, since Becherovka is an excellent preventive drug.

If you do not like the bitter taste of the liqueur, you can eat it with a green apple or any other sour fruit. Some prefer to use Becherovka with tonic, but this is more a matter of taste. Enough to take:

your favorite tonic drink;
add it to ice cubes poured into a tall glass;
squeeze half the juice of a lemon and pour in 20-30 grams of liquor.

The taste is similar to one of the subspecies of Lemond tincture, it is easy to drink. The bitter taste is almost non-existent.

Becherovka is essentially a medicinal tincture. The only thing she can't cure is alcoholism. Therefore, it is necessary to observe the measure, it is absolutely impossible to mix liquor with other strong alcoholic beverages.

Admirers of alcoholic beverages probably know what Becherovka liqueur is. The world famous product appeared on the shelves back in 1807. A drink made from healthy herbs is considered the hallmark of the Czech Republic. Its creators were the pharmacist Josef Becher and the English doctor Frobrig. Mixing different herbs and oils with alcohol for the sake of experiment, the men invented the basis for preparing an unusual tincture. Its original purpose was to improve the digestive processes.

The old recipe for Becherovka has not been disclosed. And only the rule of application is not a secret. The product is supposed to be consumed before meals in an amount of 20 ml. In moderate dosages, Becherovka only benefits.

Store-bought variations of the drink

The healthy intoxicating company is now located in the city of Karlovy Vary. Consumers are offered five types of liquor:

What is known about the composition of Becherovka?

It will not be possible to elicit the full composition of Becherovka from manufacturers, since all technological nuances are classified. But still it became known that the drink is made from more than 20 types of medicinal plants. Some raw materials are collected by experts in the Czech Republic, the rest of the herbs are imported from other countries. However, information about some of the ingredients of the drink and the method of its preparation was leaked to the masses.

Presumably Becherovka tincture consists of the following components:

All components are placed in a canvas bag and infused for a week. Then the substance is poured into oval oak barrels and water from the healing springs of Karlovy Vary is added. According to the legend, the secret recipe for making Becherovka spread beyond the Czech Republic. But in a foreign country, the drink did not turn out to be of high quality, and all because it did not contain healthy sweetened water.

The tincture is stored in oak barrels for several months. At this time, a certain air temperature and humidity are maintained in the basement.

Is it possible to make Becherovka at home?

Will Becherovka work at home? Since the liqueur recipe is kept behind seven seals, it will not be original. But every adult can make a semblance of a healthy drink.

List of components:

Vodka - 1 l;
Pure alcohol - 200 ml (if alcohol is diluted with water to a concentration of 55%, it is taken in an amount of 1.2 l);
Granulated sugar - 150 g (can be replaced with fructose - 90 g);
Anise - 1 tsp without a slide;
Cardamom - 2 - 3 boxes;
Allspice or black pepper - 7 - 10 peas;
Spring or bottled water - 250 - 300 ml;
Cinnamon sticks - 5 g;
Carnation - 15 - 20 heads;
Orange peel without a white layer - a strip 5 cm long.

How to make Becherovka with your own hands at home:

Pour the spices with alcohol in a glass bowl and keep in the dark for exactly 7 days. The container must be tightly closed. Shake it daily, and on day 8 - pass the contents through the filter;
Use sugar and water to make syrup. Mix the components and bring to a boil 2-3 times, removing the foam cap. Do not allow the syrup to boil. The finished product must be cooled;
Slowly add the strained tincture to the syrup, gently mixing. Let the mixture brew for another 1 week;
Store the finished liquor in a cool place.

Czech liqueur Becherovka: how to drink correctly

The original Becherovka is drunk undiluted and chilled to a temperature of 5-7°C. Small glasses are used. At least, this is what those people who listen to the recommendations of the manufacturer do. The aroma of hops will weaken a little, but the taste will become more noble.

However, some consumers use liquor as an aperitif, as it has choleretic properties and stimulates the appetite. Other admirers of the drink see it as a digestif - an alcoholic stimulant of digestive processes.

How to drink Becherovka for medicinal purposes is better to find out from the manufacturer. Representatives of the company say that the product in the amount of a few drops can be added to tea or coffee. When to drink liquor - before or after a meal, depends on the variety of Becherovka. For example, the ICE & FIRE variety is useful to take after a meal. If the consumer likes the KV 14 variety more, he should take into account that the drink stimulates the secretion of gastric juice.

In Slovakia, people know how to drink Becherovka correctly, but deviate from tradition and wash down the liquor with light beer. Hops, malt and herbal base create a unique taste effect. But the intoxication of such a symbiosis is very strong.

Becherovka is widely used in the production of cocktails. The original version harmonizes well with cherry, apple and currant juices. KV 14 is best mixed with orange juice. Suitable for cocktails and liqueurs, for example, Triple Sec and Blue Curacao. As part of cocktails, a harsh drink reveals its best qualities.

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Fans of original alcohol want to know what Becherovka is, how to drink this alcoholic composition, what to combine with and in what proportions to form cocktails. Becherovka is one of those drinks that are the national symbol and pride of the producing country. This is such a complex drink that a whole culture of its consumption has arisen. There are books on how to properly use this Czech national product.

How to drink Becherovka

Becherovka followed the path of many drinks, originally produced as a remedy. Two hundred years ago, a tincture was created in the Czech Republic, intended for the treatment of stomach diseases. Since many people have stomach problems, Becherovka has become popular. Gradually, it began to be used for other purposes.

Becherovka contains more than 20 herbal ingredients that grow not only in Europe. Becherovka is done correctly only on the water from Karlovy Vary. It contains extracts:

chamomile;
lemon
wormwood;
cloves;
coriander;
orange;
anise;
cardamom;
honey;
cinnamon.

With such a complex composition, you need to know how to drink this liquor correctly. Otherwise, health problems may appear.

It must be remembered that Becherovka increases appetite. For this purpose, it was created. Its effect on the digestive system begins with the use of 20 ml of liquor. After about half an hour, a person who has taken this remedy actively secretes gastric juice, bile and pancreatic enzymes. At the same time, muscle relaxation occurs, including the gastrointestinal tract.

Such an impact has its own advantages and consequences for the state of the body, so people trying the tincture for the first time need to properly approach its consumption. You need to get used to it gradually, using a little and at first in its pure form.

Experienced consumers of Becherovka take it correctly, that is, in portions of 50 ml. This is due to the fact that the purpose of the drink is not only to get pleasure, but also to have a therapeutic effect on the body.

What do they drink Becherovka with?

There are 4 ways to use this tincture:

in its pure form without additives;
with tea and coffee;
with beer;
in cocktails.

These are the traditional ways. This is how Becherovka is drunk according to Czech traditions, which does not exclude the presence of other ingredients in cocktails.

The amount of alcohol in Becherovka depends on the brand of the product:

Becherovka classic has a strength of 38% vol. This amount of alcohol is combined with a classic set of herbs.
Becherovka KV 14 is the strongest option - 40% vol. Red wine is also added to this product.
Becherovka Cordial is a liqueur with 35% alcohol content. In addition to the classic set of herbs, linden flowers have been added to it.
Becherovka Ice&Fire is a black liqueur with an alcohol concentration of 30%. It contains menthol and black pepper.
Becherovka Lemond is the weakest version of the liqueur. It contains only 20% alcohol. This Becherovka has a well-defined citrus aroma.

This variety of options allows you to create a variety of combinations of cocktails and mixed drinks.

How to drink Becherovka in its purest form

Fans of the classic consumption of the drink drink it in its pure form. However, opinions on how to drink Becherovka sometimes differ.

Since this product belongs to the digestive stimulants, it must be consumed correctly - before meals, as a classic aperitif. This is one opinion, not devoid of logic.
Others believe that Becherovka is a digestif, that is, a drink that is served after a meal. The logic behind this position is that the remedy must properly digest the food already eaten.
As a rule, aperitifs include light drinks with a small amount of alcohol, and dark and strong drinks are classified as digestifs.
Since Becherovka has different strengths and colors, it can be properly used both as an aperitif and as a digestif.
In any case, it is right to drink Becherevka in small glasses. The temperature of the drink should not exceed +8°C. The low temperature of the drink reduces the perception of aroma, but enhances the shades of taste.

With coffee and tea

The fact is that in hot water, alcohol loses its ability to intoxicate, but at the same time it dilates blood vessels well. Such an increase in the lumen of the vessels and generates clarity of thought.

Becherovka is a strong alcoholic drink, so 1 tsp. liquor added to hot coffee or tea dilates blood vessels. Liquor gives a charming flavor to familiar liquids, additionally performing the functions of a digestif. In addition, when hot, all herbs enhance their effect, aroma and taste.

Drink Becherovka with juice

As a basis for original drinks, mainly saturated juices with a sour taste are used. Well in this case, citrus fruit juices are suitable. Orange juice is especially popular. If you use blackcurrant nectar, you can get a product that is charming in its taste.

However, there are lovers of sweet juices in combination with some varieties of Becherovka. In this case, light grape juice is well suited, on the basis of which you can make a good aperitif.

With beer

This combination was invented in Slovakia, where, just like in the Czech Republic, they like to drink and prepare good natural beer.

However, the originality of this combination lies in the fact that beer and liquor do not mix. Correctly, these products are combined in a completely different way. First, you need to drink a glass of liquor in one gulp, after which, gradually, enjoying every sip, you need to use a mug of cold light natural beer.

The combination of beer hops and herbal bouquet allows you to get a special flavor effect. However, this combination is fraught with surprises, because beer with strong drinks leads a person to rapid and severe intoxication.

Cocktails from Becherovka

Becherovka is found in cocktails with a variety of ingredients. However, all these mixtures are united by the presence of fruits in one state or another:

Concrete. This name has nothing to do with the construction business. It was formed from two words - Becherovka and tonic. In addition to these two ingredients, lemon juice is also added. Sometimes only liquor and tonic are mixed. However, this is not entirely correct, since the subtle sourness of citrus fruits disappears from the extensive flavor bouquet. Put ice in a glass, pour in Becherovka, and then juice. After that, carefully add the tonic. When stirring, the cocktail will foam strongly. A cocktail glass can be properly decorated with pieces of citrus fruits.
Hooligan. Nobody can explain the name of this cocktail. However, there is an opinion that in the presence of such ingredients, people get drunk too quickly and behave inappropriately. The composition of the Hooligan is as follows: absinthe - 30 ml, Becherovka - 30 ml, vodka - 30 ml, cola - 150 ml. Fill a tall glass with ice, pour in absinthe, vodka and Becherovka first, then cola. Stir and garnish with an orange slice.
Apple sling. This cocktail is designed to cool you off in the hot summer. To do this, take chilled: Becherovka - 45 ml, tonic - 45 ml, apple juice - 45 ml. Correctly, first pour liquor into a glass with ice, then juice and tonic. Everything is mixed and decorated with a slice of apple.
Beherit. The basis of this cocktail is Becherovka and tequila. Ingredients: white tequila - 60 ml, Becherovka - 60 ml, peach juice - 60 ml, sugar syrup - 15 ml, egg white - 30 ml. All these components are mixed in a mixer, filtered, and then poured into a glass with ice.
Avalanche. This cocktail is properly served hot, warming a person in cold weather. To prepare the drink, the following components are taken: Becherovka - 45 ml, red wine - 120 ml, liquid honey - 20 ml, lemon juice - 10 ml. All this is mixed in a saucepan, heated over low heat, but not brought to a boil. Correctly Avalanche is served hot. You can put a cinnamon stick on the glass. It serves not only as a decoration - everyone, according to their taste, can crumble a little of this fragrant bark into a cocktail, enhancing the warming effect of the drink.

What to eat Becherovka

Since Becherovka was originally a medicine, it is not customary to eat it. And it was right, because the healing effect of the snack was reduced. It was allowed to drink some water if the stomach could not tolerate such a concentrated composition.

However, over time, Becherovka became an alcoholic drink intended for a pleasant holiday. So there was a tradition to have a bite of the tincture itself and cocktails with it.

A sign of good taste is the use of various fruits and berries as a snack. Correctly used as a snack:

oranges;
apples;
bananas;
strawberries;
raspberries;
dates;
dried apricots;
grape;
dark chocolate;
nuts;
chocolate candies.

More hearty fish and meat snacks are allowed, but only when combined with liquor and beer. However, such snacks are properly served not so much with Becherovka as with beer.

Becherovka is a clear example of how a delicious medicine changes its purpose and acquires a different meaning. Now they buy it not in pharmacies, but in bars, but this wonderful drink still has a beneficial effect on the human body.

Becherovka was created in the Czech Republic, but the liquor also moved to other countries. Traditionally it is used in Europe, Russia, America and Asia. The drink has gained wide popularity due to its exquisite taste, a wide list of incoming components, and healing properties. In addition to the main ingredients, such as alcohol and granulated sugar, the liquor is prepared with the addition of herbal preparations, honey, citrus fruits, and spicy spices.

Composition of Becherovka

The creators of the liquor keep the drink recipe under 7 seals, but experienced connoisseurs still got a short composition. To date, it is known that the liquor is produced on the basis of 20 types of medicinal herbs. At the same time, at least 5 varieties grow in the Karlovy Vary region (Czech Republic). The remaining list of plants is delivered from abroad directly to the plant.

Experienced sommeliers through numerous tastings have identified additional ingredients that make up the drink. These include chamomile, coriander, honey, lemon juice, orange, cloves, cardamom, vanilla (not in all types of Becherovka). It was also possible to establish the presence of spring water taken directly from Karlovy Vary.

Views of Becherovka

original. Liquor "Original" has been produced since the beginning of 1807, since then the recipe for the drink has not changed much (as far as the sommelier knows). This type of Becherovka is considered a classic of the genre, on the basis of which other variations are being prepared.
Becherovka Lemond. The drink includes citrus essences, juice of orange, lemon, grapefruit, lime. Liquor has a strength of 20 degrees, so it is suitable for use in pure form or as part of cocktails.
Becherovka Cordial. The drink has a strength of about 35 degrees, so connoisseurs will like it. The basis of the liquor is lime blossoms, chamomile and cardamom.
Becherovka KV-14. Herbal alcohol contains red wine. As a rule, it is dessert, cloyingly sweet. The drink has a strength of 40 degrees, but is drunk with ease even in its pure form.
Becherovka Ice Fire. Black liqueur includes spicy notes of chili pepper, menthol aftertaste, herbal aroma. Thanks to the strength of 30 degrees, Becherovka is used in cocktails and pure form.

Healing properties of Becherovka

Initially, the liquor was made in small quantities in order to improve health and strengthen the immune system. To this day, the inhabitants of the country-creator use Becherovka for medicinal purposes, and this is not surprising.
Liquor increases the feeling of hunger, so it should be drunk 10 minutes before meals. Daily use in small amounts speeds up metabolism, normalizes stools, heart rate and blood pressure. In addition, toxins are removed from the internal organs, toxins are broken down many times faster.
Becherovka contributes to the rapid release of gastric juice, which is important for people who follow the figure. Food is digested not in 4 hours, as we used to believe, but in 2-2.5. Herbal drink tones the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, reduces the risk of poisoning.
For therapeutic and prophylactic purposes, only the classic Becherovka marked "Original" should be used. You can add liquor to tea and coffee or consume 20 ml daily. before the meal. It all depends on personal preferences, the daily norm is 60 ml.

Method number 1. How to drink Becherovka in its purest form

As mentioned earlier, liquor was invented for medicinal purposes. Already in the future, experienced tasters adapted Becherovka in their own way.
Traditionally, the liqueur is drunk neat. It is preferable to choose the evening after dinner, but you can enjoy the drug after a hearty lunch.
As for dishes, choose glasses with a narrow bottom that gradually expand towards the edges. The volume of dishes is 40-60 ml. First, the glasses must be cooled to 6 degrees to emphasize the taste.
Pour Becherovka, stepping back from the edge by 1 cm. Garnish with a slice of orange or grapefruit, sprinkle citrus with cinnamon. Put the liquor in your mouth, count to 40, swallow.
This is how they drink the drug in the Czech Republic, and this is considered correct. The second glass is poured at will in 15-20 minutes. It is worth remembering that a “hit in the head” from Becherovka does not occur immediately, but after half an hour.

Method number 2. How to drink Becherovka with coffee and tea

It was mentioned above that the liquor is also used for medicinal purposes. Use only pure drink marked "Original". The daily dose is 60 ml., This amount must be divided into 3-4 doses.
Add Becherovka to strong tea without sugar (black, green, hibiscus) and freshly brewed coffee. A combination with heavy cream is allowed (from 33%), milk should not be mixed.
Daily use for a month helps to strengthen the immune system, normalize the stool and the digestive tract as a whole. Often, Becherovka is drunk with hot drinks during the flu and cold season.

Method number 3. How to drink Becherovka with juice

Not everyone prefers to drink liquor in its pure form, with beer or in combination with coffee / tea. Fans of low-grade drinks drink Becherovka diluted.
The types of liquor "Original", "KV-14" and "Lemond" are considered ideal. Mix the drug with juice in a ratio of 3:1. For 60 ml. Becherovka accounts for about 20 gr. thinner.
If we talk about juices, give preference to lemon, currant, apple, cranberry, orange, grapefruit and cherry. Of course, it all depends on personal preferences, experiment.

Method number 4. How to drink Becherovka with beer

In Slovakia, herbal liqueur is washed down with wheat foam, preferably live. This use option is suitable for all varieties of the drug, most importantly, pre-cool the liquor.
Choose glasses of the shape you like with a volume of up to 50 ml, put them in the freezer for 10 minutes. It is important to ensure that the glass temperature drops to 5-7 degrees.
Pour about 45 gr. Becherovka. Fill another glass with beer. First, put the liquor in your mouth, count to 30, swallow. Immediately drink beer in 2 sips.
This variant of use involves a snack of hazelnuts or almonds without salt. It should be remembered that foamy in combination with strong liquor quickly strikes on the spot.

Method number 5. How to drink Becherovka in cocktails

Bianca. Mix 45 ml. sparkling rose wine or martini with 50 ml. Becherovka Original. Pour into a 200 ml glass, fill with crushed ice. Drink through a straw, snacking on raspberries or lime wedges.
Punch. Combine in a shaker 85 ml. carbonated mineral water, 45 ml. Becherovka Lemond or Original. Add 20 ml. sweet sugar syrup, 15 ml. lemon juice. Shake the ingredients in a bowl, then heat to 68 degrees. Consume with a snack of citrus fruits.
Jellyfish. Mix 40 ml. currant liqueur with 20 ml. ale (ginger). Add 35 ml. Becherovka "KV-14", juice of half a lemon. Fill a glass with the cocktail and top with crushed ice. Garnish with lemon and serve chilled.
Lagoon. Chop a whole lime into slices, sprinkle with cane sugar or powdered sugar. Soak in a glass with a wide bottom for 1 hour, then pour 60 ml. Becherovka (any). Stir the cocktail by swirling the glass in your hand. Use in one gulp.
Sherry. Mix 60 ml. chilled cherry juice with 30 ml. Becherovka Original or Lemond. Add 10 gr. vodka (you can replace 30 ml. Martini). Stir, garnish with fresh cherries, consume.
Oasis. This cocktail will require Triple Sec liqueur in the amount of 50 ml. Pour it into an elongated glass, drip 5 ml on top. lemon juice. Now pour in 30 ml. Becherovki of any kind, cover again with lemon juice. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and drink immediately.
Concrete. Often a cocktail is served in Europe under this name. In Russia, the drink is called "Bejitto". Mix the tonic with the original Becherovka in a ratio of 2:1. Cool, drink in small sips, holding the composition in your mouth for 20 seconds.

For medicinal purposes, they drink Becherovka mixed with tea or coffee. If you want to fully experience the taste, use the pure liquor. It should be noted that the drug with beer quickly intoxicates. It makes sense for ladies to consider cocktail recipes based on Czech herbal infusion.

Video: how to drink Becherovka

Becherovka, or the “13th spring” of Karlovy Vary, is a Czech liquor of pride, 38% ABV, containing over 20 medicinal herbs.
Homeland: Czech

Story:

The fact that the liquor bears the name of the pharmacist Josef Vitus Becher is no coincidence. His experiments with herbs, oils and tinctures in 1805 (with the participation of the English doctor Frobrig), two years later allowed him to create a new medicine for stomach pain "Karlsbader English Bitter". The pharmacist started selling the medicine.

The recipe was inherited by his son Johann in 1841. The heir changed the discreet packaging of the medicine to a flat green glass bottle with a bright label, improved the equipment for its release and ... passed the recipe to his son Gustav (1890). The grandson of the famous pharmacist expanded production by registering the trademark "Johann Becher".

So Becherovka turned from a medicine into a liquor.

In 1901, Rudolf, Gustav's brother, became "at the helm" of the company, who brought the production of liquor to the international level. The royal lady of the Austrian court liked its taste so much that the order of the king every year amounted to about 50 thousand liters of liquor.

After the end of the war, in 1945, the Becher family was expelled from Czechoslovakia, and the company was nationalized, giving a new name to the liquor - Becherovka. The name Johann on the bottle was changed to Jan. In the 1950s, Vaclav Lupinek saved the plant from closing.

Secrets of composition and production

The liqueur formula is traditionally hidden. Only two people in the world know the technological process and the exact composition - the technologist of the plant and its director. However, it is reliably known that the "miracle potion" contains a composition of about 20 herbs mixed in a canvas bag and aged for a week in alcohol. It is this tincture that becomes the basis of the future drink. It is aged for 2-3 months in oak barrels together with sweet water and bottled in glass bottles. At the same time, the importance of using water only from Karlovy Vary is noted.

Not a single craftsman managed to create a completely identical drink. So, the true Becherovka is, so to speak, an exclusive thing. But homemade alcohol similar to the original (imitation) can often be found in private cellars. And not in vain - after all, despite the fact that the Becherovka liquor is produced on an industrial scale, it has not lost the status of a “medicine”. This is explained by the many useful components that pass from herbs and oak into its composition.

Action on the body:

Very often, when it comes to the benefits of any alcoholic drink, skeptics twist their lips - they say, this cannot be! And this is despite the fact that most alcohol was originally created as a medicine and was sold only in a pharmacy. So it was with Becherovka.

Harm from alcohol is caused to a greater extent not by alcohol itself, but by its overestimated dose. So, if you have Becherovka on hand, then you, using it correctly and moderately, can help the work of the stomach and nervous system.

To drink liquor for this you need 20 ml before dinner (once a day!). This will save you from flatulence, belching, heartburn, feelings of fullness and heaviness in the digestive organs, loss of appetite, etc. In addition, this dose will help you get rid of feelings of anxiety, relax.

A contraindication to the use of the drink will be its individual intolerance and alcoholism. It will be just perfect if you decide to take liquor as a medicine, consult a doctor.

Types and varieties:

If you have not yet chosen your favorite carlo - Varovsky liquor, you should know that Becherovka is not a separate type of drink, but a common name behind which several liquors are hidden.

The first one is "Original". This is a classic recipe from 1807! Having tried, in it you can feel the shades of anise, allspice, cinnamon, cardamom, orange peel. The alcohol content of the liquor is 38%.

Another species is "Lemon". This is a fragrant drink, which is more often chosen by ladies. It has stunning citrus notes on the palate (lemon is especially noticeable). The alcohol content in it is 20%.

The next liqueur is KV 14. This composition has significantly less sugar and red wine is present. The abbreviation "KV" means "Karlovy Vary". The alcohol content is 40%.

The novelty of 2014 was the Ice & Fire liqueur. In it, the bitterness of herbs interrupts the tenderness of citrus fruits, replaced by an “icy” aftertaste. It is insanely good in combination with ginger ale or tonic. The alcohol content of the drink is 30%.

At the same time, all five types of liquor can be purchased only in the Czech Republic; not every Becherovka is sold in other countries. Only the classic "Original" and (rarely) citrus "Lemond" became export options.

Drinking methods:

Becherovka intrigues not only with its composition, but also with the ways of drinking. Several are known. And everyone is considered correct.

Pure. This traditional method is recommended by the liquor manufacturer. You will only need glasses and Becherovka chilled to 5-7 ° C. 20 ml of liquor is poured into a glass and drunk either as an aperitif ("KV 14") - before a meal, or as a digestif (other types of liquor) - after it. In the latter case, to muffle the bitterness of herbs, you can serve an orange sliced and sprinkled with cinnamon (without peel) with the liquor.

Drink the drink slowly, savoring.

With beer. The method does not turn the drink into a cocktail: liquor is drunk first (in a gulp from a glass), beer is drunk second (slowly from a glass). Most often it is recommended to take light beer.
For treatment. There are two options here. The first, as mentioned above - 20 ml before meals. The second - 1-2 tbsp. liquor is poured into tea or coffee. Both options are used only 1 time per day.
Diluted. Any drinks that interact with liquor form a cocktail. But the topic of cocktails will be touched upon below, and now we will only describe the drinks that Becherovka perfectly “gets along” with (in any proportions). These are juices: from cherries, apples or currants, tonic or soda.

Home Becherovka.

Fans of experimentation and homemade alcohol will certainly want to try making this liqueur on their own. Of course, we do not have Karlovy Vary here, but you can try to create something similar to a Czech drink. The advantage of this creative process will be that the drink is a fake, which in the end may turn out to be even better than the original.

To create Becherovka, you will need alcohol diluted with water up to 55%, or vodka, the strength of which is raised to the specified percentage with the same alcohol (1 liter of vodka plus 200 ml of alcohol from a pharmacy).

In case you can’t find alcohol, prepare liquor with vodka, because after all, the strength of Czech liquor is mostly below 40 degrees. I think there will not be a particularly fundamental difference whether your Becherovka will turn out 40% or 38% of the fortress.

In fact, even if good (!) Moonshine turns out to be the basis (without odors, impurities, etc.), the product will not suffer - after all, you will not reproduce the true original anyway.

If you have the opportunity, then buy spices in an Indian shop, but if not, ordinary ones from the supermarket will do. But they should not have unpleasant, fetid odors or be out of date.

In addition, prepare all the necessary utensils for cooking in advance. It must be made of glass (no plastic or plastic).

Recipe

Prepare:

alcohol diluted to 55% - 1.2 l or alcohol (200 ml) + vodka (1 l)
granulated sugar - 150 grams (or 90 grams of fructose)
water (spring or bottled) - 250-300 ml
zest from an orange (without a white layer) - a strip of 5 cm
anise - 2 grams (1 tsp without a slide)
black or allspice - 7-10 peas
cardamom - 1 gram (2-3 boxes)
cinnamon (preferably in sticks, not ground) - 5 grams
cloves - 15-20 pcs.

We prepare in this way:

We are preparing the tincture. Spices need to be poured with alcohol, corked and kept without access to sunlight for 7 days. Shake the mixture from time to time (preferably every day), pass through the filter after a week. The smell of tincture should be rich, pleasant.
We cook syrup. Pour sugar into water and bring to a boil 2-3 times (do not boil!), Remove the foam that forms. Ready syrup must be cooled, and only then used.
Mix syrup and tincture. There is one very important rule here: we pour the tincture into the syrup, and not vice versa. We do this slowly, gently stirring, and stand for another week. Classically, you need to age in oak barrels, but in the absence of these, it will be enough to “let it rest” in glass bottles.

Becherovka prepared in this way costs 3 times cheaper than purchased in a supermarket. It will perfectly complement tonic (for example, Schweppes) or soft drinks - tea, coffee, Sprite.

Keep this liqueur in a cool place.

Cocktails with Becherovka

Not everyone likes the specific herbal taste of liquor. For some it is harsh, for others it is harsh. But in the composition of cocktails, the drink reveals itself in a completely different quality. We offer you to prepare the best Becherovka cocktails at home.

B-Ocean

Prepare:

liqueur "Becherovka" - 40 ml
liqueur "Blue Curacao" - 20 ml
grape juice - 150 ml
ice - 3-4 pcs.

We prepare in this way:

"Red Moon" ("Red Moon")

Prepare:

liqueur "Becherovka" - 40 ml
soda or tonic - 50 ml
blackcurrant juice - 150 ml
ice - 3-4 cubes

We prepare in this way:

Drop ice into a glass. Mix drinks in a shaker. Pour into a glass.

Choice of tonic or soda. It may not be added at all.

If blackcurrant juice is replaced with grapefruit, then the cocktail is called "Fresh Smashin" ("Invigorating freshness"), and if it's apple, then - "Adam's apple".

"Tears of Raquel"

Prepare:

liqueur "Becherovka" - 50 ml
Triple Sec liqueur - 50 ml

We prepare in this way:

This is a puff shot: at the bottom of the glass - "Becherovka", on top - a layer of orange liqueur, which is set on fire before serving.

"B-Celebration"

Prepare:

liqueur "Becherovka" - 30 ml
apple liqueur - 100 ml
ginger ale - 3-5 drops
ice - 3-4 cubes

We prepare in this way:

Place ice in a glass and pour first herbal liqueur, then apple liqueur. Drop ale. Stir before use.

Magic Sunset.

Prepare:

liqueur "Becherovka" - 40 ml
orange juice - 15 ml
grenadine - 3-5 drops
ice - 3-4 cubes

We prepare in this way:

Place ice in a glass and pour first herbal liquor, then juice. Drop pomegranate syrup or liqueur.