Berliner Luft
The crystal-clear peppermint liqueur from East Berlin that is served ice-cold. Everything about the alcohol percentage, the history and the right glass to serve it in.
An East Berlin classic that survived the Berlin Wall
Berliner Luft is a Pfefferminzlikör: a crystal-clear liqueur based almost entirely on peppermint. It is made by the family business Schilkin, which has its distillery in Kaulsdorf, on the eastern side of Berlin. The first batch of peppermint liqueur came off the production line there in 1952, in the middle of the GDR era, and the drink quickly became a fixture in East Germany.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the company struggled for years, but the bottle remained and has actually become more popular in recent years, including outside Germany. At 18%, Berliner Luft sits between a cream liqueur and young genever. The producer advises against using it in cocktails: the flavor is so pronounced that little remains of whatever else you add.
In brief
Berliner Luft and other bottles from the cooler
There is one Berliner Luft bottle. These other herbal liqueurs are usually next to it in the cooler and are served in the same way.
Berliner Luft Peppermint
Crystal clear and almost entirely peppermint: fresh, lightly sweet and cooling in the mouth when ice-cold.
Jägermeister
The best-known German herbal liqueur, almost twice as strong. Dark, bittersweet and spicy rather than fresh.
Kleiner Feigling
German fig liqueur, sweet and smooth. Just as approachable as Berliner Luft, but from the sweeter side.
Underberg
Not a shot for socializing, but a digestif in a 2 cl bottle. Intensely bitter and much stronger.
Berliner Luft when you want something fresh and cooling; Jägermeister if you prefer something herbal and bitter.
Fresh peppermint, and little else
Peppermint
Pure, fresh peppermint, like a peppermint candy but without the powdery texture. There is little else to find, and that is the point.
Cool and lightly sweet
Fresh and lightly sweet, with a cooling sensation spreading across the entire mouth. At 18% ABV, the alcohol stays in the background.
Long and cooling
The menthol lingers noticeably long and makes the breath feel cool. Exactly what you expect from a peppermint liqueur.
Flavor profile of Berliner Luft Pfefferminz. Jägermeister scores higher on herbal notes and intensity; Kleiner Feigling scores higher on sweetness and fruitiness.
How to serve Berliner Luft
This bottle belongs in the freezer. At 18% ABV, the liqueur will not freeze and becomes thicker and fresher.
Ice-cold from the freezer
3 cl in a small shot glass, straight from the freezer. The cold makes the liqueur slightly syrupy and brings out the menthol even more strongly. This is how it is served in Berlin itself.
Glass: shot glass →As a digestif after a meal
4 cl in a small glass after a heavy meal. Peppermint has traditionally been used to relieve a full feeling, and this bottle is better suited to that than most sweet liqueurs.
Glass: small tumbler →With sparkling water over ice
4 cl in a highball glass filled with ice, topped up with sparkling water and a sprig of mint. A surprisingly refreshing summer drink, and at 18% ABV, little alcohol remains in the glass.
Glass: highball glass →Cocktails with Berliner Luft
The producer honestly admits that this liqueur was not made for cocktails: the peppermint overwhelms almost everything. So use it sparingly, or not at all.
Grasshopper
Crème de menthe, crème de cacao, and cream. The only classic where peppermint naturally fits.
Making shots
The complete collection of shot recipes, from layered to ice-cold straight from the freezer.
B52
Layered shot of coffee liqueur, cream liqueur and triple sec. Peppermint also works as the top layer.
Warm version
A splash in hot tea with honey and lemon. The menthol comes through even more strongly when warm.The right glass for Berliner Luft
A small shot glass that can go in the freezer, or a stemmed liqueur glass for serving it after dinner. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything you still wanted to know about Berliner Luft
Can't find your question? Check out our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
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