Sweet herbal bitters with cinnamon and clove, made in Karlovy Vary by the Becher family from 1807 to a recipe developed with an English doctor as a stomach remedy. It is drunk chilled, and only two people are said to know the herb blend at any one time.
The herb formula is a trade secret held by the producer, and the base is a distilled spirit that cannot legally be made at home.
What goes into it
- a neutral spirit
- around twenty herbs and spices, including cinnamon and clove
- Karlovy Vary spring water
- sugar
How it is made
The herb mixture is steeped in spirit in a linen sack for about a week, and the extract is blended with local spring water and sugar. The blend then rests in oak vats for two months before filtration and bottling. The composition of the herb mixture has never been published.
How long it takes: a week of steeping, then two months in oak
How it is eaten
Chilled and neat, or long with tonic as a beton.
History
Made in Karlovy Vary by the Becher family from 1807 to a recipe developed with an English doctor as a stomach remedy.
Frequently asked questions
What is Becherovka?
Becherovka is a wine & spirit from Czechia: sweet herbal bitters with cinnamon and clove, drunk chilled. Made in Karlovy Vary by the Becher family from 1807 to a recipe developed with an English doctor as a stomach remedy.
How is Becherovka made?
The herb mixture is steeped in spirit in a linen sack for about a week, and the extract is blended with local spring water and sugar. The blend then rests in oak vats for two months before filtration and bottling. The composition of the herb mixture has never been published. It takes a week of steeping, then two months in oak.
Can I make Becherovka at home?
No, and the atlas gives no method for it. The herb formula is a trade secret held by the producer, and the base is a distilled spirit that cannot legally be made at home.
What goes into Becherovka?
A neutral spirit, around twenty herbs and spices, including cinnamon and clove, karlovy Vary spring water, sugar.
How is Becherovka eaten?
Chilled and neat, or long with tonic as a beton.
