🍸 Berenburg

Berenburg (also spelled Beerenburg) is a spirit drink based on ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin, macerated with fruit, plants or parts of them, with a specific taste coming from distillates of yellow gentian root, juniper berries and bay leaves. It is category 43 of Regulation (EU) 2019/787, with a minimum strength of 30% vol.

The regulation lists five requirements. The base is ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin. It is made by maceration, steeping fruit or plants. Distillates of gentian (Gentiana lutea), common juniper (Juniperus communis) and bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) are mandatory. The colour ranges from light to dark brown. It may be sweetened, but to no more than 20 g per litre, expressed as invert sugar.

Berenburg may be flavoured only with flavouring preparations and natural flavouring substances. Juniper is just one of the three mandatory components here, and gentian root is also the basis of gentian spirit, a separate category 18 from 37.5% vol.

Compared with its relatives: Berenburg, like the category 19 juniper-flavoured spirit drink, has a minimum of 30% vol., while gin needs 37.5% vol. Unlike London gin, it may be sweetened up to 20 g/l, and a brown colour is a required feature rather than a breach. It differs from liqueurs by containing less sugar.

Why it matters to you. Berenburg is easy to confuse with gin because of the juniper, but it is a separate category with different rules. A brown colour and slight sweetness are normal for it. On the label, look for the legal name “Berenburg” or “Beerenburg” and at least 30% vol. The WHO says no amount of alcohol is safe.