🥃 Cherry Heering
Danish cherry liqueur from Peter Heering's 1818 recipe; Stevns cherries, herbs and spices; at least three years in oak; 24% ABV; owned by De Kuyper.
Cherry Heering is a Danish cherry liqueur that Peter Heering began selling in his Copenhagen shop in 1818. It is made from Stevns cherries, herbs and spices, and aged at least three years in oak casks. The strength is 24% ABV, and the brand now belongs to the Dutch family group De Kuyper.
History. According to Difford’s Guide, from 1806 to 1815 Heering worked for an apothecary whose wife passed on a cherry liqueur recipe to him; in 1818 he opened a colonial goods shop in Copenhagen. In 1833 he bought an export ship, the “Cherry Cordial”, and in 1876 he became a supplier to the Danish court. In 1970 the firm was renamed “Peter Heering”, and later the name Heering Cherry Liqueur was restored. Owners changed several times: V&S Group (1999), the Thilander family (2006); in October 2017 De Kuyper acquired the brand.
How it is made. Cherries are picked in August and crushed together with their stones, which gives a faint almond note. Herbs and spices are added, and the liqueur is aged in oak for at least three years. Difford’s Guide lists the Netherlands as the country of production, although the brand is historically Danish.
Cocktails. The liqueur is part of the Singapore Sling, which is attributed to a bartender at the Raffles Hotel (1915), and of the Blood & Sand (1922).
Why this matters to you. This is a liqueur, not a cherry brandy: the words cherry brandy on the label refer to a liqueur. It is sweet, and its strength is lower than that of whisky. WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1818, Peter Heering, Copenhagen; De Kuyper since October 2017 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787: liqueur (cat. 33); the producer’s recipe dates from 1818 |
| EU category | 33 — liqueur |
| Raw material | Danish Stevns cherries, crushed with stones; herbs and spices |
| Cask type | oak casks |
| Minimum maturation | no legal minimum for liqueurs; the producer states at least 3 years in oak |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 24% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Cherry Heering → kind of → 🍸 Liqueurs → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Cherry (sour and sweet)
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🍸 Liqueurs
- Related to
- 🌍 Northern Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Bols, 🥃 Glayva, 🥃 Glayva, 🥃 Minttu, 🥃 Minttu
Frequently asked questions
Is Cherry Heering a brandy?
No. Despite the words cherry brandy on some labels, it is a liqueur: a sweetened drink with cherry, herbs and spices, at least 15% ABV.
What is the strength of Cherry Heering?
24% ABV according to Difford’s Guide.
Who owns Cherry Heering?
The Dutch group De Kuyper Royal Dutch Distillers, which bought the brand from Peter F. Heering in October 2017.
Which cherries are used?
Danish Stevns cherries, picked in August and crushed together with their stones.
Which cocktails contain Cherry Heering?
Singapore Sling (attributed to the Raffles Hotel, 1915) and Blood & Sand (1922).
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🧪 Water — ~87% of milk.
- 🌍 Northern Europe — Scandinavia, Finland, Denmark and Iceland: a cold land of cows, Icelandic skyr, Norwegian brunost and Danish cheeses with protected names.
Similar
🥃 Minttu · 🥃 Luxardo · 🥃 Pisang Ambon · 🥃 Passoã · 🥃 Salmiakki Koskenkorva · 🥃 Hpnotiq
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: Cherry Heering Liqueur (24 % ABV, Stevns cherries crushed with stones, herbs and spices, min. 3 years in oak casks, De Kuyper 2017)
- Difford's Guide: Peter F. Heering, history (shop in Copenhagen 1818, 1833 export ship, 1970 renaming, Singapore Sling, Blood & Sand, owners)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)