Sauer Kraut

Sauer Kraut Underberg cocktail — The Sauer Kraut

Here’s a celebratory toast to help us Get in the Spirit! in a majorly meta way. Naturally the cocktail we are making this time had to feature Underberg, which is the ultimate solution to this puzzle. Underberg tends to overwhelm any cocktail with its boldly bitter presence full of herbs, anise, gentian and clove spices. Some say it reminds them of Christmas spice. That’s a very bitter outlook on the holidays! Underberg is within the broader category of German herbal and spiced digestives known as krauterlikors, which can be thought of as German-style amaros. You’ve likely heard of at least one such spirit before, Jagermeister, which is actually sweeter than Underberg.

A great way to enjoy any spirit is via a sour cocktail, which is simply a well balanced mix of any base with fresh squeezed citrus, like lemon juice, and a sugar solution. A margarita is a classic example. Underberg plays well within this template and benefits from the addition of a little whiskey to soften the blow (believe it or not). Dry sherry lends needed balance and enhanced flavor, turning this into a proper cocktail. So we have a krauterlikor sour, which I am playfully calling the Sauer Kraut, to toast this cocktail shaker that holds the key ingredient inside itself. What’s more, by using a rubber ring adapter on the shaker, it can actually be used to make this cocktail – now that’s meta! Here’s to keeping history alive, pursuing a puzzling idea, shaking up the establishment, and trying not to be bitter about it – cheers!

Sauer Kraut

½ oz rye

1 ½ oz fino sherry

1 bottle Underberg

¾ oz fresh lemon

¾ oz simple syrup

Shake with ice and strain into a coupe. Lemon twist.

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