Bärenjäger
Encyclopedia
Bärenfang is a German
honey
-flavoured liqueur
based on vodka
. It is sometimes called Bärenjäger, especially in the English-speaking world
.
Bärenfang means “bear trap”; Bärenjäger means “bear hunter.”
Bärenfang has an alcohol content of 30%–45% ABV
(60–90 proof). In Germany, Bärenfang is often made at home since the basic recipe and many variations of it are readily available. Most homemade Bärenfang is based on vodka, but some recipes with a higher alcohol content are based on neutral spirit
.
Bärenfang is always made with honey from nectar because honey from honeydew may have a bitter aftertaste.
(East Prussia
) in the 15th century. Bärenjäger was the first commercial brand of Bärenfang produced in the capital city of Koenigsberg; it is now produced by the Teucke & Koenig company in the town of Steinhagen
, Germany
. A picture of a fur trapper trapping a bear is shown on bottles of Teucke & Koenig’s Bärenjäger.
Today, Teucke & Koenig is owned by Schwarze & Schlichte, located in the town of Oelde
in North Rhine-Westphalia
, Germany
. Schwarze & Schlichte also make another brand of Bärenfang that is bottled at 33% ABV
(66 proof).
The Bärenfang produced by Teucke & Koenig is widely exported, and therefore the name “Bärenjäger” is commonly used outside of Germany. There are other producers of Bärenfang in Germany, but their products are less often available in other countries.
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Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
honey
Honey
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
-flavoured liqueur
Liqueur
A liqueur is an alcoholic beverage that has been flavored with fruit, herbs, nuts, spices, flowers, or cream and bottled with added sugar. Liqueurs are typically quite sweet; they are usually not aged for long but may have resting periods during their production to allow flavors to marry.The...
based on vodka
Vodka
Vodka , is a distilled beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits....
. It is sometimes called Bärenjäger, especially in the English-speaking world
English-speaking world
The English-speaking world consists of those countries or regions that use the English language to one degree or another. For more information, please see:Lists:* List of countries by English-speaking population...
.
Bärenfang means “bear trap”; Bärenjäger means “bear hunter.”
Bärenfang has an alcohol content of 30%–45% ABV
ABV
ABV is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* Alcohol by volume, a measure of the alcohol content of alcoholic drinks* Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria, from its IATA airport code...
(60–90 proof). In Germany, Bärenfang is often made at home since the basic recipe and many variations of it are readily available. Most homemade Bärenfang is based on vodka, but some recipes with a higher alcohol content are based on neutral spirit
Neutral grain spirit
Neutral grain spirit is a clear, colorless, flammable liquid that has been distilled from a grain-based mash to a very high level of ethanol content...
.
Bärenfang is always made with honey from nectar because honey from honeydew may have a bitter aftertaste.
History
The liqueur was first developed in eastern PrussiaPrussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
(East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
) in the 15th century. Bärenjäger was the first commercial brand of Bärenfang produced in the capital city of Koenigsberg; it is now produced by the Teucke & Koenig company in the town of Steinhagen
Steinhagen, Nordvorpommern
Steinhagen is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Rügen district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. A picture of a fur trapper trapping a bear is shown on bottles of Teucke & Koenig’s Bärenjäger.
Today, Teucke & Koenig is owned by Schwarze & Schlichte, located in the town of Oelde
Oelde
Oelde is a town in the district of Warendorf, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located near Beckum.-Division of the town:Oelde consists of 5 districts:* Oelde* Stromberg* Lette* Sünninghausen* Kirchspiel...
in North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Schwarze & Schlichte also make another brand of Bärenfang that is bottled at 33% ABV
ABV
ABV is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* Alcohol by volume, a measure of the alcohol content of alcoholic drinks* Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria, from its IATA airport code...
(66 proof).
The Bärenfang produced by Teucke & Koenig is widely exported, and therefore the name “Bärenjäger” is commonly used outside of Germany. There are other producers of Bärenfang in Germany, but their products are less often available in other countries.
Awards
Barenjager has been reviewed by the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Wine Enthusiast. In the case of the former, Barenjager was given a gold medal (in 2011). The latter rated Barenjager in its "85-89" category. Proof66's averaging of these scores produces an overall score that classifies it as a "Tier 1" spirit.External links
- Schwarze & Schlichte website (German)
- U.S. website (English, requires Flash)
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