Steinhäger
Encyclopedia
Steinhäger is a type of German gin
, a spirit
flavoured with juniper
berries. The name is derived from the village of Steinhagen in North Rhine-Westphalia
, which is the only place where it is permitted to be produced.
During the 19th century, about 20 distilleries were founded on Steinhagen to produce gin. Today, just two firms in the village (Schwarze-Schlichte and Kisker) still produce gin.
Steinhäger is sold in earthenware
(Steingut) bottles and in glass bottles made to look like earthenware. The alcohol content of Steinhäger is usually 38% ABV
but sometimes higher. The European Union has set a minimum of 37.5% ABV
for it.
Since 1989, the geographical name Steinhäger has been protected by a European Union directive.
Gin
Gin is a spirit which derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries . Although several different styles of gin have existed since its origins, it is broadly differentiated into two basic legal categories...
, a spirit
Distilled beverage
A distilled beverage, liquor, or spirit is an alcoholic beverage containing ethanol that is produced by distilling ethanol produced by means of fermenting grain, fruit, or vegetables...
flavoured with juniper
Juniper
Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...
berries. The name is derived from the village of Steinhagen 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...
, which is the only place where it is permitted to be produced.
During the 19th century, about 20 distilleries were founded on Steinhagen to produce gin. Today, just two firms in the village (Schwarze-Schlichte and Kisker) still produce gin.
Steinhäger is sold in earthenware
Earthenware
Earthenware is a common ceramic material, which is used extensively for pottery tableware and decorative objects.-Types of earthenware:Although body formulations vary between countries and even between individual makers, a generic composition is 25% ball clay, 28% kaolin, 32% quartz, and 15%...
(Steingut) bottles and in glass bottles made to look like earthenware. The alcohol content of Steinhäger is usually 38% 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...
but sometimes higher. The European Union has set a minimum of 37.5% 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...
for it.
Since 1989, the geographical name Steinhäger has been protected by a European Union directive.