🥃 Becherovka

Becherovka is a Czech herbal liqueur from Karlovy Vary with 38% vol. According to the producer, it is the oldest alcohol brand in the Czech Republic, made continuously since 1807 to a secret recipe of about 20 herbs and spices, local water, spirit and sugar. Since 2024 it has belonged to the Polish group Maspex. ¹²⁹

The recipe. According to the brand, in 1805 its founder Josef Vitus Becher received a recipe written by Dr Frobrig and spent nearly two years adjusting it into a balanced mix of about 20 herbs and spices brought to Karlovy Vary from all over the world. ²

Jan Becher and the bottle. His son Johann Nepomuk, in Czech Jan, took over the colonial store and liqueur production and developed the firm for 40 years; his handwritten name appears on every bottle. In 1866 his brother-in-law Karel Laube proposed the flat bottle that the brand still uses, and in 1907 the glass changed to dark green. In 1867 production moved to the new Steinberky factory with a railway link; the building now houses the visitor centre. ²

Into the world. Becherovka was first exported in 1834 to Szczecin, a year later to Vienna and Munich, and in 1838 to Paris. Over the years it was sold as English Bitter, Karlsbader Bitter or Karlsbader Becherbitter, and because of copies it was registered as a trademark in 1922. It won medals at world exhibitions, including the Paris Grand Prix of 1900, and in 1907 Emperor Franz Joseph made the firm a supplier to the imperial and royal court. ²

Twentieth century and today. In 1941 Hedda Becher, the last family member who knew the recipe, took over the company; after the Second World War she had to leave it and hand the recipe to the communist regime. ² The company was part of Pernod Ricard from 1997, which agreed to sell it to Maspex in December 2023; Maspex completed the purchase on 30 April 2024. ⁸⁷⁹ A new factory in Bohatice, opened in 2010, raised capacity by 40%; about 8 million litres are made a year, and more than half is exported. ²

What is inside. According to the producer, Becherovka Original contains water, ethyl alcohol, sugar, wine distillate, a mixture of herbs and spices and orange essential oil; 30 ml has 75 kcal. ³ The brand says it uses no artificial ingredients, colourants or preservatives, that Original contains no gluten or other allergens and that all its products are vegetarian. ¹¹

Taste and serving. The producer describes Original as bitter-sweet, with notes of clove, cinnamon and bitter orange, and recommends serving it ice-cold. ⁵ Unfiltered is shaken and served on the rocks, and Lemond chilled. ¹¹ The Beton, Becherovka with tonic, was first presented at the 1967 Expo in Montreal and became the Czech national cocktail in 2019. ⁶

The range. Besides Original, the brand makes Unfiltered (38% vol.), the citrus Lemond (20% vol.), KV14 (40% vol.) and Cordial (35% vol.). ⁴³ The producer places Becherovka in the bitters category; a special kosher batch is marked as such on the label. ¹¹

Why it matters to you. Becherovka Original has 38% vol., so it is a strong drink even in a small glass, and other versions differ in strength, so check the name and percentage on the label. ³⁴ WHO notes that no form of alcohol consumption is risk-free. ¹⁰