Liquor from the Netherlands
 

My neighbor just gave me two bottles of liquor from a relative in the Netherlands. One is called "Sonnema Berenburg" and the other is "Boomsma Beerenburger". They are both 30% alcohol by volume and seem to be an herb-based "schnapps" kind of liquor. I have looked them both up on Google but the sites are in Dutch and I don't understand them. Does anyone have any additional information about these two liquors and how they should be enjoyed? Thanks in advance!!

Anyone, anyone, Bueller, Bueller.....

no idea, i'm not dutch
but it sounds like it's something you should just drink

i doubt it's gonna taste decent beeing herb based,dutch and so on...
the alcohol in it is probably aight though

Stijn,

Thanks, I thought you might have heard of these liquors. I like the flavor, kind of reminds me a of a German schnapps that I had a few years ago. You can taste some of the herbs (mint, juniper, cardamon). I'll drink it straight unless someone recommends a mixer for it. Thanks again!

My Dutch friend says the following

"drink it icycold, straight and in small glasses"

I'll have to get some myself and try it out. he says they are famous.

additionally, as translated from the web site.

(sonnema is indeed an herb kind of drink)

u can mix with orange juice or coke
pour a bit in hot coffee

cock tail Sonnema Aloha
7up. / 1 part sonnema 1 part grapefruit juice 3 parts 7-up


Enjoy!

hardflex,

Thank you very much for the info, I'll have to try that this weekend! I like herb-based drinks, so I enjoy it, it reminds me of a German schnapps I had a few years ago...

Art -
Also look for Schelvis Pechel (spelling?). I got hooked on that stuff when I lived in Leiden. If you want the best damned liquor in the world, find Becherovka -- a Czech beverage made with 100+ different herbs. The old Czechs swear by it, and I'll say that it cured me of the worst cold I'd ever had (I made peace w/ God one night, I was so sick). If you find Becherovka, lemme know where. :D

JP

JP,
Thanks for the suggestions! Have you ever tried "Strega" from Amalfi, Itlay? It smells bad and is too strong to drink straight, but it's great with club soda, on the rocks, tastes like Sassafras. It made from 100+ herbs, but is mostly mint. It's very refreshing as a summer drink!

Art -
I tried Strega when I was there. It gets me in the sinuses, but I liked it! It was a welcome alternative to the sickeningly saccharine Limoncello.

JP

I just used the Translate Page option on some of the Google hits:

Sonnema Berenburg
"Sonnema Berenburg originated in to 1860 in the nordfriesischen place Dokkum. Here the restaurant operator/barkeeper Fedde Sonnema developed his own singular prescription for Berenburg, where he processed mind you 71 different herbs.

The increasing popularity of this dark-brown, spicy beverage led to the fact that the demand for these spices continued to increase. After the spice specialist dealer brought its spices to Hendrik berry castle made of Amsterdam on the market, the beverage in Friesland got already soon the name Be(e)renburg.
Since the time from Fedde Sonnema remained always the same. Just as in former times in Sonnema Berenburg still 71 spices are still processed. Must draw 24 hours in the brennerei in Bolsward on the spices. That happens in tanks, in which a thick herb situation forms 50 cm. By adding regularly new herbs and old far away, one receives a balanced, spicy beverage.
Within and outside of Frieslands Sonnema Berenburg is an extremely popular beverage: purely, cooled, as Longdrink with Cola or Jus d'Orange, or even in the coffee, admits as Sonnema Kofje."

Rick,

Thanks! Now I'm getting thirsty and I don't get home from work for 5 more hours!

I hear they also have absinthe...