I will soon start a series of travel posts on my recent trip to Czech Republic, but you can get a taste of things to come with my new article on MUNCHIES: Becherovka Is Better Than Cough Syrup. The piece details the history of Czech Republic’s favorite herbal liqueur through my visit to the Becherovka museum in Karlovy Vary. Read on for some bonus material!
Here’s an interesting video that shows how Becherovka is made. And take note: what gives Becherovka its unique taste isn’t the gazillion-herb blend they put in it, or the 38% alcohol, or the 10% sugar — it’s the water!
My MUNCHIES article also came with a new and improved recipe for the ridiculously named BeTon cocktail, but I don’t think it was published, so I’m attaching it here. The original BeTon calls for one measure Becherovka and two and a half measures tonic, poured over ice in a tall glass and finished with a generous squeeze of lemon. To update this 48 year old Czech classic and tone down the bitterness and the herbal overkill, we’re adding a few ingredients. And all while keeping the silly acronym!
BeTon
Yields 2 glasses
Becherovka, 2 fl. oz.
Espelette pepper, 1 pinch
Tonic, 3 fl. oz.
Orange juice, 3 fl. oz.
Nutmeg, 1 pinch
2 lemon slices
- In a shaker with a few ice cubes, pour the Becherovka and orange juice, and add the espelette pepper and nutmeg. Shake well, then pour into cocktail glasses.
- Top with tonic, and decorate each glass with a slice of lemon.
Now, if you want to see how the original is made by a Becherovka brand ambassador, watch here:
4 comments
Like a good Czech, I’ve got a bottle in my fridge. Though I can’t take credit for it, my husband taught English in Prague and got a taste for it. Nostrovia!
I love becherovka!
A Becherovka fan, they exist after all!!! Please tell us, what do you like about it?
The cinnamon flavour I guess. Well chilled, it goes down very easily. I’m partial to flavoured spirits — zubrowka vodka is another fave.