Himmlische Cognac Himbeeren L.W.C. Michelsen Vintage Bottle no 13 German Fruit Liqueur 500g

Some labels lose their shine and gain a story instead. This one is gold-toned card gone soft with age, guarded by two lions circling a crest that still spells out Michelsen.

Expert's description

Himmlische Cognac Himbeeren is a German Fruit Liqueur from L.W.C. Michelsen in Hamburg, made from ripe raspberries steeped in aged cognac and a sweet raspberry liqueur. This bottle is an older edition of a product still made by the company today, though under an entirely different label design – this particular version, with its red gothic script and royal lion crest, has been discontinued and now only turns up with collectors. Michelsen was founded in 1814 and is run today by the seventh generation of the same family, and the raspberry-in-cognac recipe grew out of the company's long tradition of steeping fruit in spirits, a tradition that started with the classic German rumtopf and branched out into fruit-and-liqueur combinations. The sweetness comes from a mix of invert sugar syrup and the fruit's own natural sugars, while the cognac and brandy add a warm, faintly burning base beneath the fresh raspberry.

Taste

The nose is full of ripe raspberry with a warm hint of brandy underneath. The taste opens sweet and fruity, almost like preserved berries, before the cognac's depth and a mild woody bitterness settle in behind it. The finish is soft and slightly syrupy-sweet, with one last trace of warming alcohol.

Specifications

Name: Himmlische Cognac Himbeeren
Producer/Distillery: L.W.C. Michelsen
Region/Country: Hamburg, Germany
Type: Fruit Liqueur
Main Ingredients/Flavourings: Raspberries, cognac, raspberry liqueur
Size: 500 G
Production Method: Maceration
Serving Suggestion: Serve as a dessert with ice cream, pancakes or whipped cream, best straight from the fridge

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Fruity · Cognac-forward · Rounded

Did You Know?

Michelsen once held a royal warrant as purveyor to the imperial and royal court, and the company is still run today by two cousins from the same family – seventh generation since the founding in 1814.

Frequently asked questions about Himmlische Cognac Himbeeren

Is Himmlische Cognac Himbeeren a drinking liqueur?

Not really – it's raspberries steeped in cognac and raspberry liqueur, made as a dessert specialty rather than something you'd sip on its own. The berries and syrup are traditionally used over ice cream, cakes or whipped cream.

How sweet is it?

It's fairly sweet, since the raspberries sit in a syrup made with invert sugar alongside the fruit's own sweetness. The cognac and brandy give it a warm counterweight to that sweetness.

What makes this particular bottle a collector's item?

The label, with its red gothic lettering and royal lion crest, is a discontinued design no longer in production – Michelsen sells the same style of product today, but in completely different packaging.

Who is L.W.C. Michelsen?

A family-run company from Hamburg founded in 1814, known for fruit steeped in rum, cognac and liqueur following traditional recipes. It's now run by the seventh generation of the same family.

Can you drink the syrup straight from the jar?

Yes, plenty of collectors and enthusiasts enjoy the liqueur on its own too, even though the product was originally designed as a fruit dessert.