Berliner Gin Cocktail With Kummel

Name: Berliner Gin Cocktail With Kummel
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: Superfine sugar, coarsely ground caraway seed, lemon wedge [For the Glass]; 1 1/2 oz Gin; 1/2 oz Dry Vermouth; 1 oz Kummel; 1/2 oz Fresh lemon juice; Lemon twist [Garnish]

The Berliner Gin Cocktail is a classic German-style aperitif combining gin, dry vermouth, and kummel liqueur with fresh lemon juice, finished with a distinctive caraway-sugar rim. Its anise-forward finish and citrus balance make it a refined, herb-driven sipper.

🏷️Equipment: cocktail glass 🏷️Occasion: cocktail party

Total

5 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$14–$23

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From Mr. Boston Drinks · by Mr. Boston Official Bartender's Guide

Ingredients

Superfine sugar, coarsely ground caraway seed, lemon wedge [For the Glass]

1 1/2 oz Gin

1/2 oz Dry Vermouth

1 oz Kummel

1/2 oz Fresh lemon juice

Lemon twist [Garnish]

6 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
Mix sugar and caraway seed.
2
Rim chilled cocktail glass with lemon
3
and sugar mixture.
4
Shake next four ingredients with ice and pour
5
into glass.
6
Add lemon twist.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Toast the caraway seeds lightly in a dry pan before grinding to deepen their flavor and aroma in the rim.
Use freshly squeezed lemon juice—bottled juice dulls the bright citrus character that balances the herbal kummel.
Chill your glass beforehand to keep the drink cold longer; rim it just before pouring to preserve sugar texture.
Use a cocktail jigger to measure precisely; the 1.5:0.5:1:0.5 ratio is balanced—oversized kummel or vermouth muddies the citrus.

Substitutions

Dry Vermouth → Dry Sherry or Blanc Vermouth (lighter, floral alternative)
Kummel → Aquavit (Scandinavian caraway liqueur, very similar profile)
Fresh lemon juice → Fresh lime juice (more tart, shifts profile toward daiquiri territory)

Storage & make-ahead

Cocktails must be prepared fresh and consumed immediately. Do not store mixed cocktails.

Equipment

cocktail shaker · jigger · bar spoon · mortar and pestle (for grinding caraway) · fine strainer

Common Questions

What is kummel and can I substitute it?

Kummel is a German liqueur flavored with caraway, cumin, and fennel. If unavailable, try Aquavit (similar caraway profile) or omit it for a drier vermouth-forward martini-style drink.

Why rim the glass with caraway seed and sugar?

The caraway rim echoes kummel's botanical character and adds textural contrast and aromatic intensity to each sip, balancing the citrus and spirit base.

Should this cocktail be shaken or stirred?

Shake with ice to chill and combine the ingredients thoroughly, then strain into the prepared glass. Shaking also slightly dilutes and aerates the drink for smoothness.