{"title":"Sasse – Gin \u0026 Juniper","description":"\u003ch2 id=\"speakable-headline\"\u003eGrafschafter Wacholder pays for the heathland where it grows\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cblockquote id=\"speakable-summary\"\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003eFrom juniper berries in the Grafschaft Bentheim region, the Feinbrennerei Sasse distillery produces two spirits: Grafschafter Kräuterwacholder at 32% ABV and Grafschafter Heide Gin at 45% ABV. The berries are hand-picked in nature reserves, and a portion of the sales proceeds is reinvested into their conservation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\n\u003cp id=\"speakable-definition\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrafschafter Wacholder\u003c\/strong\u003e is the heathland line from the Feinbrennerei Sasse distillery in Schöppingen. The herbal juniper spirit is a liqueur with 32% ABV, and the Heide Gin is a gin with 45% ABV—both made from berries harvested in the juniper heaths of the Grafschaft Bentheim district, both in 700-milliliter bottles. From the sales proceeds of the Kräuterwacholder, Sasse feeds a special fund at the Naturschutzstiftung Grafschaft Bentheim (Grafschaft Bentheim Nature Conservation Foundation); more than 40,000 euros have been raised this way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJuniper grows everywhere. Juniper heathland does not—it is a cultural landscape created by centuries of grazing, and it disappears as soon as no one sends sheep there anymore. These two bottles depend on that very question.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eTwo paths from the same berry\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe raw material is identical, the result is not: berries from the same heathlands produce a mild liqueur and a dry gin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/sasse-grafschafter-kraeuterwacholder-700ml\"\u003eGrafschafter Kräuterwacholder\u003c\/a\u003e comes in at 32% ABV and leans in a softer direction—mild, spicy, with notes of heather honey. It is the older of the two products and the reason this entire line exists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/sasse-grafschafter-heide-gin-700ml\"\u003eGrafschafter Heide Gin\u003c\/a\u003e sits at 45% ABV and is the first gin distilled from juniper berries from Grafschaft Bentheim. Earthy, mild juniper meets lemon and grapefruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe difference between 32 and 45 percent is greater in the glass than the numbers suggest. The liqueur is a digestif for after a meal; the gin belongs in a tonic glass with plenty of ice. Anyone who tries both side-by-side tastes the same berry in two completely different ways—once cradled in sweetness, once raw.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eA special fund at the nature conservation foundation\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSince 2010, Feinbrennerei Sasse has been committed to preserving native animal and plant species—and the connection to the product is no minor detail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Kräuterwacholder was first distilled for the district's anniversary in 2010. The commitment began in the same year. The projects are financed through a specially created special fund, \"Grafschafter Kräuterwacholder,\" at the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/grafschafter-kraeuter.de\/naturschutz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eNaturschutzstiftung Grafschaft Bentheim\u003c\/a\u003e, fed by sales proceeds. Over the past years, more than 40,000 euros have been collected.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is that rare case where regionality becomes quantifiable. The berries come from the heath, the money goes back into the heath, and without the heath, the berries would not exist. A closed loop that you don't see while drinking, but do see when you read about it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat happens with the money\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe foundation lists the projects individually, with specific amounts—which is unusually concrete for a brand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the Rieselfelder bird sanctuary north of Münster, a 430-hectare site, Sasse is supporting the construction of new wooden walkways with 15,000 euros; the old ones date back to the 1980s, and the new ones are intended to be barrier-free. Around 70 events take place there annually, where children aged six and up use nets to search for insects and aquatic animals under guidance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the Bardel Monastery, a juniper grove spanning nine hectares is being renatured, also with 15,000 euros: the black cherry had overgrown the area and robbed the heath of its habitat. The soil is being cleared, after which the Nordhorn Zoo will introduce a flock of sheep to keep the black cherry in check in the future. The goal is the return of species such as tiger beetles and wild bees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd in the Tillenberge near Nordhorn, an inland dune landscape of around 96 hectares that has been protected since 1996, the focus is on the juniper heath itself. The heilpädagogischer Hof Blekker (a curative education farm) is also involved there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Bentheimer Landschaf keeps the heath open\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe maintenance is carried out by a breed of sheep that nearly vanished itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the summer, Bentheimer Land sheep and goats graze in the Tillenberge, ensuring that the land does not become overgrown with bushes and trees. Without them, the heath would turn into woodland within a few years—and the juniper berries with it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe breed was almost extinct a few years ago. Today, the population in the Weser-Ems region includes more than 1,100 breeding sheep. The animals are brought to Tillenberge during a traditional sheep drive from the Nordhorn Zoo along the Vechte river—a migration you can watch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe chain is thus complete: The sheep keep the heath open, the heath bears the juniper, the juniper becomes a bottle, and the bottle pays for the sheep.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIn tonic, in a digestif, without alcohol\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Heide Gin can handle a subtle tonic—its juniper is earthy and mild and would be masked by too much quinine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLots of ice, a slice of grapefruit instead of the usual cucumber, and the citrus notes from the distillate get some company. It finishes earthy, citrusy, and dry. The Kräuterwacholder, on the other hand, belongs neat in a small glass: after a meal, at room temperature, that’s when the heather honey notes shine through.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGo ahead and try them side-by-side when you have guests. You don't need anything more than two glasses and two minutes of explanation—and you will be surprised how many people will subsequently want to know what a juniper heath actually is. It is that rare case where the story behind the bottle is as well-received as its contents.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the way, juniper without alcohol is also available: The \u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/sasse-junipaero-gin-sirup-alkoholfrei\"\u003eJunipaero Gin Syrup\u003c\/a\u003e is found with the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/feinbrennerei-sasse-alkoholfreie-aperitifs\"\u003enon-alcoholic aperitifs\u003c\/a\u003e. What else the distillery extracts from herbs is shown by the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/feinbrennerei-sasse-likoere\"\u003eSasse liqueurs\u003c\/a\u003e—and the entire story is at the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/feinbrennerei-sasse\"\u003eFeinbrennerei Sasse\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"sasse-grafschafter-kraeuterwacholder-700ml","title":"Grafschafter Herbal Juniper","description":"\u003ch2 id=\"speakable-headline\"\u003eGrafschafter Kräuterwacholder comes from our home region\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cblockquote id=\"speakable-summary\"\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003eThe Grafschafter Kräuterwacholder from Sasse is a juniper liqueur with 32% ABV, whose berries are hand-picked in the juniper heaths of the County of Bentheim. Mild, spicy, with notes of heather honey – and with every glass, money goes toward preserving this landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\n\u003cp id=\"speakable-definition\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrafschafter Kräuterwacholder\u003c\/strong\u003e is a juniper liqueur from the Sasse fine distillery made from juniper berries, wheat, spring water, and herbs—all from the County of Bentheim—bottled at 32% ABV in a 700-milliliter bottle. For us in Nordhorn, this is not just a product from somewhere: the berries grow a few kilometers from our doorstep.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt appears light golden in the glass, and the scent leads straight to the heath: herbs, resinous juniper, and a subtle almond note behind it. Anyone familiar with the Tillenberge in late summer will recognize the smell immediately.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHerbs, juniper, and warm notes of heather honey\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the palate, the Grafschafter Kräuterwacholder shows a mild, light fullness of flavor with spicy, sweet aromas, underscored by warm heather honey tones.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt goes down mild, spicy, and round—surprisingly smooth for 32% ABV, because here the herbs take precedence over the bite. The almond note in the finish is a surprise that no one expects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor this, the juniper berries are first macerated, the macerate is distilled, and then refined with herbs—a three-step detour that you can taste. The reason juniper can become this mild is due to this order: first, the berry extracts cold, then it is distilled, and the herbs are added last, when nothing can cook them to destruction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWith kale, after dinner, while looking out over the heath\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrafschafter Kräuterwacholder is drunk neat, lightly chilled—as a digestif after a hearty meal, it is in its element.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter kale with \"Pinkel\" sausage or after County Bentheim farmhouse ham, the juniper cleanses where there was something hearty. That is exactly what juniper has always been used for here, long before anyone called it gin. A small glass, not ice-cold, allows the herbs to come into their own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you prefer juniper as gin, you can find it in the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/sasse-grafschafter-heide-gin-700ml\"\u003eGrafschafter Heide Gin\u003c\/a\u003e made from the same berries; if you are looking for Westphalian herbal liqueur, try the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/sasse-sechser-kraeuterlikoer-700ml\"\u003eSechser Kräuterlikör\u003c\/a\u003e. Both are part of the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/feinbrennerei-sasse-gin-wacholder\"\u003eGrafschafter line from Sasse\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Nordhorn Zoo picks the berries\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe juniper berries come from the Tillenberge and Spöllberg nature reserves and are harvested by hand there every autumn by the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tierpark-nordhorn.de\/grafschafter-kraeuterwacholder\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eNordhorn Zoo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Enjoyment for nature conservation\" is what the zoo and the distillery call their cooperation, and that is meant literally. The Blekker curative education farm helps with the harvest—people with and without disabilities work side by side. For picking to even be possible, the heath must remain open: this is taken care of by Bentheim Land sheep, a breed that was itself almost extinct a few years ago. No sheep, no heath; no heath, no berries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Tillenberge is an inland dune landscape of around 96 hectares, protected since 1996 and crisscrossed by juniper heath—a remnant of the landscape that defined everyday life here for centuries. Someone is actively keeping what stands in the nature reserve today open: with sheep, with work, with money.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd it is measurable: from the sales proceeds of the Grafschafter Kräuterwacholder, Sasse feeds a specially founded \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.grafschafter-kraeuter.de\/naturschutz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003especial fund at the County of Bentheim Nature Conservation Foundation\u003c\/a\u003e—over 40,000 euros have already been raised this way. It was first distilled in 2010 for the district's anniversary, and the distillery has been involved in nature conservation here ever since. We like that a company that has been operating in Schöppingen since 1707 and is now managed by Rüdiger Sasse in the 15th generation cares for a heath in the county. And we, the people of Nordhorn, like it especially.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHalf-hour chilled, not ice-cold\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlace the bottle in the cold half an hour before the meal, then it is just right—ice-cold, the herbs and honey notes close up. A small glass after kale, after game, or simply by the fireplace. Once opened, it will keep for many months if stored in the dark. The next time you take a walk on the Tillenberge, you will know what this is talking about.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Feinbrennerei Sasse","offers":[{"title":"700 ml","offer_id":53073669685582,"sku":"024SAS113070","price":17.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0905\/1124\/5646\/files\/sasse-grafschafter-kraeuterwacholder-700ml.jpg?v=1751008071"},{"product_id":"sasse-grafschafter-heide-gin-700ml","title":"Grafschafter Heath Gin","description":"\u003ch2 id=\"speakable-headline\"\u003eHeide Gin is the first gin made from Grafschaft juniper\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cblockquote id=\"speakable-summary\"\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003eThe Grafschaft Heide Gin by Sasse is the first gin made from juniper berries from the County of Bentheim, distilled at 45% ABV. Earthy, mild juniper meets lemon and grapefruit. The berries are hand-picked in the heathland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\n\u003cp id=\"speakable-definition\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrafschaft Heide Gin\u003c\/strong\u003e is the first gin for which juniper berries from the County of Bentheim have been distilled – sourced from the heath right on our doorstep in Nordhorn. The Feinbrennerei Sasse macerates the hand-picked berries, distills the macerate, and refines it with selected botanicals, bottled at 45% ABV in a 700-milliliter bottle. 15 years after the Grafschaft Herbal Juniper, it was clear: there is even more potential in these berries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt appears clear in the glass, and upon the first sniff, the freshness comes first – lemon and grapefruit, bright and direct. Then the juniper takes over, calm and earthy, and carries the fruit through to the finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eLemon, grapefruit, and earthy juniper\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOn the palate, the Heide Gin reveals fruity, fresh citrus notes of grapefruit and lemon, along with earthy and mineral tones that pair with the mild juniper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFresh, earthy, mineral – that is the signature of wild berries from the inland dunes, and it tastes different from wholesale juniper. At 45% ABV, it has punch but remains mild instead of sharp: the juniper here is not a pine tree in a glass; it shapes the gin from the ground up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIn a Gin \u0026amp; Tonic, with a grapefruit twist\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Grafschaft Heide Gin makes a Gin \u0026amp; Tonic with a distinct citrus front – a neutral tonic is perfectly sufficient; it brings the fruitiness itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a grapefruit twist instead of the usual cucumber slice, the grapefruit note in the gin emerges more clearly. Those who want to experience the earthy side should drink it neat over a large ice cube and wait two minutes – that’s when the heath comes through. The Heide Gin also makes a great impression in a Negroni or a Martini because its citrus side can hold its own against vermouth without being hidden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt comes in a gift box, which makes it easy to bring along as a gift. Its mild liqueur sister made from the same berries is the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/sasse-grafschafter-kraeuterwacholder-700ml\"\u003eGrafschaft Herbal Juniper\u003c\/a\u003e; both are part of the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/feinbrennerei-sasse-gin-wacholder\"\u003eGrafschaft line from Sasse\u003c\/a\u003e. Those who prefer aged grain spirit can find it in the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/sasse-muensterlaender-lagerkorn-v-s-o-p\"\u003eMünsterland Lagerkorn V.S.O.P.\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWild berries from the inland dunes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe juniper berries come from the Grafschaft juniper heaths – wild berries, hand-picked, not purchased from the market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Tillenberge near Nordhorn are an inland dune landscape of about 96 hectares, protected since 1996 and crisscrossed by juniper heath. To ensure berries grow there at all, Bentheim Land sheep keep the area open; during the harvest, the curative educational farm Blekker, where people with and without disabilities work together, provides assistance. Wild juniper yields less and is more inconsistent than plantation produce – but you can taste where it came from.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSince 2010, the Feinbrennerei Sasse has been involved in nature conservation here and funds regional projects through a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.grafschafter-kraeuter.de\/naturschutz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003efund of the County of Bentheim Nature Conservation Foundation\u003c\/a\u003e – from the renatured juniper grove at Kloster Bardel to the teaching apiary at the Nordhorn Zoo. It is distilled in Schöppingen, where a distillery has stood since 1707 and where Rüdiger Sasse manages the house in the 15th generation. A gin from our heath, distilled in Münsterland, that gives something back to the heath – we are proud of that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eExpress the grapefruit twist over the glass\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTake a balloon glass, plenty of ice, and a restrained tonic in a 1 to 3 ratio – this gin doesn’t need a tonic that tries to steal the show. Express a grapefruit twist over the glass so the oil lands on the surface, and you will smell the fruit before your first sip. Neat at room temperature, it shows its earthy side most clearly. Once opened, it will last for years if stored in the dark.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Feinbrennerei Sasse","offers":[{"title":"700 ml","offer_id":53073678926158,"sku":"024SAS114070","price":27.5,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0905\/1124\/5646\/files\/sasse-grafschafter-heide-gin-700ml.jpg?v=1751008148"}],"url":"https:\/\/norgutes.com\/en\/collections\/feinbrennerei-sasse-gin-wacholder.oembed","provider":"nur Gutes","version":"1.0","type":"link"}