Atlantic Finish

Atlantik Finish brings Islay peat and sea air to your glass

The Atlantik Finish from Sasse is a grain brandy from the Münsterland region, matured for six years using a triple-cask process – with peated malt from the Scottish island of Islay and a splash of Atlantic seawater. Smoky, salty, fruity – a Westphalian relative of whisky.

Atlantik Finish is the maritime grain brandy from the Feinbrennerei Sasse in Schöppingen: distilled from rye and barley malt in three pot stills, aged for six years in three types of casks, and bottled at 40% ABV. Even before its market launch in 2023, it was named Spirit of the Year 2022 at the World Spirits Award – a small sensation for a German Korn.

It glows amber in the glass, and the nose alone transports you to the coast: fresh citrus notes are embedded in smoky, sweet peat, with fruit and a trace of salt behind them, just as a stiff breeze carries it onto land. For a grain brandy, this is quite a journey – and every glass tells that story.

Peat smoke, citrus, and a greeting from the sea

On the palate, the Atlantik Finish unfolds notes of apple and banana, which transition into a creamy, vanilla-scented finish with berry and citrus aromas – carried by fine peat smoke.

The salt truly comes from the sea: a ton of Atlantic water was added to the recipe, leaving a subtle mineral trail on the finish. Smoky, salty, and fruity, it balances on the border between Korn and whisky – and that is exactly where it feels at home. The finish remains long, warming, and slightly salty, like an evening by the water.

For whisky lovers and curious Korn connoisseurs

The Atlantik Finish is enjoyed neat, at room temperature, from a bulbous glass – as a digestif after a meal or as a slow companion to good conversation.

A single drop of water opens up the peat and makes the fruit notes more distinct; feel free to try it. Beside an Islay whisky, it holds its own, offering a tone that is finer, sweeter, and more polished. Those who prefer something more classic can start with the Münsterländer Lagerkorn V.S.O.P., while those looking for the right smoke for a cigar should reach for the Cigar Special.

The small 200-milliliter bottle is a lovely size for getting to know it – or as a gift for the whisky enthusiast who thinks Germany cannot produce a smoky spirit. For the home bar, the 500-milliliter bottle is recommended, because experience shows this guest doesn't stay alone for long.

Six years, three casks, and a ton of Atlantic

For the Atlantik Finish, Rüdiger Sasse acquired peated malt from the whisky island of Islay and let the distillate mature for six years using a triple-cask process.

Three cask types give it depth: barriques that previously held Cognac, first-fill American white oak casks, and sherry casks from Jerez de la Frontera. Each station adds a layer – vanilla and sweetness, spice and structure, Andalusian fruit. At the end, the seawater is added, and a Münsterland Korn becomes a small piece of the Atlantic coast.

The industry heard the call of the sea immediately: at the World Spirits Award, the unofficial world championship for distillers, it was named Spirit of the Year 2022 – even before it went on sale in 2023. In 2025, the same competition ranked the distillery among the 18 best in the world. Distilling has been happening in Schöppingen since 1707, but Korn has never sounded like this before. It turns out, Korn can do the coast, too.

With smoked fish and dark chocolate

Do not serve this grain brandy too cold – peat, fruit, and salt show themselves best at room temperature, and a drop of water is allowed. It pairs well with smoked fish, aged mountain cheese, and dark chocolate, but remains a great storyteller on its own. You can find all of the distillery's maturation levels and rarities in the Lagerkorn world of Sasse.