JOS. GARDEN 15 Spritz – Blood Orange

JOS. GARDEN 15 Spritz. Blood orange liqueur from our own distillate, fruity and delicately tart.

JOS. GARDEN 15 Spritz is a blood orange liqueur from the Ehringhausen distillery, perfect for the hour before dinner. No sweet syrup, no purchased flavoring, no heavy digestif.

Blood orange liqueur is the fruity side of the aperitif, crafted from citrus zest and fine bitterness. Most variations tend to be too sweet or too sharp. The 15 Spritz deliberately lands in the middle. It smells of ripe blood orange, with the tart note of the peel in the background. In the glass, it appears juicy and lively, never perfumed. The color is reminiscent of freshly squeezed Sanguinello, a deep orange-red with a warm shimmer. Even the first sip shows that real fruit is at work here. This very clarity distinguishes it from the colorful ready-made mixtures on the supermarket shelf.

How the Blood Orange Liqueur Tastes

Citrusy, floral, and spicy, it opens up in the glass. On the nose, there's ripe blood orange, along with some zest and a tart undertone. On the palate, it is juicy and summery. A fine bitter note comes late and catches the fruit before it becomes too broad.

The distillery calls this style Bitter Sweet, and the name hits the mark. First the sweetness of the orange, then the tart aftertaste. The mild alcohol content carries the aroma without overpowering it. This keeps the liqueur remarkably present, even as a long drink. The finish is medium-long and dries out slightly, without any sticky finale.

Those expecting a bone-dry, tart, bitter character will find the 15 Spritz too fruity. Conversely, it is not a liqueur for lovers of sticky-sweet orange creams. It seeks balance, not effect.

Three Parts Sparkling and Two Parts Liqueur

The classic Spritz is made with three parts sparkling wine and two parts liqueur. Add a splash of soda, plenty of ice, and an orange slice. With a dry Prosecco, the blood orange remains prominent and the drink light.

With tonic, it becomes tarter and almost sugar-free. With soda alone, it creates a long, carefree summer drink. It also cuts a fine figure neat on ice, well-chilled at six to eight degrees Celsius. For an aperitif sour, add four centiliters of liqueur to some lemon and egg white.

An expressed orange zest, whose oil settles on the surface, makes a suitable garnish. A sprig of rosemary adds a spicy edge if you prefer it tarter. Those expecting the bitter bite of an Amaro will find the 15 Spritz too mild and are better off with the tonic variation.

Our tip: Serve it in a bulbous wine glass instead of a narrow flute, so the citrus notes can breathe. Salty snacks like olives, toasted almonds, or a piece of aged mountain cheese pair well with it. It is not suitable for hearty stews, however, as it lacks the weight. You can find more bottles for this occasion in our aperitif selection.

Distilled in Werne for Three Generations

Distillation takes place in Werne in Westphalia, where Heinrich Glitz and Anneliese Ehringhausen founded the Kornbrennerei in 1962. Since 2012, siblings Theres and Georg have been running the business in the third generation. The farm itself is significantly older. It first appeared in records as Haus Edrinchhausen in 1237.

For the 15 Spritz, the distillery produces its own blood orange distillate instead of buying ready-made flavoring. This is precisely where the difference lies. A distilled extract brings peel and essential oils into the glass. A flavoring, on the other hand, only recreates the sweetness.

In the end, real fruit remains in the glass, not an artificial candy note. The fine bitterness comes from the peel, not from an additive. During distillation, the essential oils of the zest transfer into the alcohol and bind there. The blood orange offers more than the ordinary orange, as its peel carries tarter, almost berry-like notes. Its season is in winter, when the Sanguinello fruits from the south develop their deep red color. This care explains why the liqueur appears so clear and straightforward. Craftsmanship instead of shortcuts – you can taste it in the glass.

A Herbarium Became an Aperitif Collection

The JOS. GARDEN collection is named after a great-uncle. Josef Ehringhausen worked as a pharmacist and collected plants throughout his life. While clearing out the old attic, the family rediscovered his pressed herbarium specimens. This passion for collecting led to the creation of the series, which works with herbs, zests, and aromas.

The Spritz is available in three strengths, from the strong Red Spritz to the alcohol-free JOS. GARDEN Zero Spritz. This ensures everyone at the table gets the same drink in the appropriate version. A lime variant is already in the works, which is why blood orange is already in the name.

This makes it a thoughtful gift for hosts who appreciate an aperitif beyond the well-known brands. It finds its place on a summery balcony as well as on a festively set table. As a small present for dinner, it says more than another bottle of wine.

An aperitif that takes blood orange seriously and leaves sweetness where it belongs.