Gilka Kaiser Kummel Herbal Liqueur
Gilka Kaiser Kummel is the classic Berlin kummel — a sweet, colorless 38% ABV herbal liqueur in a 1-liter bottle, flavored with caraway seed, cumin, and fennel — available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 38% vol (76 proof)
- Size: 1L
- Style: sweet herbal liqueur (kummel = caraway in German)
- Botanicals: caraway seed, cumin, fennel, other botanicals
- Origin: Berlin, Germany — J.A. Gilka
Rye Bread in a Glass
Kummel has been Central Europe's after-dinner ritual for centuries, and Gilka's Kaiser-Kummel is Berlin's take: intensely aromatic, boldly caraway, with anise and fennel in support and enough sweetness to round it. Reviewers reach for the same comparison — sweet, light fennel and caraway, like rye toast. Serve it well chilled after a heavy meal; caraway has been prized as a digestive since long before digestifs had a name. More from Gilka Kaiser Kummel or the store's liqueur shelf.
Tasting Notes
Intensely aromatic on the nose — caraway, anise, fennel, warm herbal spice. Rich and warming on the palate, boldly caraway with gentle sweetness and anise; savory spices, black licorice, and rye bread. The finish is long, warming, and herbal with lingering caraway.
How to Enjoy
Best served well chilled or over ice as an after-dinner digestif. In cocktails: the classic Silver Bullet (kummel, gin, lemon juice); a splash also adds herbal depth to a Martini or a Caraway Sour. Food pairings: rye bread, aged cheese, smoked fish, charcuterie.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does kummel taste like?
Sweet, caraway-forward, and herbal: caraway seed, cumin, and fennel with gentle sweetness — often compared to rye bread in a glass.
What is Gilka Kaiser-Kummel's alcohol content?
38% ABV (76 proof), sold in a 1-liter bottle.
How do you drink kummel?
Traditionally well chilled or on ice as a digestif after a meal; it also appears in classic cocktails like the Silver Bullet.
Is kummel the same as aquavit?
No — both use caraway, but kummel is a sweet liqueur while aquavit is a drier, distilled spirit.
An old-world digestif for the modern bar: order Gilka Kaiser Kummel online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.