Jörg Geiger Dzin Bitter non-alcoholic. Organic non-alcoholic bitter with juniper, cucumber, and gooseberry – sparkling, bold in the middle, long in the finish.

Jörg Geiger Dzin Bitter non-alcoholic is a sparkling organic bitter from Schlat in the Swabian Jura: Apple juice from Swabian meadow orchard fruit, cucumber and gooseberry juice with extracts of juniper, orange, meadowsweet, mint, angelica, and anise, 0% alcohol, 375 ml. No gin, no tonic, no preservatives – a virgin long drink with bitter herbs.

Dzin Bitter by Jörg Geiger is called “Bio [dʒɪn] BITTER” by the producer – pronounced like Gin, written in phonetic transcription. It belongs to the “Hydrolate – Virgin Longdrinks” line. For this line, the manufactory infuses botanicals in water and distills them in their own distillery. The result is hydrosols, fragrant water-based distillates instead of alcohol-based ones. In the list of ingredients, they appear as aromatic extracts of juniper, orange, meadowsweet, mint, angelica, and anise. The base consists of 52% apple juice from old meadow orchard fruit varieties, plus cucumber and gooseberry juice, herbs, spices, and carbonation. The producer describes it as “more than a non-alcoholic gin with bitter herbs from the region.” It is EU organic certified and vegan. Friday evening, ice clinking in the glass, and the long drink in the glass smells of juniper and orange.

Taste

It opens with lemony freshness, followed by ethereal juniper. Bitter orange and spicy woody notes settle underneath. On the palate, it begins sweetish until a bold mid-palate takes hold. In the long finish, the cucumber becomes distinct—fine, green, and cool. This cucumber note is its signature and sets it apart from the manufactory's pure fruit compositions.

With 6 g of sugar per 100 ml, sourced from the juices, it is tart enough for a long drink. Those expecting a sweet soft drink will be surprised by the mid-palate: this is where bitter herbs are at work, and that is clearly noticeable.

Usage

It is served at 8 to 10 °C; the producer suggests using a Burgundy glass or a long drink glass over ice. In a large Burgundy glass with a few ice cubes, the juniper and orange unfold just like a gin in a balloon glass. In a long drink glass, it stands as a ready-made virgin long drink because it already contains the carbonation.

The manufactory does not provide a specific food recommendation. We serve it as an aperitif with salty snacks: olives, salted almonds, smoked fish on rye bread, or a few radishes with butter. The 375 ml bottle is enough for two large glasses.

Our tip: Place a long, thin slice of cucumber against the side of the glass, add ice and an orange zest. This brings the cucumber forward from the finish.

Origin

The idea behind it comes from the distillery. Jörg Geiger’s father was already distilling fruit brandies in the vaulted cellar below the Gasthof Lamm in Schlat, and distilling continues there to this day. The hydrosols were added in 2022: herbs, berries, and roots are distilled on a water basis in the distillery's copper stills. The producer lists two of the ingredients among its herbs from meadow and forest. For the juniper, he uses berries and young shoots; the meadowsweet is harvested in August.

The apple juice comes from Swabian meadow orchard fruit—old, often tart varieties from the orchards on the edge of the Swabian Jura, supplied by local farmers. Jörg Geiger is a trained chef and has been making non-alcoholic beverages since 2003, starting with PriSecco.

For whom

The bitter is for anyone who likes gin and tonic and wants to skip the alcohol for the evening. For hosts who want to offer a serious non-alcoholic long drink, and for anyone who prefers tart drinks over sweet ones. As a small gift, the bottle is perfect for any barbecue evening where not everyone is drinking alcohol. From the same line comes Aecht Kimmel with pear juice, caraway, and dill. If you prefer juniper with alcohol, you will find an apple brandy with 78 botanicals in Don't call me Gin. You can find more on our Jörg Geiger page.

The bitter is not suitable for those looking for a sweet fruit soda—it remains tart right through to the finish.

Juniper, cucumber, and orchard apple, sparkling and bitter – the organic non-alcoholic bitter from the distillery in the Swabian Jura.