Raritas – Pine Liqueur

Raritas Stone Pine Liqueur by Lantenhammer, made from shaved stone pine wood

Raritas Stone Pine Liqueur by Lantenhammer is a liqueur made from the wood of the stone pine, prepared at the Tegernsee Palace Distillery. Instead of the cones, as is common practice, this spirit uses shaved stone pine wood in the still.

Raritas Stone Pine Liqueur is a stone pine wood liqueur from the Lantenhammer distillery in Upper Bavaria, with 38 percent alcohol in a 500 ml bottle. Distiller Christina Kölbl crafts the heart of the spirit at the Tegernsee Palace Distillery using freshly shaved stone pine wood, allowing it to mature into a smooth liqueur. The Raritas line received a special medal at the 2024 Meininger Verlag spirits competition.

Glowing amber and the scent of the mountain forest

In the glass, the stone pine liqueur glows in a warm amber hue, and the scent that greets you is unmistakably forest—intense stone pine wood with a resinous depth.

On the palate, this robust wood surprisingly quickly turns into something soft, almost gentle. The liqueur remains fresh and herbal rather than sweet and heavy, finishing with a light spice that lingers for a medium duration. Anyone who has ever slept in a stone pine room will recognize the scent immediately.

The stone pine grows at the tree line of the Alps, often above 1,500 meters, and takes centuries to reach its full size. The wood continues to release its fragrance for decades, which is why people in the mountains have always used it to build entire rooms, and in some mountain huts, the scent alone is said to help you sleep better.

Best served chilled after a snack

Ice-cold from a small shot glass, after a hearty snack or a long day on the mountain, this liqueur is truly in its element.

It also pairs well with Bavarian cuisine, such as roast pork or Kaiserschmarrn, and in summer, it works nicely with a splash of tonic on ice. In the colder months, a spoonful adds an Alpine touch to mulled wine. Its resinous side also complements dark chocolate.

Christina shaves the wood instead of using the cones

Usually, stone pine liqueur is made using the cones of the stone pine. For the Raritas, real wood is shaved instead, because the aromas are more concentrated there, resulting in a milder liqueur.

The mixture is prepared at the Tegernsee Palace Distillery, where the historic Lantenhammer stills are located. Distiller Christina Kölbl developed the Raritas line there and selects the raw materials for every batch herself—a process that requires significantly more experience with wood than with fruit.

The liqueur is left to rest for some time after preparation before being bottled, as the resinous edges of the fresh distillate only settle with time. Wood can be temperamental. Depending on which part of the trunk it comes from and how long it has been stored, it releases more resin or more sweetness, and both together must ultimately result in a liqueur that doesn't taste like furniture polish.

The label features the Wolpertinger, the shy mythical creature of Bavarian legend. Christina made it the mascot of the line because an encounter with it is supposedly as rare as a truly successful drop. An image that fits well in the case of the stone pine, as the tree grows only high up and takes centuries to mature.

If you would like to sample the rest of the line, the citrusy Bergamot-Orange Liqueur and the Apricot Liqueur are also available. The entire assortment from Lake Schliersee ranges from fruit brandy to gin.