Amérie Münsterland Aperitif

Amérie is the taste of summer from the Münsterland in a glass

The Amérie Münsterländer Aperitif from Sasse is a fruit liqueur with 16% ABV made from raspberries and wild strawberries, typically enjoyed topped with sparkling wine. The berries are visibly floating in the bottle. Fruity, fresh, and slightly tart.

Amérie Münsterländer Aperitif is the summer drink from the Feinbrennerei Sasse in Schöppingen: raspberries from the Münsterland meet fruity-fresh wild strawberries, macerated in a grain distillate produced in copper stills and bottled at 16% ABV in a 700-milliliter bottle. The berries are left inside and float visibly – so the aperitif carries its own proof along with it.

It sits on the shelf in a brilliant red, and just the sight of it makes you crave an evening in the garden. On the nose: ripe raspberry, a hint of wild strawberry, underscored by the quiet clarity of the grain spirit.

Raspberry upfront, wild strawberry behind

On the palate, the Amérie displays intense raspberry notes with the light, honey-sweet character of wild strawberry – fruity, but not overly sugary.

The raspberry sets the tone, bold and tart-fresh, while the wild strawberry adds those fine forest notes reminiscent of childhood summer vacations. Sweetness and acidity are perfectly balanced – an aperitif that tastes of berries and calls for sparkling wine.

Three steps to a Münsterländer Spritz

At Sasse, the Amérie is served this way: three ice cubes in a glass, two parts sparkling wine, one part Amérie – done.

This 3-2-1 ratio is easy to learn and works with any dry sparkling wine; it is particularly lovely with a vintage sparkling wine from Andres & Mugler, whose fine perlage supports the berries rather than overpowering them. Sasse has even developed its own Chardonnay sparkling wine for its aperitif – its slightly higher residual sugar and long-lasting effervescence keep the glass tasting fresh for up to half an hour.

If you prefer it without sparkling wine, mix the Amérie Münsterländer Aperitif with sparkling mineral water and add a sprig of mint or a slice of lime. It also works perfectly on its own over ice – that is when you can taste the berries most clearly. For a larger group, a pitcher is worth the effort: one bottle of Amérie, two bottles of sparkling wine, a handful of ice, and a few mint leaves, so no one has to stay in the kitchen and everyone has a drink in hand. Further varieties can be found among the Sasse liqueurs, and for an alcohol-free option, try the Wellpaero Limoncello.

Copper stills and regional berries

The base of the Amérie is Korn, a grain distillate produced in Schöppingen using copper equipment – copper binds unwanted sulfur notes and softens the spirit. This base is refined with raspberry spirit from their own distillery.

The fruit is added to this clear foundation, and the rest is patience: the berries release their color, fruitiness, and sweetness until the aperitif reaches that specific shade of red that looks like summer. The fact that the raspberries come from the Münsterland is simply a matter of neighborhood for a house that has been operating at the same address since 1707.

Rüdiger Sasse manages the distillery in the 15th generation, and industry experts are taking notice: at the World Spirits Award in 2025, Sasse was the only Korn distillery in Germany to be named a World-Class Distillery, one of only 18 worldwide. It is a lovely twist that this very house makes the most relaxed aperitif in Westphalia.

A large wine glass instead of a flute

Use a large wine glass instead of a flute, so there is room for the ice and sparkling wine, allowing the berries to shine. Serve well chilled at 6 to 8 degrees; swirl the bottle gently before pouring so the fruit is distributed. Perfect with antipasti, aged mountain cheese, or simply for watching the sunset on the terrace. Once opened, it should be kept in the refrigerator, where it will last for several weeks.