Intense taste without any artificial flavors? At Mondhügel Kreuzberg the motto is “naked drinking”: the makers of spirits and syrups keep things 100 percent natural by using only gently extracted ingredients in their Berlin-made drinks. Behind the brand are Philipp Schmitz, a sommelier with a fine-dining background, and former marketeer Benito Opitz. Since April 2020, the pair have been tinkering in their “innovation lab” at Markthalle Neun to achieve maximum taste from small quantities. The result is a 500ml syrup bottle that is good for up to 25 drinks – perfect for creative mixing, both with and without alcohol. Booze wise there’s the likes of the Kreuzberg Gin with wild juniper, cubeb pepper and lemon which offers the perfect accompaniment to the Kreuzberg Tonic, made from yellow chinese bark, fresh lime juice and lemongrass. The two combine to make drinks that are sustainable, organic, fair trade – and delicious. You can order the whole range here.
Text & Photos: Bui Luu Quynh Nguyen
