Mount Rigi Liqueur 750ML

Mount Rigi Liqueur 750ML is a Swiss alpine liqueur made from kirsch, elderflower, and lemon balm, bottled at 20% ABV (40 proof). It earned a gold medal at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and a 91-point gold at the 2020 Bartenders Spirits Awards — recognition that highlights its versatility behind the bar and its distinctive alpine character.

Quick Facts: ABV: 20% (40 proof)  |  Origin: Zug, Switzerland  |  Style: Herbal Cherry Liqueur  |  Distillery: Mount Rigi

Production & Heritage

Mount Rigi is produced in a historic distillery built in 1833 on the Zurlaubenhof manor in the central Swiss town of Zug. The original vaulted cellar and wood-fired still — affectionately known as the "Brennhüsli" (small still house) — remain at the heart of production. Ripened Swiss cherries are first distilled to 156 proof to create a potent kirsch base. The Master Distiller then macerates a proprietary blend of alpine herbs and flowers — including elderflower and lemon balm — with the kirsch, resulting in a layered botanical liqueur that reflects nearly two centuries of Swiss distilling tradition.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Clean and refreshing, with bright cherry and delicate elderflower rising first, followed by subtle herbaceous undertones. A gentle citrus lift from the lemon balm rounds out the nose.

Taste: The entry is soft and gently sweet, with ripe cherry and kirsch warmth giving way to mellow floral notes of elderflower at mid-palate. As the flavors develop, a crisp herbaceous quality emerges alongside a balanced interplay of sweet and pleasantly bitter alpine botanicals.

Finish: Long-lasting and smooth, with lingering citrus brightness from lemon balm and a clean herbal fade. The cherry distillate anchors the finish without cloying sweetness.

How to Drink Mount Rigi

Neat and slightly chilled is the purest way to appreciate the alpine botanicals, though a single ice cube opens up the floral and citrus dimensions. Mount Rigi's blend of cherry, elderflower, and herbs makes it exceptionally flexible in cocktails:

• Last Word variation: Substitute Mount Rigi for maraschino liqueur to introduce floral depth and a Swiss alpine twist to this gin classic.
• Spritz: Combine with prosecco and a splash of soda for a light, aromatic aperitif that leans on the elderflower and citrus notes.
• Alpine Sour: Shake with bourbon, fresh lemon juice, and a dash of simple syrup — the kirsch backbone and herbal complexity add layers a standard sour cannot achieve.

Best For

• Bartenders and home mixologists seeking a multi-purpose botanical liqueur
• Gifting to someone who appreciates European artisan spirits with genuine provenance
• After-dinner sipping as a digestif alongside dessert
• Exploring Swiss spirits beyond the typical schnapps category

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Mount Rigi taste like? Mount Rigi is soft and sweet on entry with ripe cherry and kirsch warmth, transitioning into mellow elderflower and crisp alpine herbs, and finishing with a long, citrusy lemon balm fade.

How does Mount Rigi compare to Luxardo Maraschino? Both are cherry-based liqueurs, but Luxardo Maraschino is drier and more intensely nutty from marasca cherry pits, while Mount Rigi layers elderflower and lemon balm over its kirsch base for a more floral, herbaceous profile. Mount Rigi sits at 20% ABV compared to Luxardo Maraschino's 32%, making it lighter in body and lower in alcohol intensity.

Is Mount Rigi good for cocktails? Mount Rigi is an excellent cocktail ingredient; its gold medal at the 2020 Bartenders Spirits Awards specifically recognized its mixability. It can be used in place of elderflower or maraschino liqueurs to add botanical complexity.

Where is Mount Rigi made? Mount Rigi is distilled at the historic 1833 distillery on the Zurlaubenhof manor in Zug, a town in central Switzerland. The original vaulted cellar and wood-fired still remain integral to its production.

What foods pair well with Mount Rigi? Dark chocolate truffles complement the kirsch and herbal bitterness. Fresh berry tarts echo the cherry distillate. Aged Alpine cheeses like Gruyère create a savory-sweet contrast. Almond biscotti harmonize with the elderflower and citrus notes. Smoked duck or charcuterie boards benefit from the liqueur's herbal brightness as a palate cleanser.

What sizes does Mount Rigi come in? Mount Rigi Liqueur is available in the standard 750ML bottle.

Is Mount Rigi worth the price? Mount Rigi positions as a premium artisan liqueur with nearly two centuries of Swiss distilling heritage and multiple international awards backing its quality. Within the botanical and cherry liqueur category, it represents strong value for a product with this level of craft and versatility.

Why Mount Rigi?

Few liqueurs can claim continuous production in the same stone-vaulted cellar since 1833, and fewer still use a wood-fired still to this day. Mount Rigi's foundation of Swiss cherry kirsch distilled to 156 proof — then softened and layered through maceration with alpine herbs and elderflower — results in a bottle that bridges the gap between cherry liqueurs and herbal digestifs. Back-to-back international recognition, including a San Francisco World Spirits Competition gold and a 91-point score at the Bartenders Spirits Awards, validates what the liquid delivers: genuine complexity from a short, transparent ingredient list rooted in Swiss alpine tradition.