Friesen-Aquavit
Hamburg, Germany
- ABV
- 35%
- Base spirit
- Unknown
- Color
- Clear
- Style
- Unaged Aquavit
Friesen-Aquavit was a German aquavit produced and marketed in Hamburg by Friesische Produktmoker Horst Stein. Bottled at 35% ABV – below the 37.5% minimum required for aquavit under current EU rules – it was nevertheless marketed at the time as an aquavit. Surviving Friesenkeller material promoted it as a particularly mild expression, describing it as “So mild, wie ein Aquavit nur sein kann” – “as mild as an aquavit can be.”
The product was sold in both 0.7 l and 0.04 l formats. The surviving miniature carries the phrases “klar, würzig und kraftvoll” and “wie eine frische Brise”, presenting the aquavit as clear, spicy and robust, with a distinctly North German maritime character. The label names Friesische Produktmoker H. Stein, Neuer Wall 8, Hamburg, directly linking the bottling to the Horst Stein business.
Friesen-Aquavit formed part of a broader range of North German-themed spirits sold through the same business, alongside products such as Watt’n Geist, Friesendorn and Hallig-Wunder.
Bottle gallery
About the producer
Friesische Produktmoker Horst Stein GmbH
Hamburg, Germany
Friesische Produktmoker Horst Stein was a Hamburg spirits business associated with the Friesenkeller restaurant operation. A company under the name Friesische Produktmoker Horst Stein GmbH was established by articles of association dated 10 May 1993. Its registered business purpose was the production and distribution of spirits and related activities. The company was formerly based at Neuer Wall 8 and is now registered at Neuer Wall 9, 20354 Hamburg.
Horst Stein served as managing director until 2014, when Alexander Stein took over the role. The company remains active in the Hamburg commercial register.
The company’s spirits range was closely connected with the Friesenkeller restaurant business in Hamburg, where Friesen-Aquavit and several other proprietary North German-style spirits were sold by the bottle and served by the glass.