Drink of the Week: Heimat New York Black Currant Liqueur

When a recent workday necessitated the opening of half a dozen bottles of Prosecco (’tis the life of a drinks editor), my immediate thought to make use of such an abundance of bubbles was spritzes. I scanned the bar to see what else we had on hand. And then I landed on an intriguing recent arrival—Heimat New York Black Currant Liqueur. Launched in 2018, the brand was already on my radar. But their small-batch offerings typically weren’t available much beyond the state until now with national shipping from online retailer partners. The Black Currant Liqueur is their newest release and absolutely embodies the sweet juicy flavor of summertime.

Heimat New York was founded by Ute Londrigan who grew up in Germany watching her grandmother make her own liqueurs from her backyard fruit trees. Inspired by those same recipes and techniques, Londrigan sources the best seasonal produce that her neighboring farms in upstate New York have to offer. Heimat crafts liqueurs that capture the flavors of the seasons, from rhubarb and elderflower to white peach and cranberry.

The new Black Currant Liqueur is particularly nostalgic for Londrigan. She grew up with the fruit commonly used in jams, syrups, and juices in Europe. The liqueur is just the right amount of sweet to highlight and balance the tart, juicy currants. It would be a natural match with almost any base spirit to make a vibrant Bramble or El Diablo. But even a simple pour of Prosecco served to lift and emphasize the fruit flavors. I may not be able to drink anything else for the rest of the summer. $32, newyorkcraftspirits.com