Kümmel, also called kummel or kimmel, is a sweet, colorless liqueur flavored with caraway seed, cumin, and fennel.
Originally, the words kümmel, kummel, and kimmel are somewhat generic terms in the German, Dutch, and Yiddish languages, respectively, meaning both caraway and cumin. For instance, in German caraway is called Echter Kümmel and cumin is called Kreuzkümmel, but the term Kümmel is also used for the liqueur flavored with these spices.
According to the Dutch, kümmel liqueur was first distilled in Holland during the late 16th century by Lucas Bols.[1] It was then taken to Germany and Russia; the latter is now the principal producer and consumer of kümmel.
The Berlin-made Gilka Kümmel goes through a longer distillation process and has a smoother taste than the Russian kümmels, and it has become the accepted standard of kümmel quality for the past century.
In the UK, it is a popular drink at many of the more traditional golf clubs.
A principal character drinks Gilka in the French film Water Drops on Burning Rocks, which is however set in Germany.
SS officer Kaempffer downs a glass after a frightening incident in The Keep (novel) by F. Paul Wilson.
In a Simenon's novel, Jules Maigret drinks kummel with his hostess while investigating a murder ("Maigret se fâche"). He doesn't like it and even despises it.
Kummel is consumed in large quantities(mainly in golf clubs) across Europe and notably the UK with suppliers main focus in Scotland where its marketed as an after dinner liqueur. The smoothness and the natural release of jubilation involved in consumption has led to some golfers using it to enhance their golf game by taking a couple of mouthfuls before a round to relax first tee nerves. Some may even indulge in a streak or bullet which are a mix of kummel and vodka or gin respectively endorsed by top selling brand Wolfschmidt. The latter are normally reserved for the golfers with high anxiety on the first tee or those who have been duly fined for pre set out reasons in the annual Kummel Invitational held twice a year at The Nairn Golf Club and once at a specially selected 'away tour' course.
The Kummel consumption has seen a drastic increase across the whole of the UK since Angus Smithsons brainchild came to fruition and has flourished year on year. He even received an OBE for his services to the drink industry by creating a sporting event that was always promoted within the spirit of the game.