999 Herbal Devynia, made by Stumbras, is Lithuania’s equivalent to Estonia’s Vana Tallinn and Latvia’s Black Balsam. The 999 series includes various herbal liqueurs with slight nuances. There is a traditional, lemon-enhanced, hemp-seed flavored and more bitter version. 999 Bitter is, as the name suggests, a drier and more bitter version of the original, rather sweet herbal liqueur. The product’s name 999 comes from the fact that 9 herbs and flowers, 9 fruits and 9 roots have been used in the production. Herba Devynia liqueurs are widely available all over Lithuania and also in selected stores in Latvia and Estonia. A 50 cl bottle cost €9 in Estonia.

The liqueur is light brown in color and resembles lager beer. When pouring it to the glass, it runs very well, showing it does not have so much added sugar. The familiar herbal and spiciness emerges in the smell. No particular spice or herb from the palette pops out. The taste is very dry and the alcohol burns quite sharply. After the light initial sweetness, the bitter elements take over and hold their grip until the end of the aftertaste. 999 Bitter is surprisingly edgy and strict for a herbal liqueur. It’s more about herbal vodka or schnapps, where there is just a touch of added sugar to soften the taste. The taste is also not as herbal as the traditional 999. The taste is clearly bitter and somewhat one-sided. In the aftertaste, the bitterness remains on the tongue for a long time, while the alcohol dries the mouth and begs you to take a sip of tea or other mixer.

999 Bitter is perfect for those who find traditional herbal liqueurs too sweet. It works well with the beer and as a shot at the dinner table. The herbiness is also restrained enough that it doesn’t start to bother you, even if you consume several shots during the evening.

78/100