Ratzeputz - who likes this stuff ?

It was a 'right of passage' in the Hohne area. My old Dad still remembers his measure from 1974.

They still sell the stuff apparently.

Tastes like alcoholic chili peppers.

If I remember right this stuff was dynamite in a bottle.
Not one of my favourites, I remember getting a glass of it
in a pads house one night and after sipping it I gave it to the nearest pot plant.

It`s a schnaps, with strong flavours of ginger and kerosene. It was usually used to play practical jokes on unsuspecting soldiers

Me! You is all poofs.

mmmmmm nice! Good on open sores!

ChrisP wrote:

mmmmmm nice! Good on open sores!

Is THAT what the medics are using then ?

brum wrote:

ChrisP wrote:

mmmmmm nice! Good on open sores!

Is THAT what the medics are using then ?

As an anesthetic?

You REALLY don't want to know!! It would bring tears to your eyes! Come to think of it I believe that it did!

I think you're right about the kerosene. The only time I was daft enough to drink this stuff was at our (16/5 LAD) NS farewell parties. Having been anaethsetised by far too much of George's DAB beer at his Dodesheide pub, everyone was given a glass of Ratzeputz which was then set alight with a match and we all said "cheers" to the departing nashie and drank it down. I remember it tasted vile.
But then, what do you expect with a drink called Ratzeputz; taking either the English word Rat or the German similar one plus the word Putz which in some colloquial German and definitely in Yiddish, is some part of a ladies anatomy I used to explore as much as possible - no wonder it didn't taste good!!!!

The bar staff in the Weinberg, Bergen, used to hold the 'victims' nose as they downed it in one.


I knew someone would like the stuff, as I know that some beggars used to drink anti freeze, well that was the rumour .

Anti freeze, you say. Hmmm...............

Ratzeputz from Celle! Lecker, lecker...

mmmmm Anti Freeze - nice

Agree with the majority of comments regarding comparison of ratzeputze with anti freeze (wasn't duty free gin a cheaper alternative to the actual stuff on sale in many civilian garages for many years?

My favourite hooch from the Heide was Schwarz Korn made with Logan berries I believe and very much a local delicasey not easily fond elsewhere in BAOR.

I think we used it to clean contaminated brake parts

Oh yes, one of the punishment drinks playing lie dice

Ratzeputz (also referred to by less pleasant names).

I encountered this whilst under canvas in the Dannenberg salient in the late 60's early 70's during winter. Too cold to cook or wash in camp wectook turns to take Land Rover full down to the local village. We took turns to order drinks and get a good warm wash and shave in the toilets. The Landlord obviously liked the custom and turned a blind eye to the procession between bar and toilets. He produced the Ratzeputz ' on the house'. As I recall I felt warm all over so suffered silently about the taste. I have never seen or tasted it since!

Here you go lads...Still on sale, even has it`s own shop

http://www.ratzeputz-shop.com/html/index.php?language=en

Thanks for the link gordon.

At 58% it is no wonder I flt warm all over. It was much better in the pub anyway (+25C) compared with the tents (-25C). We gave up trying to cook on the camp cooker when we couldn't heat the oil to fry eggs and we couldn't cut the corned-beef. Ham and chips in the pub, beer and Ratzeputz. Excellent., and it could not have hurt my brain as I can still remember it after all these years.

Gordon. wrote:

Here you go lads...Still on sale, even has it`s own shop

http://www.ratzeputz-shop.com/html/index.php?language=en

Put my order in, only asked for 6 bottles in case I don't like it.

Best drunk after being filtered through a sweaty sock..If you don`t have any ,Brum will oblige,i`m sure

They can't afford shoes AND socks where Brum comes from.

I believe that Werner Von Braun got his ideas for the V weapons after supping Ratzeputz .

He was a Gunner as well.

Gordon. wrote:

Here you go lads...Still on sale, even has it`s own shop

http://www.ratzeputz-shop.com/html/index.php?language=en

Can anybody remember?
There used to be a drink called a Traffic Light.
At the bottom of the glass was a measure of Escorial for "green". Floating on top of that was Cognac for "amber". What was used for "red"? That may, in fact have been the dreaded Ratzeputz.