Flügel
The red bottle that makes the rounds at every party. Here you’ll learn what’s in it, how much alcohol it contains, what the cap-on-your-nose tradition is all about, and how to serve Flügel ice-cold.
Vodka, energy, and a cap on your nose
Flügel is a Dutch vodka shot with the taste of an energy drink, in small red 2 cl bottles. It started in the 1990s with an idea on a beer mat. Four friends were on holiday in the Austrian mountains at the time. The first bottles went on sale in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Now you can buy Flügel in almost twenty countries, and it’s a fixture at parties, festivals, and après-ski. The name is German and means “wings.”
Flügel contains 10% alcohol, so it’s mild. It tastes sweet and fruity, so it goes down easily in one gulp. The bottles also contain caffeine, 25 mg per 100 ml. And then there’s the tradition: tap the bottle on the bar, put the cap on your nose, toast, and down it in one go. The maker is FLS Company, which also makes Boswandeling.
In brief
What packaging does Flügel come in?
Flügel comes in one flavor. You only choose how many bottles you want. Boswandeling is also made by the same producer.
Flügel 10 x 2 cl
A box of ten bottles. Handy for an evening at home or a small party.
Flügel 40 x 2 cl
The big box, for festivals, bachelor parties, and après-ski. Each bottle works out cheaper.
Boswandeling
A cream liqueur with banana and coconut from the same maker. Delicious ice-cold as a shot, or with cola.
Allow two to three bottles per person for a night out.
Sweet, fruity, and refreshing like an energy drink
Energy drink & red fruit
Smells like a can of energy drink. Sweet, a little like chewing gum, with red fruit.
Sweet and light
Light and sweet, with that familiar energy drink flavor. You can barely taste the alcohol. The colder it is, the more refreshing it is.
Short and refreshing
Short and sweet, with a little fizz from the caffeine. Then you immediately want another.
Flügel's flavor profile, ice-cold from the fridge. It's much sweeter at room temperature.
How do you drink Flügel? Here's how
Drink Flügel ice-cold and in one go. Put the bottles in the fridge for a few hours, or in a bucket of ice water for fifteen minutes.
From the bottle, cap on your nose
Take off the cap, press the bottle to your nose, and drink it in one go. The cap stays on. Whoever keeps it on their nose the longest wins. That's how it's done.
Glass: shot glass →In a shot glass
Pour a bottle into a chilled 2 to 4 cl shot glass and place them on a tray. It looks neater at a party at home, and makes it easier to toast together.
Glass: shot glass →Flügel bomb
Drop a bottle of Flügel into half a glass of energy drink or beer and drink it in one go. The Dutch Jägerbomb, if you will.
Jägerbomb recipe →Flügel long drink: how to make it a long drink
Flügel is actually a shot. Add lemonade and ice to make it a long drink you can sip slowly.
What you need
2 small bottles of Flügel (4 cl total), well chilled
12 cl cold lemonade, such as 7-Up or Sprite
A long drink glass full of ice cubes
A lime wedge
How to make it
1. Put the mini bottles and lemonade in the fridge for a few hours.
2. Fill a long drink glass to the brim with ice.
3. Pour the Flügel over the ice.
4. Add the lemonade and stir briefly once.
5. Squeeze the lime wedge over the glass and hang it on the rim.
Tip
Cold lemonade and pour gently to keep the fizz in. Prefer a shot instead? Grab a chilled shot glass of 2 to 4 cl. Find more ideas among the party cocktails.
Shots that go well with Flügel
Flügel is already a ready-to-drink shot. These shots and recipes are perfect for the same party night.
All shots
From Flügel to B52 and Kamikaze: all the shot recipes, with the right glass for each.
Jägerbomb
A shot of Jägermeister dropped into a glass of energy drink. Also works with a mini bottle of Flügel.
Rocket pop
The cocktail that tastes like the well-known ice lolly. Just as festive as a round of Flügel.
Kamikaze shot
Vodka, triple sec and lime. The fresh, tart counterpart to a sweet little Flügel.The right glass for Flügel
Small shot glasses that can take a knock and be chilled to ice-cold. These are our top recommendation for a party.
Everything else you wanted to know about Flügel
Can't find your question here? Check out our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
Go to the cocktail recipes →What percentage of alcohol does Flügel contain?
What's in Flügel?
Why do you put the Flügel cap on your nose?
Does Flügel need to be refrigerated?
Are Kleiner Klopfer or Boswandeling alternatives to Flügel?
How long does Flügel keep?
Buy Flügel
Want the bottle delivered straight to your door? Order Flügel online from Gall & Gall.
Prices from November 3, 2026, as provided by Gall & Gall. You can see the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; it costs you nothing extra. No 18, no alcohol.
