This review is not sponsored by or affiliated with Myrkl, nor does it contain any medical advice. 

At the start of the year a member of my whisky club mentioned that they were trying out Myrkl whenever they went to a tasting or a festival. I’d seen adverts for these hangover remedies before and had assumed they were entirely snake oil. However, with this recommendation I decided to buy a pack as even if it didn’t work I could get an article out of it.

After trying Myrkl (pronounced ‘miracle’ but I cannot stop saying ‘mer-kul’) for nearly a year I’m convinced there is something in here that works, albeit for my specific circumstances.

These little brown pills contain three active ingredients:

• Vitamin B12, to reduce tiredness, support the immune system and contribute to normal energy levels.

• L-Cysteine, an amino acid that is used by the body to produce antioxidants.

• Fermented Rice Bran, the least scientific sounding ingredient but the one that really matters. This bran contains cultivated bacteria that Myrkl claims will break down alcohol in your gut.

Myrkl costs a beefy £30 for 30 pills. With each dose being two pills that’s £2 a night out. If you can get a sample from someone to try first then great, but otherwise it’s a real gamble, especially if you’re not someone who already buys supplements. If you’re a moderate drinker then these 15 doses should last you a long time. Even with All But Drams’ festival schedule and sharing them out I am only going to get through two packets this year. Finally, if you are someone who struggles to swallow pills – these taste absolutely awful if they stick in your mouth or throat.

I have taken Myrkl on holiday, before spirits festivals and before tasting nights, to see the impact it has. Whilst I am not blown away, I must admit that certain hangover symptoms are gone entirely. I have a clearer head and no headaches. I am able to achieve more the morning after a night out every time I take Myrkl. The caveat is that physical fatigue from being up late and that fuzzy teeth feeling from sugary cocktails all remain for me.

Many others have reported the same positive experience and Myrkl’s website touts that 4.8 million doses have been sold so far. Could we all just be experiencing placebo effect?  A wilful desire to have something to fix our hangovers? The mountain of anecdotal evidence could point to that, but if this supplement was giving everyone a false sense of security you’d expect more negative reviews than it has received from those who overindulged. So let’s dig deeper into the big question. Does Myrkl actually work? 

Everyone from Good Housekeeping, to The Economist, to Reddit’s r/science have given their opinions and everyone remains on the fence. To say that these pills cure hangovers in certain terms is socially irresponsible and inviting legal trouble. Healthline’s detailed article features an expert opinion about how Myrkl actually works and it is the bacteria that hold the most promise:

“The pills have an acid-resistant capsule that is designed to make sure bacteria isn’t released until it reaches the intestine, where most alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream. This neutralization of alcohol in your bloodstream means you should not experience the short-term effects alcohol has, such as euphoria and relaxation.”

In short, Myrkl might make you feel less of the buzz of alcohol and therefore be less drunk. Less drunk means less hungover. However, to market that would make the product vastly less popular and also dangerous. Most people who consume alcohol want a pill that prevents hangovers, not a pill that reduces the fun side, and this would be an invitation to drink more. The marketing and many ads with whisky content creators always skirt around this and focus on “freshness” and “the next day” instead.

We also need to remember that a pill that reduces alcohol buzz or staves off a hangover does not necessarily reduce the risk of alcohol to your health. That’s the the fattest caveat to any endorsement, despite my personal success with it. Alcohol is still a carcinogen and the brands that make these supplements are just as complicit in trying to make you drink more of it as your favourite distillery is. At least your favourite whisky only promises you a better night, not a better morning after!

If you’re curious about reducing hangovers, I highly recommend trying to reduce your alcohol consumption first – before reaching for a food supplement. For me, I’m going to be using it before festivals and tasting nights. Anything that means I can enjoy a responsible amount of whisky and feel fine the next morning is something I’ll consider taking, but that’s my personal choice. If you share that view then this supplement might be worth trying out. Just make sure you are eating well, using the spittoons and drinking plenty of water too.