After two consecutive plum reviews, let’s move to a new fruit: apricot. I’ve had a soft spot for apricot eau-de-vie since traveling through the countryside of Montenegro, where I was fortunate enough to try some exceptional homemade apricot rakija. Though just as commercial Silvovitz cannot compare to the homemade variety, it seems unlikely that store-bought apricot eau-de-vie can compare to the more rustic versions made by many families in The Balkans.
Not surprisingly, there are few apricot eau-de-vie available in the US, but of those, the Blume has a solid reputation. From their website: “Blume Marillen—”blossom of the apricot”—captures the lovely bouquet and taste of the Klosterneuburger apricot found in the Wachau region of the Danube Valley. The Destillerie Purkhart “Blume Marillen” is famed for its delicate floral bouquet and a long, elegant finish. More than 9 pounds of apricots are distilled for each 750ml bottle.”
Smell: Sweet kumquats and tree-ripened apricot. After that there is a little bit of a soapy note and just a kiss of fresh basil.
Taste: The apricot is prominent but there is a fresh lemon note as well. There is also some spice, namely cinnamon and nutmeg, that helps add depth. Mouthfeel is medium.
Finish: It remains fruity here but becomes more bitter and earthy with apricot skin, a hint of moldy fruit, and a little wet cardboard.
Overall: This does a pretty good job of capturing the essence of the apricot while also not being boring. Certainly the apricot flavor could be stronger and the finish longer and cleaner. I imagine it’s difficult to get fruit flavor to shine through into distillate, so it may be necessary to make wider cuts, which increases flavor but can also lead to some less desirable flavors (e.g. soap, cardboard).
Spirit Type: Eau-de-vie
Proof: 80
Vintage:
Age: 0
Cask Type: None
Rating: B+