Tag: Apricot Brandy

Happy Halloween, or as others know it, the final day of eau-ctober. I couldn’t find a pumpkin eau-de-vie so I settled for another orange fruit: apricot. This is the second in a series of two apricot eau-de-vie reviews, both from Austria. Next year I’ll have to review apricot spirits from elsewhere in Europe.

Reisetbauer produces a wide range of spirits distilled from malt, fruit, and even carrot, and all seem to be fairly well-regarded. Their website states that it takes 15g of apricots to produce one liter of brandy, which is roughly 3x what the Blume said they require. In theory this should produce a spirit that does an even better job of capturing the apricot flavor than the Blume did.

Smell: One sniff and it’s apparent this is an entirely different animal than the Blume. Not necessarily better or worse, but very different. It is incredibly pungent with sharp notes of fresh lemon verbena, lime, and Thai green mango salad. It has an almost absinthe quality to it. Initially there are some raw ethanol notes that blow off with some airtime.

Taste: Lemon and herbs once again. There are some accompanying fruity flavors as well, including apricot, but the lemony herbal thing is really what stands out. Is this a delightful new flavor of Ricola? It should be. Mouthfeel is medium.

Finish: The lemon becomes less herbal and more like candied Meyer lemon peel. There is also fresh cinnamon.

Overall: This doesn’t really scratch my apricot itch but it is unique and tasty. How these flavors came from apricots is beyond me. I would love to eat whatever apricot they used to make this, it is probably much different than the varieties grown near me (and perhaps not really intended for fresh eating at all).

Spirit Type: Eau-de-vie
Proof: 84
Vintage:
Age: 0
Cask Type: None
Rating: B

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+