Kirschwasser is the archetypal Wasser: cherries fermented whole (pits included) and distilled clear, then rested β but not sweetened or barrel-colored. SchwarzwΓ€lder Kirschwasser has been an EU protected GI since 1989 Wikipedia: Kirsch.
π Cherry Β· Black Forest (DE), Alsace (FR), Switzerland
Kirschwasser
Clear, dry cherry brandy distilled with the stones left in, giving a faint almond note. Never sweet.
Method: Wasser (ferment β distill)KirschSchwarzwΓ€lder Kirschwasser
Producers
Distillerie G. Miclo
Lapoutroie, Haut-Rhin Β· Alsace
A classic Alsace house spanning kirsch, framboise, Poire Williams, mirabelle and quetsch, with prestige wild-berry Geist.
CherryRaspberryPearPlumWasser (ferment β distill)Geist (macerate β distill)Limited US import
Distillerie F. Meyer
Hohwarth / ChΓ’tenois, Bas-Rhin Β· Alsace
A wide-ranging Alsace distiller reaching deep into wild fruit β rosehip, rowanberry, sloe and chequer alongside the classics.
PearPlumCherryRaspberryBerries & Wild FruitWasser (ferment β distill)Geist (macerate β distill)Limited US import
Distillerie Massenez
Dieffenbach-au-Val, Bas-Rhin Β· Alsace
An Alsatian eau-de-vie house famous for its Poire Williams and its pear-in-the-bottle prisonnière.
PearRaspberryCherryPlumWasser (ferment β distill)Geist (macerate β distill)Widely available in the US
Distillerie Nusbaumer
Steige, Bas-Rhin Β· Alsace
A respected Val de VillΓ© distiller of kirsch, mirabelle, pear, raspberry, quetsche and marc.
CherryPlumPearRaspberryQuinceWasser (ferment β distill)Geist (macerate β distill)Limited US import
Ferme Lindgrube
Breitenbach, VillΓ© Valley Β· Alsace
A farm distillery making kirsch from heritage VillΓ©-valley cherry varieties.
CherryWasser (ferment β distill)Not currently in the US
Alfred Schladerer
Staufen im Breisgau, Black Forest Β· Germany
The benchmark Black Forest house for Kirschwasser and Himbeergeist β the Wasser/Geist tradition in one distillery.
CherryRaspberryPlumPearAppleWasser (ferment β distill)Geist (macerate β distill)Widely available in the US
Kammer-Kirsch
Karlsruhe, Baden Β· Germany
A Baden house rooted in Oppenau, specializing in kirsch, Williams pear and Obstler.
CherryPearAppleWasser (ferment β distill)Limited US import
Brennerei Ziegler
Freudenberg am Main, Franconia Β· Germany
A Franconian house famed for wild-cherry brandy, aged Zwetschge plum, forest raspberry, mirabelle and wild quince.
CherryPearPlumRaspberryQuinceWasser (ferment β distill)Geist (macerate β distill)Limited US import
Distillerie Morand
Martigny, Valais Β· Switzerland
The Valais house behind Williamine pear and Abricotine AOP apricot, plus raspberry, quince and kirsch.
PearApricotRaspberryQuinceCherryWasser (ferment β distill)Geist (macerate β distill)Limited US import
Etter SΓΆhne
Zug, Switzerland Β· Switzerland
A leading Swiss house making AOP Zuger Kirsch, Williams pear, Vieille Prune plum, mirabelle, apricot and quince.
CherryPearPlumApricotQuinceRaspberryWasser (ferment β distill)Geist (macerate β distill)Limited US import
Rochelt
Fritzens, Tyrol Β· Austria
A cult Tyrolean house making uncompromising single-fruit eau-de-vie β apricot, quince, sour cherry, and a famed rowanberry.
ApricotQuinceCherryPlumPearRaspberryBerries & Wild FruitWasser (ferment β distill)Geist (macerate β distill)Rare / allocated in the US
Distillery Pfau (Valentin Latschen)
Klagenfurt, Carinthia Β· Austria
A Carinthian distiller of precise single-fruit eaux-de-vie.
PearApricotCherryBerries & Wild FruitWasser (ferment β distill)Geist (macerate β distill)Rare / allocated in the US
Nardini
Bassano del Grappa, Veneto Β· Italy & South Tyrol
Italy's oldest grappa house, also crafting fruit-based distillates and liqueurs.
PlumCherryPomace (marc / grappa-style)Wasser (ferment β distill)Limited US import
AgΓ‘rdi PΓ‘linkafΕzde
AgΓ‘rd, Lake Velence Β· Hungary
A Lake Velence pΓ‘linka house making Williams pear, sour cherry, apricot and plum, plus amphora-aged specialties.
PearCherryApricotPlumWasser (ferment β distill)Limited US import
Panyolai SzilvΓ³rium
Panyola, Szabolcs Β· Hungary
A Szabolcs house built on SzatmΓ‘r plum, with apple, quince, black cherry and an aged Elixir line.
PlumAppleQuinceCherryWasser (ferment β distill)Rare / allocated in the US
ΓrpΓ‘d PΓ‘linka
BΓ©kΓ©s Β· Hungary
A BΓ©kΓ©s distiller of plum and black-cherry pΓ‘linka, including bedded (Γ‘gyas) styles.
PlumCherryWasser (ferment β distill)Rare / allocated in the US
Zwack
KecskemΓ©t Β· Hungary
A storied Hungarian house making protected pΓ‘linka, including KecskemΓ©t apricot.
ApricotPlumPearCherryWasser (ferment β distill)Limited US import
Rudolf JelΓnek
Vizovice, Moravia Β· The Balkans & Central Europe
The best-known Moravian slivovice house β triple-distilled plum, pear, apricot and cherry, including kosher lines.
PlumPearApricotCherryWasser (ferment β distill)Widely available in the US
Clear Creek Distillery
Hood River / Portland, Oregon Β· US Craft
A pioneering American craft distiller applying Alsatian eau-de-vie technique to Oregon orchard fruit β plus a Douglas fir eau-de-vie.
PearAppleCherryPlumRaspberryBotanical & New-WorldWasser (ferment β distill)Geist (macerate β distill)Widely available in the US
St. George Spirits
Alameda, California Β· US Craft
A California craft pioneer of pear, raspberry and cherry eaux-de-vie β and, historically, one of the very few kiwi distillers.
PearRaspberryCherryAppleKiwiWasser (ferment β distill)Geist (macerate β distill)Widely available in the US
Rhine Hall Distillery
Chicago, Illinois Β· US Craft
A Chicago family distillery making apple, cherry, apricot, plum and tropical-fruit brandies.
AppleCherryApricotPlumWasser (ferment β distill)Limited US import
Distillerie MettΓ©
RibeauvillΓ©, Haut-Rhin Β· Alsace
An Alsace house famous for the sheer breadth of its eaux-de-vie β from Williams pear and framboise to holly, hay and rose.
PearRaspberryCherryPlumBerries & Wild FruitBotanical & New-WorldWasser (ferment β distill)Geist (macerate β distill)Limited US import
Capreolus Distillery
Cirencester, England Β· United Kingdom
A celebrated English craft distiller of fruit eaux-de-vie rivaling the best of the Continent.
RaspberryApplePlumQuinceCherryWasser (ferment β distill)Geist (macerate β distill)Rare / allocated in the US
Fassbind
Oberarth, Switzerland Β· Switzerland
One of Switzerland's oldest distillers (since 1846), spanning kirsch, Williams pear, aged plum and berry Geist.
CherryPearPlumRaspberryQuinceWasser (ferment β distill)Geist (macerate β distill)Limited US import
Destillerie HΓ€mmerle
Lustenau, Vorarlberg Β· Austria
A Vorarlberg distiller of Alpine orchard and wild-fruit eaux-de-vie.
PearPlumAppleCherryBerries & Wild FruitWasser (ferment β distill)Geist (macerate β distill)Rare / allocated in the US
Distilleria Capovilla
RosΓ , Veneto Β· Italy & South Tyrol
Vittorio Capovilla's Veneto distillery β among the most revered fruit distillers in the world, from Williams pear to wild plum.
PearPlumCherryApricotRaspberryBerries & Wild FruitWasser (ferment β distill)Geist (macerate β distill)Limited US import