Browse by tradition
Regions
Region is a co-equal browse axis to fruit. Each tradition matured around its own signature fruit and method β from Norman cider brandy to Balkan plum rakija to the newest chapter in China.
Normandy
French cider-brandy (Calvados)
The apple-cider heartland of France and the home of AOC Calvados, distilled since at least Gouberville's 1553 journal.
Alsace
French eau-de-vie (orchard in a glass)
The spiritual home of French fruit eau-de-vie β pear, raspberry, cherry, plum, mirabelle, quince and wild fruit, distilled clear.
Germany
Germanic Obstbrand / Schnaps
Home of Kirschwasser and Himbeergeist β the Black Forest and Franconia, and the crucial Wasser vs. Geist split.
Switzerland
Swiss Kirsch, Williamine & Abricotine
Protected Swiss styles β Zuger Kirsch, Williamine pear, Abricotine apricot and Damassine plum β from Zug to the Valais.
Austria
Austrian Marillenbrand & premium eau-de-vie
The Danube's apricot valley and the home of ultra-premium single-fruit distilling β Rochelt, Reisetbauer, GΓΆlles, Bailoni.
Italy & South Tyrol
Alpine fruit distillate & grappa houses
South Tyrol's Williams pear distillate and the great Veneto/Friuli grappa houses that also craft fine fruit spirits.
United Kingdom
British cider brandy & craft eau-de-vie
Somerset's Calvados-style cider brandy plus a new wave of British craft eau-de-vie β Capreolus, Fowey Valley, Greensand Ridge, Tayport.
France β PΓ©rigord & Brittany
French regional eaux-de-vie & lambig
French fruit distilling beyond Alsace and Normandy β PΓ©rigord plum and walnut, Breton apple lambig and pommeau.
Japan
Japanese apple brandy
Japan's apple-brandy thread β Nikka's roots lie in apple juice, and its Hokkaido distillery still makes apple brandy.
Hungary
Central European pΓ‘linka (PGI)
From royal medicine to national symbol. PGI-protected pΓ‘linka β barackpΓ‘linka (apricot) from the Great Plain is the flagship.
The Balkans & Central Europe
Rakija Β· Ε‘ljivovica Β· slivovice Β· ΘuicΔ
Plum above all. Rakija is woven into family and ritual life, and Ε‘ljivovica is now UNESCO-recognized. One spirit, a dozen names.
US Craft
American apple brandy & craft eau-de-vie
From Laird's 1698 applejack to a wide-open craft frontier β pear and apple eau-de-vie, peach, fig, and experimental botanicals.
China
New-frontier craft (kiwi)
The homeland of kiwifruit and the newest chapter in fruit brandy β craft distillation from Chinese kiwi, rested in clay pots.