Rothman & Winter Creme de Violette Liqueur 750ml

Rothman & Winter is produced by Destillerie Purkhart, a family distillery in Austria's Tyrol region that has crafted eaux-de-vie, schnapps, and liqueurs since 1932. Now in its third generation under Günter Purkhart, the house is known for exacting distillation standards, and the brand reached American shelves through importer Haus Alpenz, whose 2007 introduction revived a style of liqueur that had been essentially absent from the US market for decades.

The liqueur begins with Queen Charlotte and March violets, native wildflowers gathered from the Alps. These blossoms are carefully macerated in Weinbrand, a grape-based brandy, with cane sugar added for sweetness and balance. Unlike some violet liqueurs, no additional fruit or vanilla is introduced, keeping the focus squarely on the violet character. The result is bottled at a higher proof with restrained sugar, a house approach meant to preserve intensity and give the liqueur more versatility behind the bar.

On the nose and palate, this crème de violette offers a pure, delicate floral quality reminiscent of violet candies, with a graceful, lingering finish rather than an overpowering sweetness. Its vivid purple-violet hue makes it as visually striking as it is aromatic. It plays a defining role in classic cocktails such as the Aviation and Blue Moon, and can also be added in small amounts to dry or sweet sparkling wine.