Schladerer Kirschwasser (Cherry) Eau de vie 750ml

Alfred Schladerer is a family owned distillery based in Staufen im Breisgau, in Germany's Black Forest region, with a history spanning more than a century and a half of fruit brandy production. Legally, only kirschwasser distilled from cherries grown in the Black Forest may carry the name Schwarzwälder Kirschwasser, and Schladerer remains one of the most respected producers still working within that designation using traditional copper pot stills.

The kirschwasser is distilled exclusively from fully ripened sweet cherries, primarily the Dollenseppler, Schwarze Schüttler, and Benjaminler varieties, grown at elevations of two to three hundred meters in the foothills of the Black Forest. It takes roughly ten kilograms of cherries to produce a single bottle, a labor intensive ratio that reflects the traditional, small batch approach the distillery has maintained rather than relying on bulk ethanol or added flavoring. The finished spirit is bottled clear and unaged at 42% ABV.

The nose is intensely aromatic, opening with ripe cherry and cherry stone alongside delicate almond and a hint of marzipan, underpinned by faint spice notes of muscat, cinnamon, and clove. On the palate, the texture is silky and full bodied, carrying bright cherry fruit with a light peppery warmth and a long, clean finish. Kirschwasser is traditionally served chilled as an aperitif or digestif, and pairs naturally with Black Forest cake, dark chocolate, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.