Eau-de-Vie
An eau-de-vie (‘water of life’) is a brandy made with any fruit, with the exception of grapes. To ensure their fruit character, most are bottled with no ageing. Eaux-de-vie are made with a staggering variety of raw ingredients – you think of a fruit, and you can bet that at some point, someone will have tried to make an eau-de-vie from it.
Eaux-de-vie are best served chilled at the end of a meal. For stone fruits such as apricots, peaches and plums, the method of production is akin to most other brandies: the fruit is crushed and fermented into wine before distillation in a pot still. For fruits without stones, the usual method of production is maceration, where the fruit is immersed in neutral alcohol before distillation.
It is worth pointing out that many generic products calling themselves apricot or cherry brandies are in fact liqueurs, the ingredients having been only macerated and not distilled.
Typical Character and Style of Eau-de-Vie
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Acetone
Filter
Price Range
Bottling Status
Producer
Country
Type
Flavour
Age
Vintage
Cask Type
Strength
Size
Limited Edition
Flavour Profile
Colouring
Grape Variety
Sustainability
Somerset Pear Eau de Vie
$20.67
($59.07 per litre)
Miclo Framboise (Raspberry) Eau de Vie
$49.16
($70.23 per litre)
Capreolus Perry Pear Eau de Vie 2021
$63.72
($169.93 per litre)
Somerset Apple Eau de Vie
$20.67
($59.07 per litre)
Specht Slivovitz
$25.46
($36.37 per litre)
Miclo Poire William (Pear) Eau de Vie
$48.84
($69.77 per litre)
Rochelt Orange 2010Half Bottle
$159.44
($455.54 per litre)
Stara Sokolova 7 Year Old Slivovitz
$49.37
($70.53 per litre)
Freihof 1885 Pear Williams Schnaps
$29.71
($59.42 per litre)
Miclo Framboise Sauvage Grande Reserve
$47.03
($94.07 per litre)
Capreolus 1000 Trees Apple Eau-de-vie 2020
$63.72
($169.93 per litre)
Miclo Quetsch (Plum) Eau de Vie
$49.16
($70.23 per litre)
Miclo Poire William Grande Reserve
$46.72
($93.43 per litre)
Miclo Kirsch Vieux (Cherry) Grande Reserve
$47.57
($95.13 per litre)
Rochelt Wild Rowanberry 2015
$286.99
($819.97 per litre)
Chateau Du Breuil Vieille Prune
$52.03
($74.33 per litre)
Capreolus Raspberry Eau de Vie 2021
$132.87
($354.31 per litre)
Capreolus Plum Eau de Vie 2019
$63.72
($169.93 per litre)
Freihof 1885 Raspberry Geist Schnaps
$29.71
($59.42 per litre)
Freihof 1885 Apricot Schnaps
$29.71
($59.42 per litre)
Capreolus Greengage Eau de Vie 2018
$106.24
($283.31 per litre)
Freya Woodsmoke Birch Spirit
$47.78
($68.25 per litre)
Reisetbauer Kirsch (Cherry)
$73.29
($209.40 per litre)
Freya Birch Spirit
$47.78
($68.25 per litre)