Schladerer Schlehengeist

The Schladerer distillery creates a rich and full-bodied spirit in their Schladerer sloe gin. Despite growing on prickly bushes, sloes are a type of stone fruit. Only the perfectly ripe sloes are harvested after they have been covered in frost during autumn. This is when the sloes have the ideal sweetness and slightly bitter aroma for making Schladerer sloe gin. Sloes are normally not used to make fruit brandies, but rather spirits like this one from Schladerer. This means that the sloes release their fragrant fruit aroma into high-proof alcohol, which is then distilled in small copper stills. The Schladerer sloe spirit is then aged for at least 2 years to achieve its balanced mildness. It is bottled at a strong 42% ABV in a 700 ml bottle, which has had the traditional Schladerer design for a long time. The aroma has a subtle hint of marzipan, which blends well with the fresh sloe scent. In terms of taste, it offers a convincing sloe fruit flavor with a touch of vanilla, appearing smooth and mild. The finish is long and fruity, adding a touch of elegance. It's important to compare the advantages of a spirit to a fruit brandy. While a fruit brandy is typically preferred, making a sloe gin would require a more complex and expensive process. Sloes have very little flesh, so a large quantity of fruit is needed to make a brandy. However, when a high-quality raw distillate like the one used by Schladerer is employed, the sloe aroma can be perfectly integrated into the spirit. This affordable method is completely justified. The Schladerer Black Forest Distillery, established in 1844, has experienced great success over the years. Starting as a small inn distillery, it remains a family-owned business today, which is rare in the spirits industry. Schladerer fruit brandies are now available in many countries worldwide and are known for their excellent quality at reasonable prices. The fruits used for the brandy production mostly come from Germany and are handled delicately in the modern distillery. The Schladerer team has been steadily expanding their product range for many years, now offering not only fruit brandies, but also outstanding liqueurs.