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  • What is vinars?
    Vinars is a European-styled fruit brandy, distilled using centuries-old Swiss-Romanisch single-batch distilling methods. Served in the traditional style, it is an after-dinner drink, or digestif, to be sipped slowly, allowing folks to linger a little longer with family and friends. Each variety—whether apple, pear, grape, plum, apricot, or cherry—has its own unique taste, and within each variety, the taste will vary from year to year depending on the characteristics of the fruit harvested that year.
  • Is vinars sweet or like wine?
    While we can’t say there is never a hint of sweetness because we just never know what a different variety of fruit may render, we can say that Edelbrand vinars is a very dry spirit. And as a distilled spirit, it has a higher ABV (40-43%) than wine (8-22% depending on the type of grape). We often mention the aroma and flavor profile of our vinars because we use 100% fruit with no chemicals, syrups or artificial flavorings. The scent of pure fruit tumbles out when the bottle is opened and continues to reveal itself even more fully with every sip you take. In fact, it takes 15 to 22 pounds of fresh fruit to produce enough distillate for just one bottle. Each sip presents an opportunity to enjoy a truly handcrafted spirit. There is no comparison.
  • Is vinars the same as eau de vie, schnaps, or grappa?"
    Yes, it is. So why all the different names, you ask? It is confusing so let us clear up some of the fog. First thing to know: In the U.S., fruit brandies fall into a very narrow and special category of unaged distilled spirits. Secondly, vinars is the Swiss-Romanisch term, eau de vie is the French term, and schnaps is the German term for fruit brandies. Grappa is the Italian term for a specific variety of fruit brandy made from grapes. Finally, we chose the Swiss-Romanisch wording, the language of our heritage, to name our spirits. It is spoken by less than 1% of the Swiss population today, but its connection to traditional single-batch distilling goes back hundreds of years. We are proud to carry on these traditions and share them with you.
  • What’s the difference between American schnapps and European schnaps?
    Well, it’s not just one less /p/. When Americans hear the word schnapps, they immediately think “peppermint” and “peach.” These are chemically derived flavors mixed into neutral grain spirits and a lot of other additives. There is no fruit. The texture is syrupy. The flavor is cloyingly sweet. European schnaps is 100% fresh fruit, yeast, and water. No chemicals, essences, sweeteners, etc. are added. The flavors and aromas come from months of carefully-monitored fermentation and small-batch distillation under the watchful eye of an experienced distiller.
  • How do you say vinars and where did the name come from? How do you say Edelbrand? How do you pronounce Edelbrand's products?
    Vinars: [vēn·ars’], the Swiss-Romanisch name of the traditional fruit spirit with a centuries-old history. The language it is taken from is Romanisch, which is spoken by about 1% of the population in Switzerland today. With our family’s Swiss heritage, Edelbrand is proud to carry on these traditions. Edelbrand: [AY-del-brahnd], the name means purest or finest of brandies. Meila: [MY-la], apple. Péra: [PEAR-ah], pear. Plogas: [PLOH-gus], plum. D’apricosas: [dap-ree-KOH-zas], apricot. Tschereschas: [chur-RESH-us], cherry. Vin: [vin], grape.
  • How do I serve it, and how much do I serve?"
    These spirits are traditionally served as a digestif following a meal, neat in a small nosing glass or cordial glass. You can also serve in a brandy snifter, flute or small white wine glass. Please do not serve it in a shot glass. Pour an ounce or less at room temperature. Take a small sip and allow it to cross your mid-palate. Because these are unaged, allow a bit of air to open the spirit up on your palate. Linger for 10-15 minutes sipping and savoring. As an aperitif, pair with Prosecco or Cava (not Champagne – too dry, or Moscato – too sweet). Using a flute, pour 3-4 oz. of bubbly and splash 1-2 tsp. of your favorite Edelbrand spirit on top. Muddle a fresh herb and drop that in. Our favorite pairings are vinars da meila (apple) with sage, rosemary, thyme; vinars da péra (pear) with basil; vinars da vin (grape) with dill, sage; vinars d’apricosas (apricot) and vinars da plogas (plum) with mint, dill; vinars tschereschas (cherry) with mint, rosemary. And finally, these spirits are a beautiful addition to cocktails. Think ‘less is more’ when building the cocktail and consider pairing with gins, shrubs, vermouths, and more. We have several recipes to get you started.
  • How quickly does a bottle of vinars need to be finished once it’s opened?
    Edlebrand vinars does not lose flavor or risk spoiling over time. Linger as long as you want, enjoying the bottle in your own time. There’s no need to rush. The possibility of evaporation is the only concern, so be sure to reseal the bottle completely after opening, making sure the wooden top touches the lip of the bottle.
  • Do you offer tours of your farm and distillery?
    We do not offer tours. Because Edelbrand Pure Distilling is located on our family's farm, it is also surrounded by other families going about their daily lives. Many prefer the quiet, rural life, and we wish to honor that by keeping traffic down as much as possible. If you would like a behind-the-scenes look, we have several alternatives to offer. We offer private tasting experiences and will tailor the event to your specific needs. All participants must be 21 years or older. Give us a call and let’s talk!

Frequently Asked Questions

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