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Spirits & Liquor

Gentian Schnapps - Distilled to Perfection

Gentian schnapps, or "Hochwurzener", is one of the Alps' best spirits available. "It is the true essence of life for the people living in the Alps. A multipurpose remedy". as Ludwig von Hörmann observed in 1877. But not every bottle labeled "Gentian Schnapps" contains real gentian ....

The original Gentian Schnapps is not made from the lovely blue flower, but from the roots of the yellow and/or red gentian. The reason why this schnapps is so special and so expensive is easily explained: it takes 100kg of gentian roots to yield six liters of schnapps! In earlier days the gathering of the roots was a profession itself. The "root diggers" were out and about across the country to look for this valuable plant. And as gentians were already rate and endangered in the 19th century this was not an easy task. During the summer months the bitter roots were dried to be chopped up and distilled in late fall. In Galtür, for instance, every year only ten licenses to dig up roots are given away by drawing lots. It is important to always leave a bit of the root in the soil so the flowers can re-grow and the population does not become endangered. Unlike the cheap, artificially flavored gentian schnapps, the "original Gentian Schnapps" is not only a treat to the palate, but also aids digestion.

Tip:

Yellow gentian schnapps from East Tirol is available in Innsbruck's old town.

Kontakte

Spezialitäten aus der Stiftgasse
Stiftgasse 2 - Altstadt
6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Tel: +43.512.576580
fax: +43.512.576580-4
Spezialitäten aus der Stiftgasse

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