Cherry

Cherry as a Black Forest classic from the Kaiserstuhl

The cherry eau-de-vie from Faude feine Brände is a clear cherry brandy made from old Black Forest varieties, distilled in the Kaiserstuhl at 40% ABV. Bold, fruity, with a subtle hint of pit – a modern classic for the small glass and the soul of any Black Forest gateau.

Cherry brandy from Faude feine Brände – the "Kirsche" (cherry) is a fruit brandy from master distiller Florian Faude in Bötzingen in the Kaiserstuhl region. Distilled from plump, fully ripe cherries of the heirloom Dollenseppler and Schwarze Königin varieties, it is a brandy with a bold fruit aroma and just a light hint of cherry pit.

Bold cherry, a hint of pit

On the nose, the cherry brandy is intensely fruity, with the aroma of ripe, dark cherries and just a slight almond note from the pit.

On the palate, it is dry and clear, bold in fruit, with the pit note remaining subtly in the background. Fruity, spicy, velvety – the cherry meets hints of dark chocolate. The finish is long and clean.

Kirschwasser, as the Black Forest locals call cherry brandy, is considered the supreme discipline of any distillery – nowhere is skill as clearly demonstrated as in a crystal-clear brandy. Florian's cherry passes this test with flying colors: modern in interpretation, yet deeply rooted in its homeland.

A splash in the Black Forest gateau

Served neat and cool, the cherry brandy stands on its own; in the kitchen, it is the essential soul of the Black Forest gateau.

Dark chocolate or a slice of cake are the obvious counterparts, and of course, a splash belongs in every authentic Black Forest gateau. Serve it neat and chilled after a meal, where it rounds off a hearty dinner as a classic digestif. It also pairs well with Black Forest ham or a slice of cherry strudel. If you love fruit brandies, try the Mirabelle and the Williams Christ Pear as well – both are equally classic local varieties.

Heirloom cherries from standard trees in the Markgräflerland

For his cherry brandy, Florian Faude uses heirloom varieties like Dollenseppler and Schwarze Königin, which ripen on standard trees in the Markgräflerland region.

These old, almost forgotten varieties grow on gnarled standard trees and are harvested by hand. Their bold, dark fruit is the reason why this modern cherry brandy has so much character – light pit aromas, plenty of fruit, and a touch of dark chocolate.

At Faude, the harvest of the cherries marks the beginning of the distilling season. For Florian, these heirloom varieties are irreplaceable – they give the brandy its character. A trained winemaker, he founded his distillery in Bötzingen in 2006, which included an old distilling license, and built a new facility in 2017.

Unlike a "Geist" (a spirit made by macerating fruit in alcohol), this cherry brandy is a true "Brand": the fruit is fermented and then distilled, with the alcohol coming from the sugar in the fruit itself. Florian brings the brandy to 40% ABV using soft Black Forest water, with no added flavors or colors, and bottles it in 0.5-liter bottles. You can find more spirits from Faude feine Brände on our site.

From a small glass, a sincere gift

Served in a small glass at around 16 degrees Celsius, the cherry brandy reveals its full fruitiness. For a Black Forest gateau, simply add a generous splash to the cream and cake layers – it doesn't get more "Black Forest" than that. In its simple bottle, the cherry brandy also makes a sincere gift for anyone who appreciates genuine craftsmanship.