obstler , or Obstbrand, is the EU-defined term for regionally delimited German or Italian spirits distilled from a blend of fruits, limited to a defined group of pears and apple types, as well as cherries, plums (including Damson or Mirabelle), apricots, quince, raspberries, blackberries, peaches, rowanberries, elderberries, juniper berries, and red or black currants. If only one of these fruits provides the base of distillation, then the spirit will be labeled by the name of the base fruit (usually followed by the term -brand, “brandy,” or -wasser, “water”), rather than as obstler. (The EU recognizes other similar fruit-based spirits such as Schwarzwälder Himbeergeist—German Black Forest raspberry spirit, a kind of Obstgeist, or neutral spirit flavored with fruit.)
These mixed-fruit spirits—the combination of apples and pears being the most common—have a long tradition of production in southern Germany, Austria, and the German-speaking parts of Switzerland and Italy; indeed, they are as traditional there as korn and other grain spirits are in the northern German lands. See korn. Their production is traditionally small-scale and local, a part of farming, but there are a few larger brands, although few if any that are distributed outside their home territory. There are, however, kindred spirits from neighboring regions. See barack palinka; calvados; quetsch; Poire Williams; kirschwasser; and slivovitz.
Andreae, Illa. Alle schnäpse dieser welt. Zurich: Transitbooks AG, 1973.
By: Doug Frost