Årø Vingård Brændenældesnaps Danish Schnapps 35 cl 35%

In the middle of the Little Belt, between Haderslev and Assens, sits an island barely three kilometres long. Among vines and apple trees, a small distillery quietly makes something most people have never heard of.

The Expert's Description

Nettle Snaps from Årø Vingård is a Danish spiced snaps distilled on the island of Årø in the Little Belt and bottled at 35%.

Årø Vingård began life as a vineyard in 2004, when Svend Aage planted the first vines on the island. Jakob and Lisbeth Leij took over in 2015 and have since expanded with an apple orchard and their own distilling setup. Alongside the wine and their gin production, they now make a range of spiced snapses, and Nettle Snaps is one of them, sitting next to siblings like dill and blackcurrant snaps.

The snaps is not cask aged. It's built to be fresh and herbal, with the character coming from the raw ingredient itself rather than from wood and time.

Specifications

Name: Nettle Snaps
Distillery: Årø Vingård
Region/Country: Denmark
Type: Snaps
ABV: 35%
Size: 35 CL
Serving suggestion: Serve chilled, 4-8°C, in a small snaps glass

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Fresh · Herbal

Did You Know?

Årø has only around 155 permanent residents, yet the island still draws roughly 20,000 visitors a year, many of them coming specifically for the vineyard's wine, gin and snaps.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Nettle Snaps

What is Nettle Snaps from Årø Vingård?

It's a spiced Danish snaps at 35%, distilled at Årø Vingård's own facility on the island of Årø in the Little Belt. The snaps is part of the winery's spirits range, where they make several spiced snapses alongside their wine and gin.

Is Nettle Snaps cask aged?

No, it isn't cask aged. It's a fresh snaps, where the flavour comes from the raw ingredient rather than time spent on wood.

How should Nettle Snaps be served?

Best served chilled, around 4-8°C, in a small snaps glass. Like most spiced snapses, it works well alongside a Danish open sandwich spread.

Where does the snaps come from?

From Årø, a small island in the Little Belt between Haderslev and Assens with around 155 permanent residents. Årø Vingård has been there since 2004, making wine, apple wine and now spirits too.

Does Nettle Snaps make a good gift?

Yes, precisely because it comes from a small, relatively unknown distillery on a Danish island, it makes a good gift for someone who's already tried most things. It's not a bottle you'll come across in every shop.

What does "spiced snaps" mean?

It refers to a snaps flavoured with a specific herb or plant, in this case nettle, rather than being a traditional aquavit built on caraway or dill.