Late summer on the island of Sydfyn smells of ripe cherries and warm afternoon sun over the village of Skårup. On a small farm there, Lene True and Karsten Kjer Michaelsen pick the fruit by hand and turn it into something sweeter and more thoughtful than an ordinary schnapps.
The Expert's Description
Aqua Vitae Sydfyn Sydfynske Kirsebær Ratafia is a Danish cherry ratafia bottled at 35% ABV from the Sydfyn-based distillery Aqua Vitae Sydfyn.
The distillery was founded in 2005 by Lene True and Karsten Kjer Michaelsen as the first in Denmark to specialise in fruit brandy made in the French eau-de-vie style. The couple handles every step themselves, from picking the fruit to bottling the finished spirit, distilling on hand-built copper and stainless steel equipment sourced from Germany's Schwarzwald region.
Ratafia is an old French technique in which fermentation of fresh fruit juice is halted by adding spirit. The method preserves the fruit's natural sweetness instead of letting it convert into alcohol during fermentation, giving a spirit that tastes more distinctly of the fruit itself than a traditional brandy does. Here, it's Sydfyn cherries that take the lead.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Ripe, dark cherries with a trace of almond kernel and a touch of fresh fruit acidity.
Palate
Full cherry sweetness meets a lightly bitter stone-fruit note, carried on a soft, warm spirit base.
Finish
Medium in length, with the faint bitterness of cherry stone lingering last.
Specifications
Name: Aqua Vitae Sydfyn Sydfynske Kirsebær Ratafia
Distillery: Aqua Vitae Sydfyn
Country: Denmark
Type: Cherry ratafia
ABV: 35%
Size: 35 CL
Serving suggestion: Serve chilled, on its own or with a dark chocolate dessert
EAN: 57000002000002
Flavour Profile
Cherry · Almond kernel · Sweetness · Fruit depth
Did You Know?
The word ratafia comes from an old French custom of sealing a deal or friendship with a glass of the sweet fruit spirit, hence the phrase "rata fiat", meaning the agreement is confirmed.
