PR Lemon Schnapps Essence 20 ml

PR Lemon Schnapps Essence 20 ml

Lemon and spirit are one of the oldest couples in schnapps history. Back when citrus fruit was a costly luxury, people would pare it thinly and leave the peel to steep in the household spirit for grand dinners. The reason is easy to understand: the essential oils of the lemon dissolve willingly in alcohol and give a schnapps that is both festive and instantly understood – nobody has to learn to like lemon.

PR Lemon Schnapps gives you that classic style without any fuss. The flavour sits in the zest rather than the juice, which means aroma and freshness instead of sharp acidity. That makes the schnapps a natural companion to anything from the sea, but also an unusually useful drinks base: it behaves like a lemon-flavoured vodka and takes on juice, fizzy drinks and tonic with good humour.

Colour & Appearance

The finished drink is clear with a pale, light lemon-yellow tone – like a thin slice of lemon in a glass of water. Fresh and summery.

Nose

The nose is like drawing a grater across a sun-ripened lemon. The oils of the zest dominate – fresh, slightly floral and almost sweet – with a greener note of lemon leaf and lime in the background. There is also a little candied nuance that recalls lemon drops from the sweet bag.

Palate

The palate is clean and direct. Lemon zest comes first, aromatic and lightly bitter in that appetising way, followed by a soft, discreet sweetness that takes the edge off the spirit without making the drink sweet. The acidity is gentle – this is zest, not juice – and the mouthfeel is light and clear. Towards the end a fine bitterness from the pith appears, just enough to make the schnapps feel grown-up and not like squash.

Finish

The finish is short to medium, fresh and dry. Lemon oil and a little pithy bitterness remain, leaving the mouth cool and clean.

How to Use

The essence is mixed with vodka or neutral spirit and can be enjoyed straight away. 20 ml makes 750 ml of finished lemon schnapps. Instructions are on the label.

Serving Suggestions

• Ice cold with prawns, langoustines, crab and oysters.
• At the crayfish party as a fresher alternative alongside the dill schnapps.
• With cola and plenty of ice – simple and surprisingly good.
• With orange, lemon or pineapple juice for a sunny long drink.
• With tonic, cucumber and a slice of lemon as a change from gin and tonic.

About the Essence

PR Lemon Schnapps belongs to the PR (Prestige) series and is one of the easiest schnapps in the range to place – it goes down well with seasoned schnapps drinkers and with those who would otherwise say no to spiced spirits. Keep the finished bottle in the freezer and it turns syrupy and extra smooth.

In the kitchen a splash earns its keep in shellfish sauces, lemon marinades and sorbet, where it gives lemon aroma without extra acidity. The essence is highly concentrated and easy to measure, and for larger needs it is available in 25 litres.