PR Herb Garden Schnapps Essence 20 ml

PR Herb Garden Schnapps Essence 20 ml

Picture an old monastery garden on a warm July afternoon. Bed after bed of culinary herbs, neatly framed in box hedging: sage and thyme in the sun, mint in the shade by the wall, camomile that has seeded itself between the stones of the paths. It was in gardens like these that the art of steeping herbs in spirit was born – and that tradition is the starting point for Herb Garden Schnapps.

No fewer than 25 herbs and spices share the recipe. It could have ended up muddled, but here the thinking is the opposite: no single plant is meant to stand out; all of them melt together into one round, warm herbal whole. The result is a schnapps in the gentle stomach-bitter style – aromatic and lightly bitter, yet considerably friendlier than a pure wormwood schnapps. It is as much at home beside the pickled herring as in a small glass with coffee.

Colour & Appearance

The finished schnapps takes on a warm, golden-brown tone like pale amber or strong camomile tea. It looks homely and inviting in the decanter.

Nose

The nose is rich and ever-changing – each time you dip into the glass you find something new. Mint and lemon zest give the first fresh impression, then come sage, thyme and rosemary with their warm, resinous greenness. Anise and fennel add sweetness, camomile a soft floral note, and at the base there is a suggestion of coriander seed and a little rooty bitterness.

Palate

The palate is soft, round and many-layered. It opens with a lightly sweet note of anise and cooling mint, then broadens into a wide middle of garden herbs in which sage and thyme are the easiest to recognise, and lands in a mild, pleasant bitterness with touches of bitter orange and dried orange peel. Coriander and a hint of cardamom bring warmth. The bitterness is present but always in the background – it frames the herbs instead of competing with them.

Finish

The finish is long and warm, with camomile, anise and lightly bitter citrus fading out quietly. A schnapps to linger over.

How to Use

The essence is mixed with vodka or neutral spirit and can be enjoyed straight away, though the flavour rounds off if the blend is left to rest for a few days. 20 ml makes 750 ml of finished schnapps. Instructions are on the label.

Serving Suggestions

• Cool with the pickled herring, pâtés and spiced sausages of the Christmas table.
• In a small glass at room temperature with coffee after a good dinner.
• With the cheeseboard – especially fine with mature hard cheese and spiced cheese.
• With tonic, ice and a sprig of thyme for a herbal long drink.
• A couple of teaspoons in a cup of hot tea with honey on a raw autumn evening.

About the Essence

PR Herb Garden Schnapps belongs to the PR (Prestige) series and is a fine choice for anyone wanting a spiced schnapps with more depth than the simple single-spice kinds, but without the hard bitterness of a wormwood schnapps. Many people keep it as the all-round house schnapps, since it works both with the meal and after it.

The essence is highly concentrated and gives the same balanced herbal blend every time – something hard to achieve when seasoning with 25 different plants yourself. For producers and restaurants it is also available in 25 litres.