PR Blackcurrant Schnapps Essence 20 ml

PR Blackcurrant Schnapps Essence 20 ml

Walk past a blackcurrant bush on a warm day and brush your hand across the leaves. That scent – green, spicy, irresistible – is the secret behind one of the best-loved classics of the schnapps table. In a proper blackcurrant schnapps the berries speak, but so do the leaves and the tender shoots, which give the drink its aromatic, almost herbal lift.

PR Blackcurrant Schnapps follows that tradition. This is no sweet berry liqueur but a dry, fresh schnapps in which the fruit is clear yet kept on a tight rein. The dark berry character makes it soft and approachable, while the acidity and the spice of the leaves mean it copes admirably with pickled herring, smoked meats and the heavier dishes of the Christmas table. A schnapps that unites the beginner and the veteran at the same table.

Colour & Appearance

Once mixed, the schnapps takes on a light, warmly golden tone with a faint pink shimmer – more like a leaf tea than a cordial. It looks dry and elegant in the glass.

Nose

The nose is twofold. On top lie the currant leaves with their green, aromatic and slightly musky character, the scent of berry-picking in August. Beneath them are the berries themselves: dark, sun-warmed and tart, with a note of blackcurrant jelly and a small spicy puff of juniper and black pepper.

Palate

The palate begins fruity and ends spicy. Blackcurrants come first, ripe but with their acidity intact, so that the mouth waters at once. Then the green aromatics of the leaves take over and give a dry, almost herbal mid-palate with touches of black pepper and a little caraway. There is no real sweetness – only the natural roundness that dark berries bring with them. The mouthfeel is clean and direct, just as in a classic spiced schnapps.

Finish

The finish is medium-long and fresh. Tart berries, currant leaf and a little spicy warmth linger, with a faintly astringent note of berry skin at the very end.

How to Use

The essence is mixed with vodka or neutral spirit. The schnapps 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

• Well chilled in a schnapps glass – the way this classic most likes to be served.
• On the Christmas table with pickled herring, smoked sausage, liver pâté and ham with mustard.
• With a game dinner: roast elk, venison and cream sauce with blackcurrant jelly.
• With soda or tonic, ice and a couple of frozen currants as a long drink.
• A splash in the game gravy or the braised red cabbage gives a lovely berry depth.

About the Essence

PR Blackcurrant Schnapps belongs to the PR (Prestige) series and is one of those schnapps that tends to run out first when several kinds are on offer. Everyone recognises the flavour, and it is just as good with midsummer herring as with autumn game and the Christmas table in December.

The essence is highly concentrated and easy to measure. Mix it a couple of days before the party and keep the bottle cold, and the flavours will have married by the time the cork is drawn. For producers, restaurants and catering kitchens the same essence is available in 25 litres.