Kirsch

Kirsch

Kirschwasser (/ˈkɪərʃvɑːsər/KEERSH-vahs-ər;, German for “cherry water”) is a clear, colorless fruit brandy traditionally made from double distillation of morello cherries, a dark-colored cultivar of the sour cherry. However, it is now also made from other kinds of cherries. The cherries are fermented complete (that is, including their stones). Unlike cherry liqueurs and so-called “cherry brandies,” Kirschwasser is not sweet.

The best Kirschwassers have a refined taste with subtle flavors of cherry and a slight bitter-almond taste that derives from the stones.

Kirschwasser is often simply called Kirsch in both German- and English-speaking countries.