An eau de vie (plural, eaux de vie — also spelled eau-de-vie and eaux-de-vie) is a clear, colorless fruit brandy that is produced by means of fermentation and double distillation. The fruit flavor is typically very light.
In English speaking countries, eau de vie refers to a distilled beverage made from fruit other than grapes. Similar terms may be local translations or may specify the fruit used to produce it. Although eau de vie is a French term, similar beverages are produced in other countries (e.g., German Schnaps, Balkan rakia, Romanian tuica, Czech and Slovak pálenka, Hungarian pálinka, Sri Lankan coconut arrack, and Georgian chacha). In French speaking countries, however, there is also the term eau-de-vie de vin, which refers to eaux de vie from grapes, more precisely those that are not made in the Armagnac or Cognac regions of France. These alcoholic beverages are known as French brandy in the English speaking world..
Read more about Eau De Vie: Etymology, Production, Varieties, Serving
Famous quotes containing the words eau and/or vie:
“Ever notice how these European trains always smell of eau de cologne and hard boiled eggs?”
—Billy Wilder (b. 1906)
“With the old kindness, the old distinguished grace,
She lies, her lovely piteous head amid dull red hair
Propped upon pillows, rouge on the pallor of her face.
She would not have us sad because she is lying there,
And when she meets our gaze her eyes are laughter-lit,
Her speech a wicked tale that we may vie with her....”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)