Thanks
Sadly I wasn't able to find any of the nicer brands I've tasted in restaurants and in my first foray into buying Schnapps, I bought some rather disappointing plum schnapps from the Co-Op, so wondered if anyone can recommend any supermarket or common brands as being better than others. I realise all taste is personal, but some pointers would be a great help.
Next time you taste a good one in a restaurant, ask the waiter to show you the bottle.
From among the not-so-expensive ones, I find Fassbind's Vielle Prune to be good.
Schnapps brennen is a form of arts and craft. In my opinion all the alpine countries have their own style.
For a range of Swiss Schnapps you might try the farmers' shop Landi
Another possibility is to visit trade exhibitions and canton fairs. You will probably find someone selling Schnapps and you can usually buy a small tasting portion.
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Not just alpine countries. I cannot think of any country that I've been to where I wasn't able to sample some white alcoholic drink of artesan origin with a distinct character of its own (and this includes Muslim countries)
Z,graggen from Lauerz, SZ, makes the best kräuterschnapps (herbal schnapps).
As with anything else, you get what you pay for. Good schnapps costs minimum Chf 35.-- per bottle (75cl) and for really nice schnapps that doesn't burn, look for double or tripple distilled.
hmmm that is right up my street for a real good flavoured one i think it pays to buy directly from a distillers....some really good Schnappses to try are
Abricotine and Williamine from the Valais Valley ( apricot and pear flavoured)
Damassine ( damsons flavoured from the Jura region)
Marc ( the swiss grappa) or Drusen/ french Lie....
Most of them you can get at Coop or Denner.....but try to source a distiller in your region...
Prost
Addendum: I did a quick general Google search ......"Schnapsbrennerei Interlaken", haven't found one in Interlaken itself but quite a lot of websites popped up,maybe worth a look at....if everything fails,,,,a tad further away is the Schnapsbrennerei Zürcher in Port,basically over the road from me and i can really recommend them! They also sell very small taster bottles so you could tast and sample before you decide to fork out more money for a bigger bottle of a Schnapps you really like.
I noticed before christmas that larger coops were selling sets of miniature Willisauer similar to the following, but in set of 8/10 or so.
http://www.coopathome.ch/b2c_coop/ca...0000000A0301CE
[edit: hmmm...damn link does not work]
These might be an interesting introduction to the varied styles - i went through a phase of drinking quite a bit of chrüter which is quite bitter, but not as 'bad' as the swedish Bäska droppar.
These are "industrial" schnapps, nothing to do with real schnapps fronm a distiller. You could compare these to Cote de Rhone wine at Chf 2.95/bottle, whilst the distillers product is more like a Cote de Rhone at Chf 15.-/bottle.
The difference is really there......but all the same they are both Cote de Rohne wine !
Swiss Distiller of the Year :
http://www.gunzwiler-destillate.ch/
Fantastic fruit schnapps. Can't get them in Coop. (And that's a good thing.......!!)