Om du noen gang er i Kärnten, Østerrikes sydligste provins, foreslår jeg et besøk på herr og fru Bachers snapsdestilleri. Melitta og Arnold Backer er mann-og-kone teamet bak det lille firmaet.
Arnold viser oss rundt i den lille hagen. Eplene, pærene kirsebærene, druene og solbærene er råmaterialet. Dette er et meget lokalt og svært kortreist produkt.
Dette er hva du i hovedsak behøver for å produsere snaps:
Selv er jeg ikke særlig til snapsdrikker, eller annen drikker for den saks skyld. Men jeg kan jo ikke feige helt ut heller. Så jeg prøver en Holunder Brand, brygget på hyllebær. Ikke verst, uvanlig smak. Men 41% alkohol er for sterkt for meg.
Johannisbærlikøren (solbær) har bare 18 %. Mye bedre. Jeg prøver Zirbenlikör også, brygget på noe som minner om en furukongle, bare mindre. Nok en uvanlig smak. Mmm….
Melitta forstår raskt at en gjeng med reisejournalister som har tilbrakt hele dagen med å leke i fjellet har behov for noe litt mer substansielt sammen med all alkoholen. Hun serverer delikate og kjempegode smørbrød.
Herr og fru Bacher har drevet destilleriet siden 1975. Her er ingen industrielle produkter; alt er hjemmelaget og helt naturlig. Og hvis det skulle være nødvendig å bevise at dette er fluidum av høy kvalitet er det bare å kikke på alle diplomene og medaljene.
…livet er tross alt for kort til å drikke dårlig snaps
Lyst til å prøve snapsen?
Melitta og Arnold Backer har ingen gavebutikk på stedet, ingen webside eller noen glanset brosjyre. Dette er rett og slett en upretensiøs familiebedrift, nesten en lokal hemmelighet. Dersom du har lyst til å besøke herr og fru Bachers destilleri kan ditt hotell i Bad Bleiberg-området ordne det. Vårt besøk ble organisert av Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa Bleibergerhof.
Full åpenhet: Falkensteiner Hotels & Residences inviterte meg til Kärnten og sponset oppholdet.
The combination of open sandwiches and schnapps sound familiar. But I think I’ll save it for Christmas.
ItalianNotes recently posted..Sorrento holidays in Vico Equense
I thought that was familiar… Denmark at Christmas-time, of course!
I loved this couple and their philosophy and the schnapps of course!
Laurel recently posted..My Favorite Places to Eat in Munich
A fun visit, wasn’t it…
I’m not a big spirit drinker either but I always appreciate this sort of chemical-free liquor, it makes such a difference to the taste. What a lovely experience with the Bachers
Natasha von Geldern recently posted..Destination Italy: The Royal Palace at Caserta
It does make a difference, knowing it’s not industrially made.
It looks like a great place to visit, but 41% alcohol? I’m amazed you were still standing when they brought the sandwiches out!
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I only tried a little bit, as I’m a bit of wimp where alcohol is concerned
When in Rome. . . I love finding wonderful jewels of local crafts like this! I too would have enjoyed the scnhapps even though I don’t drink it either.
Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista recently posted..Eye Catching Porrentruy Switzerland
I love discovering these little gems, too.
I had no idea what went into schnapps – fascinating!
So simple, really, when there’s no artificial substances added.
Good schnapps is actually really good, and it seems to be usually done on a really small scale. The best schnapps I ever tried was actually done in a shed by dad of one of my friends….
Jarmo recently posted..Viva San Fermín! Viva Pamplona!
Yes, small scale production of schnapps (and so many other things) are often miles above the competition when it comes to quality.
Mmmm – I actually quite like schnapps. My experiences with them have been mostly Scandinavian, however, with a Swedish friend of mine always bringing back some when she would visit. A Norwegian I was speaking to at a function here told me that they also make them in Norway? Mostly homemade as I understand…
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In Norway schnapps mostly means Akevitt, made with caraway seeds. The most famous brand, Linje, is sent on a trip to Australia and back and so crosses the Equator (linje = line) twice. Something about the rolling motions of the ship and the changes in temperatures create a unique flavour. At least that’s what connoisseurs say. I’m sure you will be offered plenty around Christmas.
I am not a big fan of Schnapps, but I did tour a place near Vienna. It was fun and certainly worth the experience. We did not get food like that though. Yum!
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Even though I didn’t drink a lot, I think I would have staggered about without the food
This is just the place for me. I’m very into organic, natural products and love schnaps!
Absolutely the place for you then
We’re a big schnapps household with K being Bavarian. Pear is a favourite of mine, and the herby ones.
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The Bachers had some lovely pear schnapps, including Williams Birne.
Schanapps is a liquer? Sounds like the fruit-flavored liquers of Switzerland. And those folks look like so much fun.
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A nice and lively couple indeed
Nothing like a nice herbal schnapps when winter bites. I really enjoyed this post.
Thanks, Kim.
That looks like a really interesting place to go and spend an afternoon, just learning about their brewing process and then testing the product. It reminds me of when I was in St. Croix and I went to the Cruxian rum factory. Even though they are part of a larger company and therefore have to make more product it was still really cool to see how the rum was actually made.
Is it hard to get an appointment at the Bacher distillery? I was going to tell my friend who is in Austria right now to go and see it.
I shouldn’t think so. If your friend is in the Villach-area, her hotel or B&B could call and set up an appointment to visit.