If you’re in Carinthia, Austria’s southernmost province, may I suggest a visit to the award-winning Bacher schnapps distillery?
I’m instantly charmed by Melitta and Arnold Bacher, the husband-and-wife team running the operation.
Arnold takes us around his little garden. The apples, pears, cherries, grapes, johannisbeer (currants), they all provide raw materials for the schnapps production. This is a very local and extremely short travelled product.
In essence, this is what you need to produce schnapps:
I’m not much of a schnapps drinker, or any kind of drinker at all, actually, beyond wine. But can’t be a wimp now, can I? So I brave the liquids and sample a Holunder Brand, brewed on elderberries. It has an interesting flavour. Though 41% alcohol is a bit strong for my taste.
At a mere 18%, however, the Johannisbeerlikör, brewed on currants, goes down a treat. I try the Zirbenlikör as well, made on a cone or nut, reminiscent of pine cones, only smaller. It’s unusually flavourful, a nice, lingering taste.
Melitta cleverly realises a bunch of travel writers, slightly weary from jam-packed days playing in the mountains, need a bit of sustenance to go with the alcohol, and serves up delicate and delicious sandwiches.
The Bachers have been in business since 1975. There are no industrial products here, everything is authentic, all-natural, hand-made with love – in short, this is the good stuff. And if one should need further proof these are high-quality products, medals and awards abound. After all…
…life’s too short to drink bad schnapps
Want to sample the schnapps?
The Backers have no gift shop, no website, no glossy brochures. That’s as it should be. This is a quiet, unassuming family business, a local secret. However, if you’re keen to visit, your hotel or pension in the Bad Bleiberg area can arrange it. The Falkensteiner Hotel Bleibergerhof organised our visit.
Disclosure: In Carinthia, I was a guest of Falkensteiner Hotels & Residences.
The combination of open sandwiches and schnapps sound familiar. But I think I’ll save it for Christmas.
I thought that was familiar… Denmark at Christmas-time, of course! 🙂
I loved this couple and their philosophy and the schnapps of course!
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 🙂
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!
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.
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….
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…
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!
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.
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.
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.
Die Bachers sind lange bekannt.
Nicht nur der Schnaps, sondern Arno als Sportler vor vielen Jahren.
Ich besuche die Familie in nächster Zeit.
Kindheitserinnerungen und Urlaube mit Arnold und Familie habe ich nie vergessen.
Ah, wie interessant. Ich wußte nicht, daß Herr Bacher Sportler war. Sehr nette Leute, die beiden.