Apricot Brandy – 350 ml

Gölles Marillenbrand 350 ml. The apricot as it smells on the tree.

Gölles Marillenbrand is a clear, double-distilled fine spirit made from three apricot varieties, bottled in a half-sized 350 ml bottle. No apricot liqueur, no sweetened fruit brandy, no spirit with barrel notes.

Gölles Marillenbrand is a fruit spirit from Riegersburg in Styria, made exclusively from fully ripe apricots. A spirit that truly smells of apricot is no given. All too often, apricot brandy reminds one more of compote or perfume than of fruit. Gölles, on the other hand, focuses on the aroma that a ripe apricot gives off on the branch. With 350 ml, you can check that for yourself.

Clear, straightforward, and true to the fruit

In the glass, Gölles apricot brandy immediately reveals fully ripe fruit, fresh and not over-cooked. On the palate, it is clear and straightforward. The sweetness is only hinted at, supported by a fine acidity. The finish lingers on the apricot without ever becoming perfumed. The color remains pale, as the spirit takes on neither color nor woody notes in the balloon glass.

This clarity has a downside for those who prefer it sweet. Anyone expecting a soft, sweet fruit flavor will find the spirit too cool and austere. In this case, the apricot liqueur from the same distillery is the better choice. It is made using this exact spirit but also includes fruit juice, pieces of fruit, and a little sugar.

A rounded glass instead of a schnapps glass

A fine spirit like this is best enjoyed at 16 to 18 °C. Coldness puts the fruit to sleep, so the bottle should not go in the freezer. Choose a rounded glass with a narrow chimney, i.e., a narrow opening that concentrates the aroma.

The classic Austrian schnapps glass, the small straight glass found in Austrian inns, is less suitable for this spirit. It lets the aroma escape, which plays the leading role here. Pour 2 cl and wait a moment before bringing the glass to your nose.

Based on experience: Try the apricot brandy after a dessert with stone fruit, such as peach crumble or quark strudel with roasted apricots. The fruit in the glass picks up the fruit on the plate without competing with it. With very chocolatey desserts, however, it gets lost.

One week between ripe and too late

Apricots do not forgive tardiness. There is barely a week between the day of full ripeness and the day they are past it. Gölles therefore harvests in July and only distills what is freshly added to the mash.

Three varieties flow into the spirit: Kulmland Marille, Ungarische Beste, and Rosenmarille. Some variety contributes mainly aroma, another mainly acidity; together they create a balanced profile. Before fermentation, the fruit is pitted. The distillery then distills the mash twice in copper, and only the heart remains.

No sugar, flavorings, or extracts are added. There is no vintage on the label because the distillery strives for a consistent flavor profile. Vintages at Gölles are reserved for the aged XA rarities. By the way, Marille is the Austrian word for apricot, so the glass contains an apricot spirit.

The half-bottle as a gift with the scent of summer

What sets this apricot brandy apart is the discipline in harvesting and distilling, which reveals itself in the glass as pure fruit. The 350 ml bottle is a thoughtful gift for people who appreciate fruit spirits and want to discover a Styrian specialty. It is also perfect as a gift for a summer meal on the terrace. Its contents are enough to pour several times during a quiet evening for four.

Anyone who already knows the spirit and pours it regularly will opt for the 700 ml bottling. After transport, each bottle should rest for two to three weeks before being opened.

An apricot brandy that captures July in the bottle and shows how much fruit a clear fine spirit can preserve.