Schwarzwälder Kirschwasser

I haven't had a drink of whiskey in a few weeks, since some friends and I had our virtual tasting over some amazing drams. But I was in the mood to write, so here we go with a very unusual spirit. This is a clear spirit distilled from cherries with pith. I have no idea if it's meant to be drunk neat or in cocktails. Personally, I wouldn't drink it neat; it's tart, dry, and doesn't taste like cherries at all since the tartness and dryness dominate. However, I got this as a key ingredient for making Black Forest cake (more on that later, as that will be a Christmas dessert I'm making). Instead, last night I had it with hot chocolate. Yes. Hot chocolate. 3/4 ounce of this, over some hot chocolate (I had simple Swiss Miss, but I suspect it would be more decadent over Godiva), topped with fresh whipped cream. It's amazing. NOW the cherry taste comes out! It adds that bit of tart cherry to the sweet hot chocolate. If you've ever had Mexican hot chocolate, where cinnamon adds a bit of spice to the sweetness, this does something similar with a bit of tart cherry flavor. I found a new love, and she comes from Switzerland by way of Bavaria. Already looking forward to that Black Forest cake...

This is actually from Schladerer; Schwarzwälder signifies the Black Forest region of Germany, its origin. It appears clear, with prominent nutty and alcohol aromas. A faint cherry note is present in the background. The flavor mirrors the aroma, but with less alcohol. It has a medium body and a medium-short finish. This is my first kirschwasser, and I'm enjoying it. I find its tartness quite refreshing, and there's no burn. The flavor is unique among what I've tried. I'm eager to sample other brands, potentially including German and Swiss ones if I travel there.

The best kirschwasser available in the US. It has the heat of schnapps, a bitter stone fruit quality, and a prominent cherry aroma.

Too potent relative to the depth of flavor.