Kirsch is a cherry eau-de-vie. In May 2010, after several long years of procedures, the Fougerolles Kirsch finally obtained the label of AOC: “Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée”, or Protected Designation of Origin. This is the recognition of a product that is firmly rooted in the land of the Fougerolles region.
The characteristics of the terrain make it an excellent place for growing cherry trees.
The cultivation of these cherry trees and their distillation is an important activity for the area.
Fougerolles Kirsch is only the 4th eau-de-vie or brandy in France to receive the AOC label, after Cognac, Calvados and Armagnac.
The word Kirsch comes from the Alsace word “kirschwasser”, meaning “cherry water”.
The best cherries from grafted wild cherry trees are used. They are dark, sweet and have a small stone. The cherries, exclusively from Fougerolles, are picked without the stem, delivered to us quickly, sorted and checked, then placed in vats to ferment for 4 to 5 weeks. The stones, never crushed, give our Kirsch a slight almond taste which our customers love. After distillation, our Kirsch is aged for several years in glass jars in the storage cellar before being bottled.
The Lemercier Fougerolles AOC Kirsch can be drunk as a digestif, in a cocktail, in cuisine, desserts, confectionery, as well as in ice creams and sorbets...
