Mirabelle Eau de Vie

A mirabelle is a small, round yellow plum, flecked with red and full of sugar, with a delicate flavour. The fruit used in distilling is harvested when they have fully ripened, in late August or early September. They are picked mechanically after shaking the tree. Their preferred regions are Lorraine, Alsace and Franche-Comté.

Once set to fermenting, the raw material is stirred daily to prevent the formation of a “cap” on the surface, where bacteria could potentially accumulate. After fermentation, the fruit is then distilled, and the eau de vie is left to rest in the shelter of the cellar before being bottled.