🥃 Kirsch de Fougerolles
Clear distillate of local cherries from 11 communes of Haute-Saône and the Vosges around Fougerolles: AOC name, at least 45% ABV, no sugar, rest at least 6 months.
Kirsch de Fougerolles is a clear cherry distillate with an appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) from the area around the small town of Fougerolles. The zone covers 11 communes in the departments of Haute-Saône and the Vosges. Strength is at least 45% ABV, volatile substances are at least 400 g per hectolitre of pure alcohol, and sugar is forbidden.
Orchards. The cherries are of the species Prunus avium in two types: the gean with soft flesh and small dark wild cherries. Local varieties must make up at least 80% of the trees. The trees are planted in meadows where cattle graze, sparsely and on tall stems; in new orchards up to 200 trees per hectare. About forty local varieties are known, such as Béchat or Chapendu.
Production. The fruit ferments without heating and without added yeast. It is distilled from 15 August to 30 April in copper batch pot stills, once or twice, or in a column of up to three plates. The average daily strength of the distillate is up to 72% ABV. It then rests for at least six months in neutral containers.
Tradition. Fougerolles has been called the kirsch country since the end of the 18th century. According to the technical specification, four distilleries and 37 farmer-distillers work in this commune alone. Cherry growing and kirsch making are on France's national inventory of intangible cultural heritage. There are now about 15,000 cherry trees, compared with 35,000 in the 1950s.
Why this matters to you. The name Kirsch de Fougerolles guarantees local cherries, copper stills, no added sugar and a strength of at least 45% ABV, above the general EU limit of 37.5%. A small glass therefore holds a lot of ethanol. The WHO notes that there is no safe amount of alcohol.
Facts
| EU category | category 9, fruit spirit; AOC of France |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Regulation (EU) 2019/787; technical specification approved by decree No 2015-11 of 7 January 2015 |
| Raw material | Prunus avium cherries (gean and wild cherries); local varieties on at least 80% of trees |
| Distillation method | batch copper pot stills; column up to 3 plates, still up to 50 hl; from 15 August to 30 April |
| Minimum maturation | rest at least 6 months in neutral containers |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | from 45% ABV; no sugar |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Kirsch de Fougerolles → then → 🍷 Alcoholic fermentation ← goes through ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Next step
- 🥃 Distillation, 🍷 Alcoholic fermentation
- Made from
- 🥃 Cherry (sour and sweet)
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Kirsch (Kirschwasser), 🥃 Fruit spirit
- Related to
- 📜 Franche-Comté
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Fränkisches Kirschwasser, 🥃 Mirabelle (mirabelle plum spirit), 🥃 Kirsch Friulano, 🥃 Kirsch Friulano, 🥃 Kirsch Trentino, 🥃 Kirsch Trentino, 🥃 Kirsch d'Alsace, 🥃 Kirsch d'Alsace
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that sugar can be added to Kirsch de Fougerolles?
No. The AOC specification forbids sweetening. Only the fermentation of the fruit's own sugar, without heating and without added yeast, is allowed.
Where is Kirsch de Fougerolles made?
In 11 communes: six whole communes and parts of two in Haute-Saône, and three communes in the Vosges, including Plombières-les-Bains and Le Val-d'Ajol.
What is the strength of Kirsch de Fougerolles?
At least 45% ABV at the time of sale; volatile substances at least 400 g per hectolitre of pure alcohol.
When is kirsch distilled?
From 15 August to 30 April of the following year, using only the fruit of a single harvest.
Why are the trees so tall?
To keep the meadows under the orchard for livestock and the typical landscape. In mature trees the crown must start at least 1.8 m above ground.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Alcoholic fermentation — Yeast eats the sugar in the must and releases alcohol and carbon dioxide.
- 🥃 Distillation — Distilling a fermented liquid: ethanol evaporates before water, the vapor is cooled and collected; in batches in a pot still or continuously in a column.
- 🥃 Mirabelle (mirabelle plum spirit) — Spirit of fermented mirabelle plums, a yellow plum: in the EU from 37.5% vol., methanol up to 1200 g/hl; three protected names (Mirabelle de Lorraine, d'Alsace, Schwarzwälder).
- 🥃 Cherry (sour and sweet) — Stone fruits used for kirsch (cherry distillate), maraschino (liqueur from Marasca cherry), cherry liqueurs and palinkas; in the EU kirsch is at least 37.5% ABV.
Similar
🥃 Kirsch d'Alsace · 🥃 Fränkisches Kirschwasser · 🥃 Schwarzwälder Kirschwasser · 🥃 Kirsch Friulano · 🥃 Kirsch Trentino · 🥃 Südtiroler Kirsch
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- BO Agri, 15.01.2015: Cahier des charges de l'AOC « Kirsch de Fougerolles », homologated by décret n° 2015-11 of 7 January 2015 (JORF 09.01.2015): fruit spirit (cat. 9); 11 communes in Haute-Saône and Vosges; guignes and merises (Prunus avium), local varieties ≥ 80 % of trees; new orchards ≤ 200 trees/ha, pré-vergers ≤ 100; fermentation without heating or added yeast; distillation 15 Aug – 30 Apr, copper batch stills (multi-stage ≤ 3 plates, boiler ≤ 50 hl), daily average ≤ 72 % vol.; ≥ 6 months in neutral vessel; no sweetening; min. 45 % vol., volatile substances ≥ 400 g/hl a.a.; 4 distilleries and 37 farm distillers in Fougerolles
- Ministère de la Culture: Fiche d'inventaire du patrimoine culturel immatériel « La culture de la cerise et la fabrication du Kirsch de Fougerolles » — pré-vergers, c. 40 local varieties (Béchat, Jean Blanc, Chapendu …), 15,000 kirsch cherry trees vs 35,000 in the 1950s, c. 500 t cherries a year, kirsch tradition from the late 18th century
- Regulation (EC) No 110/2008, Annex III as at 31.01.2020 (legislation.gov.uk): France — Kirsch de Fougerolles, Kirsch d'Alsace (9. Fruit spirit)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I: category 9 — fruit spirit (only fruit, distilled < 86 % vol., min. 37.5 % vol., no added alcohol, not flavoured)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)