🥃 Medronho do Algarve

Medronho do Algarve is an EU-protected geographical name for a fruit spirit made from strawberry tree fruit (Arbutus unedo) from the hills of the Algarve in southern Portugal. The fruit is picked by hand from September, fermented for about 60 days and distilled in copper stills below 86% ABV. The strength of the finished spirit is 42 to 50% ABV.

In the EU register the name is listed from 12 June 1989. The technical file was submitted by the producers' association APAGARBE from Monchique, and control is carried out by the Algarve Wine Commission. The zone covers the municipalities of the Algarve, including Monchique, Aljezur and São Brás de Alportel, and several parishes of Odemira, Ourique and Almodôvar. The entire cycle, from fruit to ageing, takes place here.

Pickers discard unripe and overripe fruit, leaves and stalks: they add more acetaldehyde, methanol and grassy aromas to the spirit. Whole ripe fruit ferments with water in closed vessels at about 18 °C. It is distilled right after fermentation, traditionally from the end of January, discarding the «heads» and «tails».

Ageing is not mandatory. If it is done, it takes place in lightly toasted oak or chestnut barrels, and in new wood for no longer than six months, so as not to mask the fruit. Methanol is between 500 and 900 g per hectolitre of pure alcohol, volatile substances at least 200 g. The strawberry tree grows here at an altitude of 50–700 m, with about 3 000 hours of sunshine a year.

Why this matters to you. A genuine Medronho do Algarve carries the name's logo and a certification mark with a serial number on the label. The technical file stresses that it contains less methanol and ethyl acetate than an ordinary spirit made from these fruits. WHO reminds: there is no safe dose of alcohol.