🥃 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; Mirabelle de Lorraine is an AOC.
Mirabelle is a clear fruit spirit obtained by fermenting and distilling mirabelle plums, a small yellow plum (Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca). In the EU “mirabelle” is a separate legal name in category 9 of Regulation 2019/787, distinct from “plum” or “slivovitz”. Strength is from 37.5% vol., and added alcohol, flavourings and colourings are forbidden.
The limits for mirabelle are the same as for plum. Methanol is allowed up to 1200 g per hectolitre of pure alcohol, hydrocyanic acid from the stones up to 7 g/hl, and volatile aroma substances must be at least 200 g/hl. Each distillation must be below 86% vol., so that the aroma comes from the fruit, and no more than 18 g/l of sugar may be added. Caramel for colour is allowed only after a year in contact with wood.
The EU register holds three protected mirabelle names, all from 12 June 1989: Mirabelle de Lorraine and Mirabelle d'Alsace (France) and Schwarzwälder Mirabellenwasser (Germany). The best known is the Lorraine one. According to the French institute INAO, Mirabelle de Lorraine is a white eau-de-vie with a controlled designation of origin (AOC). Its area covers, wholly or partly, four departments of Lorraine — Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Moselle and Vosges — 1275 communes in all.
INAO notes that Lorraine yields fruit of optimal ripeness for distillation, and that the two main mirabelle varieties are named after the two main cities of the region — Metz and Nancy.
Why it matters to you. “Mirabelle” on a label guarantees mirabelle plums, not just any plum. The words “de Lorraine”, “d'Alsace” or “Schwarzwälder” confirm the origin. A clear colour is normal, because colouring the spirit is not allowed. WHO: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| EU category | 9 — fruit spirit; legal name “mirabelle” |
|---|---|
| Alcohol (% vol.) | from 37.5% vol. |
| Raw material | fermented mirabelle plums (Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca) |
| Distillation method | each distillation below 86% vol.; methanol up to 1200 g/hl, hydrocyanic acid up to 7 g/hl |
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787, cat. 9; 3 EU GIs since 12.06.1989; AOC Mirabelle de Lorraine (INAO) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Mirabelle (mirabelle plum spirit) → kind of → 🍎 Fruit brandies → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Next step
- 🍷 Alcoholic fermentation, 🍷 Yeast
- Packed in
- 🍷 Wine label
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 French
- Part of
- 🍎 Fruit brandies, 🥃 Fruit spirit
- Related to
- 📍 Lorraine, 📍 Alsace, 🗺️ German wine, 🗺️ French wine
- Similar and different
- 🍸 Liqueurs, 🥃 Slivovitz (šljivovica), 🥃 Poire Williams (Williams pear spirit), 🥃 Slivovitz (šljivovica), 🥃 Poire Williams (Williams pear spirit), 🥃 Békés plum pálinka (Békési Szilvapálinka), 🥃 Nagykunság plum pálinka (Nagykunsági szilvapálinka)
Frequently asked questions
What is mirabelle made from?
From fermented mirabelle plums, a small yellow plum (Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca). Each distillation is below 86% vol. (category 9 of EU Regulation 2019/787).
What is the minimum strength of mirabelle?
37.5% vol., as for all EU fruit spirits.
Is it true that mirabelle is just a plum spirit?
No. Although mirabelle is a subspecies of plum, the EU regulation gives it its own legal name “mirabelle” and keeps “plum”, “quetsch” and “slivovitz” for ordinary plums.
What is Mirabelle de Lorraine?
A white eau-de-vie with a controlled designation of origin (AOC), made from Lorraine mirabelles; the area covers 1275 communes in four departments. The name has been protected in the EU since 1989.
Can mirabelle be sweetened or coloured?
It can be sweetened only to round off the taste, up to 18 g/l. It cannot be coloured; caramel is allowed only after at least a year in contact with wood.
What to read next
- 🗺️ French wine — The country's wine and winemaking: regions, grapes and appellations.
- 🍷 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.
- 🍷 Wine label — The sticker on a bottle: who made it, where from, the year and strength.
- 🍷 Yeast — Microscopic fungi that turn sugar into alcohol and gas.
Similar
🥃 Fruit spirit · 🍏 Cider spirit and perry spirit · 🥃 Kirsch (Kirschwasser) · 🥃 Poire Williams (Williams pear spirit) · 🥃 Slivovitz (šljivovica) · 🍓 Geist
⚠️ 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
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I
- INAO: Mirabelle de Lorraine (AOC, eaux-de-vie de fruits) — fiche produit
- eAmbrosia (EU register of geographical indications): Mirabelle de Lorraine, PGI-FR-01976 (EUGI00000014136)
- eAmbrosia (EU register of geographical indications): Mirabelle d'Alsace, PGI-FR-01985 (EUGI00000014095)
- eAmbrosia — EU register of geographical indications, public API (spirit drinks; data of 20.10.2026)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)