🥃 Raisin spirit
EU category 8 spirit made only by distilling fermented extract of Corinth Black or Alexandria Muscat raisins, below 94.5% vol. at distillation, at least 37.5% in the bottle.
Raisin spirit (raisin brandy) is category 8 of the EU rules for spirit drinks. It is obtained only by distilling the fermented extract of two raisin varieties, Corinth Black and Alexandria Muscat. It is distilled below 94.5% vol. to keep the aroma and taste of the raw material. The minimum strength in the bottle is 37.5% ABV.
What makes it special. Unlike brandy or grappa, the raw material here is neither wine nor pomace but an extract of dried grapes. The varieties are narrowly defined: the Corinth Black, a small dark raisin, and Alexandria Muscat, which is used for wine, table grapes and raisins alike. No other grape can be used under this name.
Rules. Added alcohol is banned, as is flavouring; only caramel is allowed to adjust the colour. These requirements moved from Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 into the current Regulation (EU) 2019/787. The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) also describes raisin spirits as the distillation of fermented raisin extracts, at least 37.5% vol.
Where it is found. The category is rare, so on the label look for the legal name "raisin spirit" or "raisin brandy". Corinth Black takes its name from the Corinthian raisin in Greece. Similar grape spirits of the region, such as tsipouro, grappa and arak, belong to other categories.
Why it matters to you. The name raisin brandy does not mean a wine brandy: it is a separate category made from raisins, without flavourings or added alcohol. The strength is at least 37.5% ABV. The WHO reminds us that no level of alcohol consumption is safe.
Facts
| EU category | category 8 "raisin spirit / raisin brandy" of Regulation (EU) 2019/787 |
|---|---|
| Raw material | fermented extract of Corinth Black or Alexandria Muscat raisins |
| Distillation method | below 94.5% vol.; no added alcohol or flavouring |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | at least 37.5% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Raisin spirit → kind of → 🍇 Grape brandies → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Next step
- 🍷 Alcoholic fermentation
- Made from
- 🥃 Raisin, 🍇 Muscat of Alexandria
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🍇 Grape brandies
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Brandy, 🥃 Grappa, 🥃 Tsipouro, 🥃 Arak
Frequently asked questions
Is raisin brandy just ordinary brandy?
No. Brandy in the EU is made from wine, but raisin brandy is a separate category 8: distillation of fermented extract of two raisin varieties.
What raisins is raisin spirit made from?
Only from the Corinth Black and Alexandria Muscat varieties.
What is the ABV of raisin spirit?
At least 37.5% ABV; it is distilled below 94.5% vol. to keep the aroma of the raw material.
Can raisin spirit be flavoured?
No. Flavouring and added alcohol are banned; only caramel is allowed for colour.
How does raisin spirit differ from grappa?
Grappa is a spirit from grape pomace (category 6), while raisin spirit is distilled from fermented extract of dried grapes (category 8).
What to read next
- 🍇 Muscat of Alexandria — A white Muscat grape, from Greece according to VIVC; used for wine, the table and raisins; called Zibibbo in Italy.
- 🍷 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.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Armenian brandy · 🥃 Armagnac Ténarèze · 🥃 Haut Armagnac · 🥃 Georgian brandy · 🥃 Bas Armagnac · 🥃 Hors d'âge cognac
⚠️ 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 (EC) No 110/2008, Annex II as at 31.01.2020 (legislation.gov.uk): cat. 8 raisin spirit or raisin brandy — exclusively by distillation of the product of alcoholic fermentation of extract of dried grapes of the 'Corinth Black' or Moscatel of Alexandria varieties, distilled at less than 94.5 % vol.; min. 37.5 %; no added alcohol; not flavoured; caramel only to adapt colour
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks, Annex I, cat. 8 raisin spirit or raisin brandy
- OIV International Code of Oenological Practices, I.7.10 Raisin spirits — distillation of fermented raisin extracts keeping the taste and aroma of the raw materials; min. 37.5 % vol. (36 % for domestic market where earlier national law allows)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)