Himbeergeist is a type of German Schnaps that is distinguished by its method of production from other Schnaps. It is produced by means of distilling a mixture of neutral spirit

Neutral grain spirit

Neutral grain spirit is a clear, colorless, flammable liquid that has been distilled from a grain-based mash to a very high level of ethanol content...

 (of 95.6% purity) and fresh, ripe raspberries

Raspberry

The raspberry or hindberry is the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in the genus Rubus, most of which are in the subgenus Idaeobatus; the name also applies to these plants themselves...

. This process is used (instead of fermentation of the raspberries) because raspberries contain very little sugar and therefore produce little alcohol when fermented.

The mixture of alcohol and raspberries is rested for several weeks to transfer flavor and aroma to the alcohol. It is then distilled and bottled at 40% ABV

Alcohol by volume

Alcohol by volume is a standard measure of how much alcohol is contained in an alcoholic beverage .The ABV standard is used worldwide....

 or stronger.

Himbeergeist is produced mainly in Germany and the Alsace

Alsace

Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...

 region of France. Its name is derived from the German Himbeere (raspberry) and Geist (spirit).

See also

• Brandy
  Brandy
  Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
  
  
• Fruit brandy
• Eau-de-vie
• German Schnaps