Other French Spirits

Eau-de-Vie: Fruit Brandies

France produces exceptional fruit brandies:

Alsace Excellence: - Poire Williams: Pear brandy, sometimes with pear in bottle - Framboise: Raspberry intensity - Mirabelle: Yellow plum specialty - Kirsch: Cherry brandy tradition

Other Regions: - Marc: Grape pomace brandy (like Italian grappa) - Fine: Grape brandy not from Cognac/Armagnac - Vieille Prune: Aged plum brandy

Liqueurs: Sweet Traditions

Monastic Origins: - Chartreuse: 130 herbs, monk-made since 1737 - Bénédictine: Normandy abbey recipe - Trappistine: Armagnac-based, from Provence monks

Regional Specialties: - Grand Marnier: Cognac and orange - Cointreau: Triple sec from Angers - Chambord: Raspberry liqueur in iconic bottle - Cassis: Blackcurrant from Dijon

Alpine Herbs: - Génépi: Mountain artemisia - Verveine du Velay: Verbena liqueur - Suze: Gentian root aperitif

Aperitifs and Digestifs

Anise Spirits: - Pastis: Provence's favorite (Ricard, Pernod) - Absinthe: The green fairy returns - Pontarlier: Traditional absinthe style

Wine-Based: - Pineau des Charentes: Cognac + grape must - Floc de Gascogne: Armagnac equivalent - Macvin du Jura: Marc + grape must - Ratafia: Various regional versions