Goldwasser infused with Fine Brandy of Chardonnay Grapes is a German herbal liqueur derived from the recipe for Original Danziger Goldwasser, enriched with brandy made from Chardonnay grapes. This version was created on the basis of the original 16th-century Goldwasser formula. It was produced to mark the company's 420th anniversary in 2018, using the original 16th-century Goldwasser recipe.
The brand originates from Gdańsk (formerly Danzig). Dutch immigrant Ambrosius Vermöllen, a 16th-century Mennonite who fled Lier, founded a distillery in the Gdańsk house "Der Lachs" in 1598, producing liqueurs under the same name. Today Goldwasser is made by the Hardenberg-Wilthen distillery in Nörten-Hardenberg, Germany; the recipe was created in 1606 at the Der Lachs distillery in Gdańsk, and production was moved to Germany in 1971.
This edition is built on the marriage of two elements. The liqueur combines Original Danziger Goldwasser with a three-year-old V.S.O.P brandy made from Chardonnay grapes from France. Goldwasser itself is based on a complex composition of herbs and spices. To create Goldwasser, around twenty roots and herbs were blended, including cardamom, coriander, juniper, cinnamon, lavender, cloves and thyme. In this version, the seasoning is rounded out by additional accents. Selected herbs and spices, such as orange and bitter orange peel, refine this liqueur and give it a harmoniously intense flavour.
The drink's hallmark remains the gold flakes suspended in the liquid. Genuine 22-carat gold flakes complete Goldwasser Chardonnay Brandy and make it something special. Goldwasser's flavour profile is spicy and sweet, and in this edition it is enriched by the vinous character of the brandy. The bottle contains 0.7 litres at 40% alcohol by volume.
The drink is usually served chilled or over ice, as well as as an ingredient in cocktails. Goldwasser works well neat and chilled, which is its traditional serving style as a digestif, while the 40% alcohol content provides the structure to carry the herbal composition without excessive sharpness.