Style of Spirit

Anyone asking what Damassine actually is gets a clear answer in Jura: brandy made from Damasson rouge, harvested and distilled within the canton of Jura. No ordinary plum brandy, and no quetsch, may use this name. Quetsch plums are larger and blue; the Damasson rouge is red and mirabelle-sized.

Switzerland grants AOP status to exactly four spirits. Besides Damassine, these are Valais pear brandy (Eau-de-vie de poire du Valais), Abricotine from Valais, and Zug cherry brandy, which may also be called Rigi Kirsch. Each is tied to one fruit and one landscape, and Damassine is the only plum brandy among them.

In the glass, it's clear. The specifications describe an intensely powerful flavor of small wild plums, along with bitter almond and the scent of cut dry hay. Fruity, sweetish or spicy notes may also appear. Every bottle must be at least 40% ABV at the point of sale.

The label reveals more than most brandies do: vintage, harvest municipality, and the addition "produced from grafted trees" or "produced from wild trees." That way, every bottle stays tied to a place, a year and a type of tree.

The name also protects foodstuffs. Anyone calling a product "with Damassine" may not use any other spirit, liqueur or alcohol alongside the Damassine, and the plum's flavor must remain detectable in the finished product. This applies to any food item featuring Damassine, such as jam or pastries.