Review: Xanté Liqueur
If you’d have told me someone was going to try to blend cognac with the essence of pears and bottle it as a liqueur, I’d have told you that was nuts.
But Xanté isn’t nuts, it’s real. And it is indeed a lot like pears, defying all logic and expectations about what a deep brown liqueur ought to smell and taste like.
Xanté is a product of the same folks behind Cherry Heering, a Danish company, and it’s reportedly a big seller in Scandinavia. Crafted from all-natural ingredients, it’s French cognac infused with flavor drawn from Belgian pears, resulting in a sugar content of 17 percent. And now it’s coming to the U.S.
As noted, pear is dominating on the nose, and the body gives way to lush sweetness, though not so much that it’s cloying. Pears come on strong as the sweetness fades, along with some vanilla from the cognac and a touch of cinnamon, too. Despite being 76 proof, it’s quite easy drinking. Serve as cold as possible; I like it best on the rocks, as a little meltwater helps smooth and balance things out. Also works well in sweet cocktails — dessert drinks or anything with lots of fruit juice.
Definitely worth checking out, especially if you’re a fan of the humble pear — or just want to see what it can really do.
76 proof.
A- / $40 / kindredspiritsusa.com [BUY IT NOW FROM THE WHISKY EXCHANGE]
Xanté Liqueur
$40
Hey guys,
There is a few facts i’d like to correct – Xanté is huge in the nordic countries and growing like crazy. Nordics are 24 millon people over 4 countries and we did 1,2 million bottles on the 13th year. We grow more every year then any other brand. In domestic Sweden alone, we do 250.000 bottles. I know it may seem as very little but Sweden is 1/2 the size of LA meassured in people. So yes its a lot. Imagine LA drinking 500.000 bottles a year!
When it comes to cocktails – my favorite thing – I want to claim that Xanté is the most exciting & versatile spirit I have ever worked with. It rocks the world of any other product I have tasted. I can create a world of different cocktails to suit ANY taste. When I come over this summer I will teach the locals a few new things. Xanté is by far the most interesting spirit I have worked with in the past 18 years. I challenge any brand to a good ol fashion duel.
I agree that this is a great spirit, being a Swede who now lives in the US I wonder where I can find some. This spirit is so yummi and make perfect drinks everytime people always ask me what my secret is when I make my summer punch.