Chalmers ‘The Spirit’ 500ml Grappa 2021

‘The Spirit’, made from the very same bunches of fruit as the Appassimento, encapsulates the next generation of the Chalmers story. Kim and Tennille with their no holds barred, no boundaries attitude, brimming with innovation and excitement, and Bart van Olphen whose experience in Germany inspired this rehydrated grape marc derived spirit: a white spirit that defies categorisation, a love child of Grappa, Schnapps and Eau de Vie, guided through the process by our assistant winemaker at the time, experienced distiller Megan Hume. The end result is an unadulterated pure expression of Moscato Giallo, showcasing the classic lifted floral and herbal notes with a hint of dried grape and umami aromas too. The clean palate has warmth and spice – magically it manages to be both bracing and delicate in nature.

A digestive style and crystal clear in the glass, ‘The Spirit’ is a pure, driven expression of Moscato Giallo, lifted and aromatic with chamomile flowers, pearl barley, caraway seed, loquat and grape skin notes. It’s got some fire paired with a generous mid palate to help tame the alcohol. The Spirit will sit comfortably on the dinner table at the completion of a meal, where it’s deliciously drinkable straight up, or as the hero in an aperitif style cocktail, depending on what takes your fancy.