Eau de vie

In English-speaking countries, eau de vie refers to a distilled beverage made from fruit other than grapes.

Although eau de vie is a French term, similar beverages are produced in other countries (e.g., German Schnaps, Greek ούζο, Turkish rakı, Balkan rakia, Romanian țuică, Czech and Slovak pálenka, Hungarian pálinka, and Sri Lankan coconut arrack).

Many eaux de vie made from fruits, wine, pomace, or rye have a protected designation of origin within the European Union.

[1] Geist can also be produced with vegetables, nuts, herbs, and other plant materials such as rose petals, mushrooms[1] or pumpkin seeds.

While most eaux de vie from the Alpine regions of Europe only rest very briefly in glass containers, others are aged in wooden casks before bottling.

Romanian țuică bătrână is aged in casks made from mulberry wood, which impart a pale brown color.