What started as an initiative to use second-grade organic apples at the Earnscleugh Road Orchard has become an opportunity for the company to provide a more natural-tasting liquor.
Owner Russell Clayton said the apple and peach schnapps would be bottled within the next 12 months, once a fully automated bottling plant had been installed on-site.
Since May last year, 20 tonnes of the orchard's second-grade organic apples had been crushed and pressed into 12,000 litres of juice, which was fermented in two specially built copper stills.
Mr Clayton was left with about 3000 litres of distilled liquid which ranged from 80% to 90% alcohol.
‘‘The beauty of alcohol is that it has a long shelf life, so it [schnapps] can be done when we have the opportunity. This year, we are also experimenting with peaches,'' he said.
His schnapps will be marketed by the Earnscleugh Road Wine Company, which has already established a reputation for quality pinot noir.
Mr Clayton said his staff were still experimenting with the schnapps but initial tastings had returned ‘‘very positive'' feedback and he was happy with the product so far.
‘‘We are trying to focus on the natural flavour of fruit rather than the artificial flavour cheaper schnapps is made with. We are working closely with a filtration business based at the orchard for the time being,'' he said.
While the Earnscleugh Road Wine Company would eventually include schnapps, Mr Clayton said the priority was still to accommodate the clients and customers associated with wine.
‘‘Our main focus is to process this year's vintage first and then we'll move into our other options,'' he said.
The company was registered with New Zealand Customs and had licences to produce and sell grape and fruit wine as well as spirits and liquors.
