A NEW ADDITION TO ABRAU TRADE HOUSE DISTRIBUTION PORTFOLIO – SCHNEEJAGER SCHNAPPS

Abrau Trade House, which is part of Abrau-Durso Group, has partnered with Handelshof NF & MS to become an official distributor of the Bavarian company, which produces schnapps, liqueurs and bitters under the Schneejager brand.

Cocktails are growing increasingly popular, while premium spirits enjoy growing interest, which calls for a broader range and new categories. The selection of schnapps and bitters in the market is rather narrow, while these drinks have excellent market potential. Handelshof NF & MS GmbH is a leading German schnapps manufacturer in its market segment. The distillery was founded in 1971 in Odenwald, Bavaria, and is known for its experiments with flavors and tastes of drinks. In February 2020, Handelshof NF & MS opened an office in Russia, and Abrau Trade House, which is part of Abrau-Durso Group, became the official distributor of the brand in Russia and the CIS. New products of the famous German brand, which makes schnapps, liqueurs and bitters, were thereby added to the distribution portfolio of Abrau-Durso.

The Schneejager (“Snow Hunter”) brand was picked for supplies to the CIS markets. The Schneejager range in Russia includes nine schnapps varieties, ten liqueurs, and a herbal bitter. Each of the drinks boasts a unique flavor composition. All of them are based exclusively on natural fruit and berries.

The young brand appeared in 2016 to support the lighter schnapps trend with alcohol content from 32% to 38% versus the regular 40% or more. The lower alcohol strength enables the drink to share its rich flavors in a more vivid way. The schnapps is easier to drink in order to keep the focus on the taste and flavor of its natural ingredients. The Schneejager schnapps varieties are fruit and berry distillates made from spring water and EU-certified fruit raw stuff. After fermentation at controlled temperatures the base of the drink undergoes double distillation in high-tech distillation vessels. The fruit schnapps will be marketed in Russia in both the classic 0.5-liter package and in the convenient 0.02-liter shot format, which contains not only the drink itself, but also the fruit, from which it is made – pieces of fruit, hazelnuts or berries. The high fruit concentration lends the beverage its vivid and rich flavor.

All of Schneejager liqueurs and bitters are based on distillates made exclusively from natural ingredients. The classic Bavarian bitter with alcohol content of 38% is based on assorted herbs that are typical of Alpine Germany. Schneejager liqueurs are made to an ancient recipe from more than 20 kinds of materials, with alcohol content varying from 15% to 30%. Available flavors include apricot, medlar, thorn, sea buckthorn, and unique compositions, such as rhubarb – vanilla. The liqueurs instantly create the ambience of a Bavarian orchard filled with sweet aromas.

Schneejager drinks are all based on classic recipes; however, the company’s endeavor to discover new flavors is ongoing. The Schneejager recipe for the line presented in Russia and the CIS was developed by specialists in association with Nikolay Fomenko, the co-owner of the brand and a well-known actor and musician.

“Schnapps is a traditional German drink. Its main advantage over other strong drinks is that alcohol comes from the fruit of the corresponding name without adding any alcohol. However, even after double distillation it retains its pronounced flavor. I am convinced that once you try this original drink it’s impossible to forget it. But what is even more important is that there is no ‘chemistry’ in it, it is as good as a vegan product,” said Nikolay Fomenko, a co-owner of the Schneejager brand in Russia.

Handelshof NF & MS was founded in 1971, when a schnapps and liqueur factory was founded in Amorbach, Odenwald, Bavaria. The company’s product range currently includes 26 flavors of fruit distillates and more than 30 liqueurs. The manufacturing facilities are still located in northern Bavaria, the largest agricultural region of Germany with its world-famous pristine picturesque nature. All Schneejager schnapps, liqueurs and bitters are based on alcohol derived exclusively from natural ingredients.

For more information about the Schneejager brand and its range, please visit: https://schneejager.ru