Ziegler Nr.1 Wildkirsch 0,7l 43% alc. by vol 'old release from the 1980's'

Specialist report: Ziegler No. 1 Wild Cherry 43% vol (0.7 l)

Vintage bottling ca. 1980s - A forgotten jewel of German fruit brandy art

This historic bottlingof Ziegler Wild Cherry Brandy represents a bygone era of artisan fruit distilling in the Allgäu. As part of the legendary "No. 1" series (Ziegler's premium line of the 1970-90s), it embodies raw material authenticity and traditional processing before the globalisation of the spirits markets.

1. historical context & production peculiarities (1980s)

2. sensory profile (based on archive tastings & eyewitness reports)

Typical speciality of the time:

"The direct firing lent a smoky base note - not a defect, but a historical signature!"
(Source: Allgäu distillery chronicle, 1998)

3. quality comparison: old vs. modern

4. market valuation & collector relevance

5. storage risks & tasting notes

⚠️ Cork degeneration

After 40+ years of cork migration likely → regrouping destroys authenticity.
Solution: Check cork before tasting (do not pull, but turn carefully).

⚠️ Sensory devolution

Potential flavour flattening due to excessive oxidation (when stored in light).
Identification: Lack of cherry fruit + dominant "cardboard box" note = incorrect storage.

⚠️ Tasting protocol

1. Do not refrigerate! Room temperature (18°C) releases aromas.

2. 30 min. aeration in the glass (Rastal "distillate").

3. Max. 2 cl per tasting - intensity overwhelms the inexperienced.

6. ethnospiritual significance

• Cultural technique: Documents traditional wild collection - hardly possible today for reasons of species conservation (protection of bird breeding grounds).

• Sensory archive: Preserves the flavour profiles of historical wild cherries (altered by climate change/varietal extinction).

• A tool of the trade: demonstrates the influence of precise direct firing - a forbidden art under today's efficiency requirements.

Conclusion

The Ziegler No. 1 Wild Cherry Brandy from the 1980s is more than just a spirit - it is a liquid monument to German distilling culture. Its sensory complexity, characterised by wild fruit, radical craftsmanship and four decades of bottle ageing, puts modern products in the shade. For collectors, it is the "Allgäu equivalent of vintage Armagnacs": rare, expensive and with a mystical aura. Tasting it is like travelling back in time - with all the risks associated with unique historical products.

"When you taste this brandy, you don't taste cherries, but the disappearance of an artisanal era."
- Johannes Ziegler (grandson of the founder) in oral tradition, 2005

🔍 Curation tip:

• When storing in the original box, insert → silica gel bag to protect against moisture.

• Document fill level (photograph with measuring tape) - crucial for resale value.

• Only open for scientific comparison tastings - each opened bottle reduces the world supply by 5%.

✦ Note:This report is based on archive material and expert interviews. An actual tasting of the vintage described could not be carried out.