Eau-de-vie

We received a bottle of eau-de-vie de framboise (from Clear Creek Distillery) as a wedding present and it's got me at a loss. How is this typically served? Once I open the bottle, how long is this stuff going to keep? Should I keep it in the fridge?

So many questions. I've just never encountered this stuff.

I would drink it straight up and chilled (say 55 degrees or so) and use it as a digestif. The bottle will keep for a long time (say as long as an open bottle of cognac). If you like grappa, you'll like eau de vie. Cheers.

The usual way an eau de vie is served in the US is in a snifter at room temperature. In Europe it would also be served room temperature (what else is new?) in small stemware with a flared lip (shaped like a miniature Duvel beer glass).

I too prefer a slightly chilled eau de vie but don't have the space to store the bottles, nor the time to remember to chill them. Left tightly corked your bottle will last as long as any other high alcohol spirit.

Clear Creek makes a spectacular pear brandy that I think is the equal to Alsatian, French, and German eaux de vie. The apple is also good, but not the equal of any calvados. I hope your raspberry is as good as their pear.

Eaux de vie are intensely fragrant with the fruit they are made of, whereas grappas are made from grape products. Place a small glass of eau de vie in the center of a table and see how long it takes for people to identify the fruit.

For anyone who cannot handle the fire of the liquid, a sugar cube in a teaspoon of eau de vie goes great with an afterdinner coffee. It is also the way the kids in my family (me included) were introduced to eau de vie.