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A bottle of
Goldschläger. |
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Goldschläger is an Italian cinnamon schnapps (43.5% alcohol
by volume or 87 proof; originally it was 53.5% alcohol or 107 proof), a clear
liqueur with very thin, yet visible flakes of gold leaf floating in it. The
actual amount of gold is extremely small and serves as a sort of novelty: there
is currently less than a tenth of a gram (0.1 g) of gold flakes in a 750 ml
bottle of Goldschläger, which, as of January 19, 2010, amounts to about
3.01 USD on the international gold market. |
Despite having Swiss origins, Goldschläger is a product
of Italy and the brand is owned by Diageo. The German word Goldschläger ("gold beater") designates
the profession of gold leaf makers, who beat bars of gold into micrometer-thin
sheets.
A few years after its introduction, Goldschläger was reformulated to contain
less gold due to some alleged accounts of individuals suffering allergic
reactions. An urban legend about Goldschläger is that the gold flakes cut
the throat or stomach upon ingestion, allowing the alcohol to directly enter the
bloodstream for quicker intoxication. In reality, gold is known for its softness
and malleability, and given that the flakes do not have sharp edges, no such
lacerations occur.
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