Goldschläger is a cinnamon schnapps liqueur that is popular among the college crowd, because it makes for an easy drinking and pretty shooter. I couldn’t dig up when Goldschläger was first put on shelves, however I can tell you that there was an Aniseed and Caraway Seed based liqueur produced in 1598 in Germany that contained gold in order to treat certain illnesses. It is believed that Goldschläger, which was first made in Switzerland, was inspired from this original liqueur.
One of the most striking features of Goldschläger is its signature gold flakes, which are suspended throughout the liquor. These flakes are made from real 24-karat gold and are completely safe to consume. In fact, gold has been used in traditional medicine for centuries due to its alleged health benefits.
In terms of taste, Goldschläger is a sweet and spicy cinnamon schnapps. It has a warming effect and can be consumed neat, on the rocks, or mixed into cocktails. Its unique flavor profile makes it a versatile ingredient in various cocktails, and its golden appearance makes it a great addition to any party or special occasion.
Best Goldschläger Cocktails
While Goldschläger is commonly used in shots, it is also a popular ingredient in several cocktails. One of the most famous cocktails made with Goldschläger is the Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Other cocktails that feature Goldschläger include the Gold Rush, which combines the liquor with honey syrup and fresh lemon juice, and the Hot Apple Pie, which mixes Goldschläger with apple cider and whipped cream.
Why Does Goldschläger Get You Drunk?
There is a silly rumour out there that the flakes of gold Goldschläger cut your throat and stomach allowing the alcohol to enter your bloodstream, which gets you drunk faster. This rumour is completely fake. The flakes of gold are way too thin to ever cut your skin. You can try this out by removing a gold flake from Goldschläger and pressing it between your fingers.
Furthermore, the gold in Goldschläger is safe to drink because we do not absorb it. All of that gold will come out in your poop. After being on the market for decades, I feel there’d be horror stories of bleeding bathroom breaks after a night of drinking Goldschläger.
The reason why you get drunk off of Goldschläger is because it has a high ABV or 43.5%. One ounce of Goldschläger is like drinking a beer or a glass of wine. So consuming 5 shots of Goldschläger in a half an hour, you’re going to start feeling tipsy fast as that is equivalent to drinking a bottle of wine.
Is the Gold in Goldschläger Valuable?
While the Gold in Goldschläger is real gold, it is not valuable. In 2021 it was reported that a 1 Liter bottle of Goldschläger to contain between $0.75 US worth of Gold.
In theory, you could strain the gold out using a sieve and collect the gold. However, it’s much more fun to drink it as it makes for a pretty cocktail.
Should I have Goldschläger in my Home Bar?
While Goldschläger looks cool on a shelf, you’ll probably rarely touch the stuff as not a whole lot of cocktails call for it. Most of the cocktails tend to be on the novelty side with Goldschläger as well.
If you enjoy cinnamon schnapps, and feel like you’ll drink it on a regular basis, then Goldschläger is worth your money.
What’s the Difference Between Fireball and Goldschläger?
Fireball is a whiskey based cinnamon liqueur and tastes more fire-y and hot than Goldschläger. Goldschläger, on the other hand, is a neutral-spirit based liqueur, and tastes sweeter than Fireball (more like cinnamon hearts you get a valentines day). Goldschläger will also make your poop sparkly the next day.