Goldschläger

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A bottle of Goldschläger
A bottle of Goldschläger

Goldschläger is a Swiss 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 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 26, 2008, amounts to about 3.22 USD on the international gold market.[1]

Despite having Swiss origins, Goldschläger is a product of Italy. A similar alcoholic beverage that contains gold is Gold Strike and another liqueur with floating bits of gold leaf is Danziger Goldwasser, a German root and herbal liqueur which has been produced since at least 1598. The German word Goldschläger actually means "gold leaf maker".

A few years after its introduction, Goldschläger was reformulated to contain less gold due to some alleged accounts of individuals suffering allergic reactions.[2] A common rumor 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.[3]

In North America, Goldschläger is frequently mixed in equal proportions with Jägermeister, 70 proof (35%), and occasionally peppermint schnapps to make a cocktail called Liquid Cocaine, Golden Elk or JägerSchläger.

[edit] Popular culture

  • Goldschläger was parodied in the 2007 film Superbad, in which one of the main characters must purchase an alcoholic beverage containing gold flakes known as "Goldslick Vodka".
  • It was also seen in the movie Beerfest as the drink that gets a character drunk after massive amounts of beer failed to do so.
  • In the LucasArts' adventure game Grim Fandango, the protagonist must consume a Goldschläger type cordial in order to trigger a metal detector to progress through the game.
  • In a deleted scene of the The Office episode The Dundies, Dwight Schrute attempts to order "Goldschläger, extra flakes" from a waitress at Chili's.
  • In the "The Girl in the Gator" episode of Bones, gold flakes from the drink "Goldenrod" (a "100 proof cinnamon schnapps") are found in the corpse's stomach.
  • In the song "Booze Me Up And Get Me High" by Ween, Goldschläger is cited in the opening line.
  • In the Tech N9ne song "Night and Day", the drink is mentioned as well.
  • In the Psych episode "There's Something About Mira", Burton Guster attributes his (since annulled) marriage to "three little words: 'Let's try Goldschläger!'"
  • In an episode of Reno 911, a character mentions that he brews Tinschläger, a clear parody of Goldschläger.
  • In the song "Blackout" by Method Man and Redman on the album with the same name, Goldschläger is referenced by Method Man.
  • In the American Dad episode "The Magnificent Steven", Francine tells Roger they could go drink Goldschläger to annoy Haley as she cannot.

[edit] References

  1. ^ US Gold Price (01-26-2008). Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  2. ^ Goldschläger allergy in a gold allergic patient
  3. ^ Urban Legends Reference Pages: Gold in Goldschlager Rumor (11-16-2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-28.

[edit] External links