Goldschlager is a Swiss cinnamon schnapps with a particularly flashy appearance. Give the bottle a shake, and you’ll see 24-carat gold flakes floating inside the clear liquid. While definitely striking in terms of appearance, we can’t say the touch of gold adds anything to the taste. 

Goldschlager is very cinnamon-forward — sweet yet deliciously spicy. Its taste is reminiscent of the popular cinnamon whiskey, Fireball, yet its texture is more syrupy. Additionally, Goldschlager has a high alcohol content at 43.5 percent ABV compared to Fireball’s 33 percent. 

While the origins of Goldschlager are not totally clear, the name comes from the German word for “gold beater,” referring to gold leaf makers who craft delicate flakes of gold like the ones we find in Goldschlager bottles. 

Production was based in Switzerland until the 1990s when the UK brand, Diageo, bought Goldschlager and moved operations to Italy. In 2018, the New Orleans-based beverage company, Sazarac, acquired the brand, and recently they came out with a new variety called Goldschlager 107. It’s even higher in alcohol than the original at an eye-watering 53.5 percent ABV. 

Key Takeaways

• Goldschlager is a Swiss schnapps liqueur that’s high in alcohol and has a sweet-spicy cinnamon taste.
• While Goldschlager does contain real gold leaf, it’s only a tiny amount. 
• Gold flakes are safe to consume, but they’re strictly for aesthetics and don’t add anything to the taste. 
• Goldschlager can be used to make stunning cocktails that will add an elegant touch to any occasion.