Dekuyper Pucker Sour Apple

I still remember my first experience with Sour Apple Pucker Schnapps, about a year ago. I was in Iowa visiting one of my best friends, Karen, to take part in her wedding and to finally see some of the Midwest. Our first stop on the tour of Cherokee, Iowa? The bar of course, where I showed those cowpokes how us cityfolk drink. Being the foolish lush that I am, I spent most of the time knocking back vodka and whiskey(taking full advantage of the luxury of a $2.25 shot).

The girls, Karen especially, insisted they we order a couple of rounds of schnapps so that they "could finally drink something that tastes good". Almost never have I experienced such an affront to quality alcohol, an insult only matched by the foolishness of such products as Wild Vines. I recommend that you give this booze a wide berth, and here's why...

What Exactly is a Pucker?

Pucker is a relatively new line of schnapps from DeKuyper, meant to take advantage of the ever increasing popularity of flavored shots in the contemporary bar environment. Meant to combine the kick of alcohol with the sweet/sour taste that has permeated the 1990's(from Jolly Ranchers to Sour Patch Kids), all Puckers all natural fruit flavors that are meant to serve as a pleasantly flavored shot in themselves. The other available flavors are Cherry, Watermelon and Grape.

DeKuyper is one of the, if not the, world's biggest Schnapps producer, including the famous Peachtree Schnapps. With distilleries in three countries(U.S., Canada and the Netherlands), it churns out ridiculous amounts of schnapps, distilled from fruit, seeds and other botanical byproducts.

Tasting Notes

Oh, how noxious is the drink, let me count the ways:

1.Excessive Sugar- The schnapps is so sweet that is practically oozes out of the bottle like molasses. Simply put, this is more of a flavored sugar syrup than a serious drink. Be prepared to brush your teeth twice after drinking...

2.Candy Cute- Made to taste like a Green Apple Jolly Rancher, this is a kiddie drink. At 30 proof it barely qualifies as an alcohol. It's made to be more of a candy than a liquor, which makes it hard to take seriously as a booze.

3.Stomach Wrenching- Due to the sickening sweetness and its thick body, Sour Apple Pucker has a horrible tendency to tear through my stomach and make me sick as dog. Dangerous when consumed alone, positively deadly when mixed with stronger spirits.

4.Nose Burning- The smell coming off the bottle is the sickly thick scent of rotting granny smith apples and molasses, an aroma which never fails to make me grip my stomach in horror. Please no...

Serving Notes

While it is meant to stand alone as a sweet and smooth shot, I thought I would include a recipe for those foolish enough to want to drink this sugary sludge:

Apple Jolly Rancher*

1 oz sour apple Pucker
1 oz Vodka
10 splashes Sweet and sour
squirt 7-Up

Chill in tumbler, shake. Serve up in rocks glass.

Pricing & Availability

Sour Apple Pucker Schnapps, being a DeKuyper's product, enjoy a huge international distribution network. What does that mean for you, the schnapps lover? With a strong presence all over the country, it should be relatively easy to find a bottle of these schnapps wherever you live. At $7.99 a bottle, this is one of the cheapest liquors out there, and considering the price it's actually of reasonable quality.


The Final Verdict

I would like to say that my memories of Sour Apple Pucker Schnapps are pleasant, but the truth is that they're not. Somehow both annoying sweet and sour, it is a horribly candy-like liquor that should be avoided whenever possible. Only for those who really hate the taste of alcohol, this is a nasty low-price product...

If you're looking for a worthwhile schnapps to have in the house, and a DeKuyper for that matter, I would suggest a Peachtree Schnapps instead. Because if you buy this product, you'll just be puckering up and kissing $8 goodbye...



*Drink recipe originally created Ruby Tuesday in Ocala, Florida. Referenced from http://www.webtender.com