Van Gogh Wild Appel 750ML

Van Gogh Wild Appel Vodka 750ML is a Dutch flavored vodka made from wild apples and distilled at 35% ABV (70 proof) in a 750ml bottle. Awarded 4 Stars / Highly Recommended by The Spirit Journal, this expression stands apart from conventional apple vodkas by sourcing fruit from abandoned orchards across Holland, yielding a more intense and less sugary apple character than cultivated varieties.

Quick Facts: ABV: 35%  |  Origin: Schiedam, Holland  |  Flavored Vodka  |  Distillery: Royal Dirkzwager Distilleries

Production & Heritage

Van Gogh Wild Appel is produced at Royal Dirkzwager Distilleries in Schiedam, Holland, under the direction of Master Distiller Tim Vos. The base spirit uses a mashbill of primarily wheat with small proportions of corn and barley, run through multiple distillations before undergoing a six-week double infusion process using all-natural flavoring. What distinguishes this bottling is the sourcing: the wild apples grow in abandoned Dutch orchards, producing fruit that is harder, contains less sugar, and delivers a sharper, more concentrated apple flavor than their cultivated counterparts.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with sweet apple concentrate reminiscent of fresh-pressed apple juice. With air, the aroma deepens into toffee apple territory — a caramelized sweetness that hints at the spirit's natural infusion process.

Taste: Entry is sweet apple that reads as genuinely natural rather than artificial. The mid-palate builds toward a tart Granny Smith peak, carrying real acidity and fruit complexity. That shift from sweet to tart mirrors the wild apple's low-sugar, high-intensity profile.

Finish: The finish arrives with a peppery sting and a vanilla undertone, moving relatively quickly. A lightly bitter aftertaste lingers alongside the impression of very ripe apple and a gentle warmth from the base spirit.

How to Drink Wild Appel

Chilled and neat in a small tulip glass allows the full arc from sweet apple to peppery finish to unfold. Over a single large ice cube, the tart Granny Smith notes become more prominent as dilution opens the spirit.

In an Appletini, Wild Appel supplies authentic fruit character that eliminates the need for artificial sour mix. A Caramel Apple Mule — Wild Appel, ginger beer, caramel syrup, lime — plays off the toffee apple aromatics with spice and citrus. In a Dutch Apple Collins with lemon juice, simple syrup, and soda water, the wild apple intensity holds its own against carbonation without losing nuance.

Best For

• Autumn cocktail menus built around seasonal apple flavors
• Gifting to a flavored vodka enthusiast who values natural ingredients
• Hosting a dessert cocktail pairing alongside apple-based sweets
• Introducing Dutch spirits beyond genever to curious drinkers

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Wild Appel taste like? Wild Appel delivers a progression from sweet, natural apple into tart Granny Smith acidity, finishing with a peppery sting, vanilla, and a lingering ripe apple aftertaste. The profile reads as authentically fruity rather than artificially sweetened.

How does Wild Appel compare to Absolut Äpple? Absolut Äpple uses a neutral wheat spirit base similar to Wild Appel, but Van Gogh's six-week double infusion of wild apples produces a more intense, less sweet apple character. The wild fruit sourcing gives Wild Appel a tart complexity that Absolut Äpple's cleaner, more straightforward apple note does not replicate.

Is Wild Appel good for cocktails? Wild Appel is an excellent cocktail base because its concentrated wild apple flavor and lower 35% ABV integrate naturally into mixed drinks without tasting artificial. It works particularly well in Appletinis, mules, and Collins-style serves.

Where is Wild Appel made? Van Gogh Wild Appel is distilled and infused at Royal Dirkzwager Distilleries in Schiedam, Holland, a city historically renowned as the center of Dutch distilling. The wild apples used in the infusion are sourced from abandoned orchards across the Netherlands.

What foods pair well with Wild Appel? Sharp aged Gouda complements the tart apple notes with nutty, caramelized depth. Pork belly or charcuterie benefits from the fruit acidity cutting through richness. Apple tart or tarte Tatin echoes the toffee apple aromatics. A simple wedge of Brie lets the vanilla undertones in the finish come forward. Cinnamon-spiced desserts bridge the peppery finish with warm baking spice.

What sizes does Wild Appel come in? Van Gogh Wild Appel is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Wild Appel worth the price? Wild Appel positions as a mid-range flavored vodka, but its six-week double infusion process and wild apple sourcing deliver a level of natural fruit complexity that many competitors at higher price points do not match. The 4-Star rating from The Spirit Journal supports its standing as a strong value in the apple vodka category.

Why Wild Appel?

The defining factor here is the raw material: wild apples from abandoned Dutch orchards are harder, less sweet, and more intensely flavored than cultivated fruit, and that difference carries directly into the glass. The six-week double infusion — longer than most flavored vodka production cycles — extracts depth rather than mere sweetness. A 4-Star / Highly Recommended rating from The Spirit Journal and 91 points from Best Tasting Spirits confirm that the process translates into measurable quality. In a category crowded with artificially flavored options, Wild Appel earns its distinction through provenance, patience, and genuine fruit character.