Discover a piece of Austria here. The high-proof Inländer-Rum offers more uses than its homeland has mountains.
The History of Stroh 80
Stroh 80 is produced by Sebastian Stroh Austria GmbH. And given that the founder Sebastian Stroh began commercial production of liqueurs and fine brandies in Klagenfurt as early as 1832, the company's current slogan is also justified: "A true STROHriginal". Here is a brief overview of the company's history:
- 1832: Sebastian Stroh distills his first schnapps in St. Paul in Lavanttal.
- 1900: At the World Exhibition in Paris, the Stroh family business receives the "Grand Gold Medal" and thus international recognition.
- 1926: In the liqueur factory, built in 1911, 1.2 million bottles are already being bottled annually.
- 1970/71: Stroh booms and becomes one of the most successful Austrian spirits brands on the international market.
- 1995/96: Stroh, which had become the best-known Austrian brand article in Germany, is sold to Eckes AG.
- 2008: Management buy-out by CEO Harold Burstein; "Inländer Rum" and "Jagertee" are registered as protected geographical designations in Europe.
Today, Stroh Original Inländer-Rum is exported to 40 countries worldwide (export share 75%) and is also one of the most popular souvenirs for tourists in Austria.
Why is Stroh 80 not a rum?
The attentive reader will certainly have noticed that we use the term Inländer-Rum to categorize Stroh 80. But why is it not a true rum? Here are the facts:
True rum must not be flavored. While Stroh 80 is based on rum produced abroad, it is then enriched with flavorings and essences in Austria. Furthermore, Stroh 80 cannot be called rum because, in addition to the permitted sugar coloring, several colorants are added to it. Thus, Stroh 80 falls under the umbrella term Inländer-Rum, an Austrian specialty protected under EU regulation since 2008.
The Secret of Stroh 80's Success
Stroh 80 is a legendary spirit, especially in German-speaking countries and Scandinavia, but also in South Africa. But why is Stroh rum so popular? CEO Harold Burstein offers a convincing explanation:
"In Austria, familiarity with the STROH brand is certainly an emotional story. People associate STROH with the memory of the comforting scent and delicious taste of pastries and cookies from childhood."
Even if 80% vol. alcohol content and childhood don't seem like a suitable pairing at first glance, Burstein's reference to the emotionalization of childhood memories undoubtedly makes sense because he is, of course, referring to the popular use of the spirit as a baking ingredient here.
But why did Stroh 80 also establish itself outside of Austria? On the one hand, through the association of Stroh 80 with the Austrian way of life, which is why it is one of the most popular souvenirs from Austria. In addition, the "iconic" design of the bottle and labeling certainly contributes to Stroh 80's popularity. However, the most important reason for Stroh 80's popularity is, of course, its taste.
What does Stroh 80 taste like?
Due to its extremely high alcohol content, Stroh 80 naturally tastes "strong" first and foremost. However, its sweet and spicy taste is particularly suitable as a "shot" for warming drinks such as Jagertee, Punsch or grog. In addition, Stroh 80 is an indispensable ingredient in cakes, tortes, and desserts of Austrian pastry cuisine; it is also gladly used for savory dishes. Let's look at some recipe examples below.
How to use Stroh 80?
Stroh 80 is extremely versatile and adds a little Austrian flair to almost any dish or drink. To illustrate the range of uses, we now present one recipe each for a hot drink, a cocktail, a sweet dish, and a savory main course.
These recipes are best enjoyed in the magnificent mountain and lake landscape of Stroh 80's Austrian homeland. Alternatively, you can order a bottle to experience the "Spirit of Austria" even when you are not at home in Austria.
Stroh Pomegranate-Cranberry Punch
In this punch (with the much-needed vitamin kick in winter thanks to pomegranate and cranberry), Stroh 80 ensures that the soul is not neglected either. Here is the recipe for Stroh Pomegranate-Cranberry Punch:
Ingredients:
300 ml pomegranate juice
50 ml Stroh 80
10 cloves
2 tbsp cranberries
2 oranges
1 chili
Pomegranate seeds
Preparation:
Cut one orange into wedges and stud the pulp with the cloves. Peel the second orange and squeeze it. Bring the orange and pomegranate juice to a boil. Add the orange wedges, chili, and cranberries and let everything steep for 5 minutes. Strain the liquid and add the Stroh 80. Serve the punch hot with pomegranate seeds and orange zest.
Strohjito
Anyone who only associates Stroh 80 with ski huts, snow, and Austrian winter magic is missing the second half. The domestic rum is also splendidly suited for the summer season, for example in this refreshing cocktail. Cuban temperament meets Austrian serenity – what could go wrong?
Ingredients
2 cl Stroh 80
2 cl lime juice
3 lime wedges
2 cl sugar syrup
Mint
Soda
Garnish: limes, sugar, mint
Preparation:
Put all ingredients together with ice in the shaker and shake well. Then pour the mix "double strained" through the bar strainer attached to the shaker and through a tea strainer into a cocktail glass. Garnish the glass with limes, sugar and mint and play Austrian rumba music when serving.
Rum Balls
Those who love rum balls already use Stroh 80 for their own production. For those who have always been suspicious of rum balls – try this recipe and let yourself be won over!
Ingredients
200 g chocolate, grated
200 g nuts, grated
100 g powdered sugar
1 packet vanilla sugar
2 egg whites
3 tbsp Stroh 80
3 tbsp water
Preparation:
Mix all ingredients in a bowl and form small balls from the mixture. Then roll them in coconut flakes or cocoa powder as desired and refrigerate them for at least 2 hours.
Baked Cabbage
If you love hearty home cooking, this recipe is perfect for you. Stroh 80 refines the recipe with a typical Austrian touch.
Ingredients:
For the rice and meat stew:
1 onion
1 clove garlic
500 g pork (e.g. neck)
3 tbsp oil
2 tbsp paprika powder
1 tbsp tomato paste
250 ml chicken broth
3 tbsp Stroh 80
100 g long-grain rice
2 cloves
1 bay leaf
Salt
For the cabbage:
½ white cabbage
50 ml Stroh 80
250 ml chicken broth
a little oil
1 tsp caraway seeds
1 tsp salt
To serve:
250 ml sour cream
Preparation:
For the rice and meat stew, finely chop the garlic and onion and cut the meat into cubes. Heat the oil and sauté the onion and garlic until translucent. Add the meat and brown it well. Add tomato paste and paprika powder and sauté both. Then pour in the broth and Stroh 80 and bring it to a boil briefly before letting it simmer covered for an hour. Meanwhile, cook the rice separately with water, cloves, and a bay leaf. Salt it after cooking and finally mix it with the meat.
For the cabbage: Cut the cabbage into thin strips. Heat the oil in a large pot, sauté the cabbage in it and salt it well before adding the caraway seeds. Then deglaze the cabbage with the rum. Afterward, pour in the broth and let it cook for 30 minutes until the cabbage is soft.
Finally, combine both by filling the rice and meat stew into an oven dish and layering the cabbage over it. Spread with sour cream before placing the dish in the oven for 10 minutes at 220°C top/bottom heat. Serve the dish immediately afterward.
With that, we say cheers, bon appétit, and "Pfiati" and wish you a fantastic time with real Austrian domestic rum. And if Stroh 80 has piqued your interest in rum in general, you should also check out our article on white and brown rum to learn more about the rums of the world.r
