The history of the Williams Christ pear in the Black Forest is closely linked to the nickname "Bon-Chrétien", which means "Good Christian". This name is said to go back to St. Francis of Paola.

The monk, who was born in Paola Italy in 1416, is said to have once given the French King Louis XI pear seeds from his native Calabria, which were then sown by royal order. Descendants of this pear variety are said to have arrived in England around 1770 and were spread throughout Great Britain by the Williams nursery.

From England, this pear variety was brought to Germany and the Black Forest by the Swiss Christian Schwarzenbach in the 18th century. The pear was given its characteristic name "Williams Christ" in honor of the English nursery owner Williams.

The "Bon-Chrétien" or Williams Christ pear found ideal conditions to thrive in the Black Forest. The temperate climate and fertile soil created optimal growing conditions for this juicy and aromatic pear variety. The Black Forest fruit growers recognized the potential of this fruit for the production of high-quality distillates at an early stage.

The distilleries in the Black Forest began to carefully harvest the Williams Christ pears and distil them gently in order to preserve the full aroma and natural sweetness of the "Bon-Chrétien". The popularity of Williams Christ pear brandies from the Black Forest spread quickly and the region gained a reputation for producing exquisite fruit brandies.

The soul of the Black Forest is in Williams Christ

The "Bon-Chrétien" pear, better known as Williams Christ, has become a symbol of quality and craftsmanship in the Black Forest, capturing the soul of the Black Forest homeland in every bottle. The history of the "Bon-Chrétien" pear is a living legacy that reflects people's attention to detail and dedication to the art of distillation. This is how a simple fruit tree became an important player in the rich history of the art of distilling in the Black Forest.

Careful and gentle distillation and targeted maturation give this premium drop its incomparable quality. Using the best Black Forest mountain water, which naturally has only 1 °dH, our Wiliams Christ is then reduced to a harmonious 40 % vol. 

Enjoy the genuine taste of the Black Forest - a treat for connoisseurs!

Distiller: Oliver Nöltner