Editing Stroh

{{About|the Austrian company and its rum-like products}}
{{short description|Austrian manufacturer of rum}}
{{Infobox company 
|name = STROH Austria GmbH
|logo = [[Image:Stroh logo.jpg|155px|Stroh]]
|type = 
|foundation = 1832
|location_city = [[Klagenfurt]]
|location_country = [[Austria]]
|key_people = [[CEO]] Harold Burstein
|industry = [[Distilled beverage]]
|products = [[Rum]]
|revenue = [[EUR|€]]11.8 million 
|operating_income = 
|net_income = 
|num_employees = 35
|parent = 
|subsid = 
|homepage = [http://www.stroh.at www.stroh.at]
|footnotes =
}}

'''Stroh Austria GmbH''' ({{IPA|de-AT|ʃtroː|lang}}) is an [[Austria]]n manufacturer of [[liquor]]s, especially spiced rums and high-proof rum-like drinks used in warm drinks and cooking. The '''Stroh''' [[brand]] is one of the best-known spirits from Austria. {{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

The (technically incorrect) term ''Stroh Rum'' has colloquially become a generic synonym for spirits with a similarly high alcohol content in [[List of territorial entities where German is an official language|Germanic speaking regions]].

[[File:Stroh - Austrian Rum - IMG 3452.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Stroh 80 (ABV); labeled Stroh 160 (proof) U.S.]]

== Background ==
As [[Austria-Hungary]] had no colonies in tropical regions with rum or easy access to rum importation, the imperial government regulated the manufacturing of a rum-like product, where the [[sugarcane]] molasses aroma was replaced with a mixture of [[flavorant]]s and coloring added to alcohol from sugar beets. This class of products was named ''Inländer-Rum'' (literally "domestic rum"). It resulted in a distinctive product smelling primarily of [[butterscotch]] and [[vanilla]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Stroh 160 |url=http://www.robsrum.com/2018/10/11/stroh-160-overproof-rum/ |website=robsrum.com |date=11 October 2018 |accessdate=30 January 2019}}</ref> It became a regional specialty, available from several brands, in the countries that followed the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, most notably today's Austria and the [[Czech Republic]].

Some manufacturers have since switched to using sugarcane by-products{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} according to [[European Community]] regulations, while the typical "Inländer" flavor is provided by traditional essences. So the result can be regarded equal to a [[spiced rum]].
The product designation for ''Inländer Rum'' is no longer standardised in the [[Codex Alimentarius Austriacus]].{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}
<!-- still, a product bearing the designation of a true "Rum" has to be manufactured in the sugarcane-producing country, no?-->

== Company History ==

In 1832, Sebastian/Boštijan Stroh founded a small distillery in St. Paul ([[Carinthia]]n [[Lavanttal]]). His widow, Maria Stroh, continued the business with production facilities at Karfreitstrasse 18 in [[Klagenfurt]]. By 1857 the company had expanded into large-scale [[liqueur]] and [[brandy]] manufacturing.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Stroh|url=http://www.stroh.at/en/history.html|website=stroh.at|accessdate=30 January 2019|archive-date=6 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106214532/http://www.stroh.at/en/history.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Stroh became one of the dominant brands of ''Inländer Rum''. At the 1900 [[Exposition Universelle (1900)|Exposition Universelle]] in [[Paris]] the product was awarded a gold medal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stroh Timeline|url=http://www.stroh.at/en/timeline.html|website=www.stroh.at/|accessdate=30 January 2019|archive-date=6 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006224600/http://stroh.at/en/timeline.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The company is still privately held by Austrian owners.

== Product line ==

[[File:15-09-26-RalfR-WLC-0099.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|Stroh Fire (chili spiced)]]

The company is best known for its flagship product, ''Stroh, The Spirit of Austria'', and its bottled hunter's punch ''[[Jagertee]]''<!-- Spelled correctly, this is in the Austrian dialect-->, which is typically drunk warm and is served at ski resorts.<ref name=ltb>{{citation |title=Little Tea Book |first=Rose Marie |last=Donhauser |publisher=Silverback Books |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-59637-074-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9mS-6xfbS80C}}</ref> Stroh has also made other packaged liquor products that are mostly available only in Europe, including Stroh Punsch, Stroh Cream, Stroh Fire and Stroh Cola.

In the United States Stroh is known for its unusually high alcohol content, with the version most readily available there being 160 proof and frequently labeled as ''Stroh 160'' (labeled as Stroh 80 in Europe<ref>{{cite web |title=The Stroh Story |url=http://drinkschest.com/news/the-stroh-story-the-spirit-of-austria/ |website=drinkchest.com |accessdate=30 January 2019 |archive-date=31 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131040848/http://drinkschest.com/news/the-stroh-story-the-spirit-of-austria/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>). In Europe it is available in five variants: ''Stroh 38'', ''Stroh 40'', ''Stroh 54'', ''Stroh 60'' and ''Stroh 80'' (representing [[alcohol by volume]] and corresponding to 76, 80, 108, 120 and 160 [[Proof (alcohol)|proof]] (US) respectively).

Stroh products are internationally sold and are available in more than 40 countries.<ref name=worldofstroh>[http://www.stroh.at/en/brand/history/ Company's history on http://www.stroh.at/en/brand/history/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103213152/http://www.stroh.at/en/brand/history/ |date=2013-01-03 }}</ref>

== Product use ==

Exports to [[Germany]], [[Scandinavia]], and [[Benelux]] account for about two-thirds of the company's sales.

The overproof rum-like product is seldom drunk neat and most commonly used in cooking or for mixing in homemade [[Jagertee]] or other warm [[punch (drink)|punches]] (including in ''[[Feuerzangenbowle]]'', or mixed with hot tea, honey, and butter<ref>{{cite web |title=STROHbranca |url=https://www.ourniche.com/2017/09/18/stroh-cocktails/ |website=ourniche.com |date=18 September 2017 |accessdate=31 January 2019}}</ref>). Because of its flammability it is used for lighting drinks on fire, such as the [[B-52 (cocktail)|Flaming B-52]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Flaming B-52 |url=http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink12045.html |website=drinksmixer.com |accessdate=31 January 2019}}</ref> or in strong cocktails such as the [[Von Tiki]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Berry |first1=Jeff |title=Beachbum Berry Remixed |date=2010 |publisher=Slave Labor Graphics |isbn=9781593621391 |page=47}}</ref> A lower proof product version is packaged and sold in small syrup containers for soaking waffles.

Stroh is a common household and commercially important ingredient in the making of syrups, cake frostings, pastries, and other desserts in [[Austrian cuisine]] due to its sweet flavor and strong butterscotch and vanilla aromatic notes.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Spirit of Austria |date=2017 |publisher=A la Carte |isbn=9783902469717}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Baking with Stroh |url=https://www.ourniche.com/2017/09/18/baking-with-stroh/ |website=ourniche.com |date=18 September 2017 |accessdate=30 January 2019}}</ref> An example is in preparation of [[rumtopf]],<ref>{{cite web
 | last = McGavin
 | first = Jennifer
 | title = How and When to Make Rumtopf Fruit
 | publisher = About.com German Food
 | url = http://germanfood.about.com/od/desserts/r/Rumtopf-Recipe.htm
 | accessdate = February 23, 2014
 | archive-date = February 27, 2014
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140227190005/http://germanfood.about.com/od/desserts/r/Rumtopf-Recipe.htm
 | url-status = dead
 }}</ref> a fruit based [[compote]], and rum prune cake.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stroh Rum Prune Cake |url=https://diaryofamadhausfrau.com/2018/07/stroh-rum-prune-cake.html |website=diaryofamadhausfrau.com |date=30 July 2018 |accessdate=31 January 2019}}</ref> It is also an ingredient in [[Bananas Foster]] variations, although less of the alcohol should be used.

The company has licensed the name for the spirit to be used by Walter Heindl GmbH in confectionary products such as ''Stroh Pralinen'' and Stroh flavored chocolate balls.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stroh Pralinen |url=https://www.heindl.co.at/en/product/stroh-pralinen/ |website=heindl.co.at |accessdate=31 January 2019}}</ref>

== Product packaging ==

[[File:Stroh02l.jpg|thumb|Stroh 80 in a {{convert|0.2|L|U.S.floz impfloz|lk=on|abbr=on}} swing top bottle]]

Stroh is packaged in brown glass bottles meant to emulate the hip flasks worn by hunters and others in the countryside during winter. Playing to its historic roots, some products are also packaged in larger jugs employing swing-top rubber stoppers. Other variations include Stroh in syrup containers, mini-bottles, and cans.

== See also ==

* [[Jägertee]]
* [[Tuzemák]]

== References ==

<references/>

== External links ==

{{commons category|Stroh Rum}}
* {{official website|http://www.stroh.at}}


[[Category:Austrian brands]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1832]]
[[Category:Drink companies of Austria]]
[[Category:Economy of Klagenfurt]]
[[Category:Rum brands]]