I’ve found that people outside of Eastern Europe are shamefully ignorant of the joys of slivovitz. To spread enlightenment, let me advise you that it’s a strong plum brandy, traditionally home-produced, and it’s the staple spirits in my area. This means that at family gatherings, everyone from youths to grandparents would drink it. So do I, of course. Read more about the slivovitz experience in this article or even better, get yourself some!
Mara Eastern 
I confess I’ve never drunk it – and I’ve also never been to Eastern Europe – but I shall promise to try some if I ever get the chance. I am partial to cherry Brandy so it does sound tempting.
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You’re a fan of cherry brandy? Good! Slivovitz is a bit harsher, I guess, but it’s worth a try and if you ever visit Eastern Europe, it’s a must 😀 Happy drinking! Also, now I must go and have some…
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One of my university lecturers got me started on the cherry brandy. During tutorials on restoration comedy, he wanted us to get into the context. I think some tutorials went by in a blur.
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Oh dear, I’m not surprised that you learned drinking at the university, but from a lecturer?! This is very interesting… Restoration comedy, hm, from the little I remember I quite liked it, but after reading a few plays, they all turned out to be rather very similar… It seems however the best period in literature to drink brandy with 😉
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Sadly I was an impoverished student so had no additional money for carousing. Typical student life had to pass me by. I once had to stave off hunger for a few days by eating gruel. True story. Cue small violins. So that meant the cherry Brandy preferred by that professor was a luxurious treat. It did indeed have the added benefit of creating a warm haze for such a dull course because I agree with you that the plots are pretty much identical. Cuckolded husbands, men disguised as maid servants, mistaken identity… tedious. Still not as bad as sixteenth century court satire, however.
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That sounds awful! I have heard stories of poor students, but in my country, university education at public schools is free and students, though no way rich, usually can get along with what they get from parents and what they earn from some part-time jobs, if necessary.
I was very, very lucky to have been supported by my parents for most of my studies, and then by my husband until I was able to fully support myself.
I’m ashamed to admit that sixteenth century court satire doesn’t strike a note, I suspect I probably haven’t read anything — or it “impressed” me so much that I forgot. Huh. Now I’m off to Google this period’s literature out of curiosity…
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Agree. It is very typical in Bulgaria, too. The generic name for this type of alcohol is rakia, and slivovitsa is only one type. It can also be made of grapes and basically any fruit. As I live in England, the closest to rakia I can find in shops is grapa, also very good!
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Aah, rakia, I’ve heard about that one but never tasted the thing! Too bad, I’ll need to get one soon 😉 Thanks a lot for tuning in, it’s always great to meet a person with an excellent taste!
Yep, slivovitz is made of grapes, but its different kinds could be produced from any fruit. Besides grapes, we home-produce spirits from apples above all, but also apricots and whatever grows in the garden… Looks like we’re heavy drinkers, right?
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Yes, this seems to be the same thing. And yes, you know that a small drink is 50 ml, while in the UK it’s 25 ml. 🙂
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Clearly, the British people can’t drink (no offence 😉 ), and all we have left here in Eastern Europe is the drinking… I can’t help thinking of the huge containers out in our yard where we’re now fermenting this year’s slivovitz 😉
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Yup, totally agree!
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It’s good that besides the drinking, we have now blogging too 😀
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I don’t actually drink much as I suffer from migraines, blogging is better for me. ,;-)
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Oh, so sorry to hear that! At least we can agree on the addition of blogging then 😀
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🙂
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I shall keep an eye out for it… I love weird and wonderful spirits, and this one looks fab!! (This AmeriBrit can hold her drink… No worries!)
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An excellent choice 🙂 I’d love to hang out with you on a drinking marathon! It’s not like I normally do drinking marathons. I just drink. It’s an old story that Eastern European people drink lots of strong spirits, and it’s a true story in my case.
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Here in Poland we have Nalewka Wisniowa a cherry lacquer which differs in strength on who has made it. My mother in law always has some being brewed.
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Oh yes, that’s what we’d call “višňovica”, I know precisely what you mean! It’s excellent, one of the best I know. Slivovitz is the classic here though. How strong do you made it? We used to leave nearly 60% alcohol in it, but now we only make it about 50% and it’s actually nicer.
It’s excellent to chat with a fellow Slav, and seriously, Polish people are my favourite nation. I very much love going to Poland for conferences 🙂 Here’s to your health!
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My mother in law makes a weak version prob around 20%, as she is not a big drinker. My wifes uncle though makes a stiffer brew which will warm you toes on a cold snowy day.
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Sounds good! We have a saying here that slivovitz makes you warm in winter and cool in summer 🙂
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sounds absolutely lethal. I cant really drink since being on meds, well i do sometimes, white wine with lemonade or champagne of course, oddly my stomach copes with champagne isnt that odd lol. Maybe some time I will get to try this drink oh yes we are having it at our wedding of course x
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Well, it might be lethal for inexperienced drinkers, but I’m experienced 😀 I’m sorry that you can’t drink, well, at least you do better things! White wine with lemonade actually sounds good! Awe, yes, I’m totally counting on having slivovitz at our wedding 😀
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you should try it, i have picked some elderberrys am contemplating making something alcoholic out of it 😀
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Sure, you can make liquor out of anything that ferments, I think 🙂 Good luck!
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hah thanks i made jelly instaed lol
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Jelly!? What a waste of good fruit 😀
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yah think?
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Yes! I like fruit when it’s fluid. I mean, when it’s made into some spirits 🙂
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naughty kitty!
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Šljivovica!!!! Pfffff… Who does not drink šljivovica? 😀
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😀 Yummy, right 😉 That’s what I love about connecting with people from a similar background to mine — you know what I’m talking about! On the other hand, connecting with people from very different backgrounds and countries is refreshing and informative, one always learns…
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Meh, both is great! As long as we have something in our glasses to make a toast 😀
And we have rakija, I don’t know if you’ve know what I’m talking about, but it’s like šljivovica but it includes everything else, orahovica, medica, višnjevača, loza, travarica……. That is rakija with walnut, honey, cherry, grapes, different type of herbs….
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Rakija! I keep on hearing about it but I never tasted it! Too bad 😦 We have all the other kinds that you mention too, slivovitz made from cherries, apricots, apples and whatnot, but it’s not common here to mix everything in one drink. I think I’d LOVE the honey and walnut… *drooling*
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😦 No, tragedy!
I will have to send you some… But, hoooooooow? They will think we are making an explosive XD
Uuuu, walnut is my absolute FAVORITE! And right now I have with cranberries, yummy yummy 🙂
The most traditional one is Loza, rakija from grapes. It is transparent like votka, but not to be confused with votka bc votka is made from potatoes. I swear I do not drink almost at all, which you could not tell from this reply 😀
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Yes. Tragedy. Seriously. I’m actually considering ordering some rakija online. I have a hunch that walnut would be the thing for me. And cranberries? *drools* *faints* No, I don’t drink too much either, but it clearly doesn’t look like it… 😀
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Yeah, someone reading this could not tell XD But really, I drink only beer and that’s with lemon and that’s like once a month 😀 This type of alcohol is when something is celebrated or when I have stomach ache 🙂
Hmmmmmm… I highly suggest walnut. From honey is also very good but it is different from all others – more sweet and thick. You can order from grapes, that is the most common… But from walnuts and cherries and any kind of berries is the best! 🙂
You HAVE to tell me when you order and what 😀 Of course, home-made is the best and my uncle actually makes them in a decorative bottles. But he lives in Slovenia so I am not sure if he ships outside the country. He brings it though to us and family in Bosnia, but he sells it at home. Plus – they are amazing! I can show you a photo, I have one of his master pieces in my kitchen as a decoration… 🙂
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You have an uncle living in Slovenia? That’s good! I’d love to see a photo of his masterpiece, when there’s a chance to post it at your blog, please absolutely do it!! Meanwhile, I’ll ask my husband to order some walnut rakija 😉
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Weheeee 😀 Awesome… Tell me when it gets there and you try it, I am so curious 🙂
Will do! I am busy offline so as soon as I get my chance, you will be notified. 😉
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Awesome, it’s a deal then! 🙂
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