🥃 Hrvatska stara šljivovica

Hrvatska stara šljivovica is an aged plum brandy from Croatia, protected in the EU since 24 April 2012. It is distilled from fermented plums of the species Prunus domestica, most often the bistrica variety, and aged for at least a year in barrels of Slavonian oak, which gives it a golden or amber colour.

Raw material. The documentation favours bistrica, an old local variety with small dark blue fruit that ripens in early September and contains 10–14% sugar, and varieties close to it in aroma. The plums are picked fully ripe by shaking the tree, then stoned and crushed.

Distillation and oak. The mash ferments for up to 10 days at temperatures up to 28 °C, until less than 0.3% sugar remains. It is distilled to 60–75% ABV to keep the plum aroma. The distillate then matures for at least twelve months in barrels of common oak (Quercus robur) from Slavonia.

Standards and history. The finished šljivovica has at least 37.5% ABV, volatile substances from 200 g, methanol up to 1200 g and hydrocyanic acid up to 7 g per hectolitre of pure alcohol. The documentation mentions the Zagreb distillery Patria, founded in 1886, which produced ‘Stara monastirska šljivovica’.

Why this matters to you. The word ‘stara’ is not decoration here: it guarantees at least a year in oak, and ‘Hrvatska’ means Croatian production. An ordinary šljivovica may be unaged, in which case it is clear. Strength is at least 37.5% ABV. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe amount of alcohol.