🥃 Nagykörű sweet cherry pálinka (Nagykörűi cseresznyepálinka)

Nagykörű sweet cherry pálinka (Nagykörűi cseresznyepálinka) is a Hungarian EU geographical indication for pálinka from sweet cherries grown in six municipalities of the Körű basin by the Tisza in Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok county, among them Nagykörű, Kőtelek and Fegyvernek. It is distilled twice in a traditional still of no more than 500 l, and the strength is at least 40 % vol.

The application was submitted on 13 July 2018, the main requirements were published on 19 July 2023 (OJ C 254), and the name was registered on 24 November 2023 (Regulation (EU) 2023/2624). Nagykörű is called the «cherry garden of Hungary»: the alluvial soils by the Tisza provide constant moisture, and 2100 hours of sunshine a year give the fruit a sugar content of 14 °Brix or more at a diameter of 26–38 mm. A cherry festival has been held here every June since 1996.

Only the local variety Petrovay ropogós and the officially recognised Badacsonyi óriás, Bigarreau Burlat, Carmen, Hedelfingeni óriás, Jaboulay and Germersdorf with their variants are permitted. Stalks and stones are removed; about 20 % of the stones may be left in, and those taken out are returned to the mash after 1–2 days of drying. Fermentation lasts 10–14 days at 16–23 °C; before distillation the stones are removed.

The first distillate is only 15–23 % vol.; the head, heart and tail are separated by taste and smell. The pálinka rests undiluted (60–80 % vol.) in glass or stainless steel and is then gradually diluted to at least 40 % vol. Methanol is up to 1000 g/hl of pure alcohol. It is sold only in bottles of up to 1 l.

Why this matters to you. This name requires 40 % vol. instead of the 37.5 % that is general for fruit distillates, and a small still of up to 500 l. It is made from sweet cherry (cseresznye), not sour cherry (meggy): sour cherry pálinka has a separate name from Újfehértó. The WHO reminds us that no level of alcohol consumption is safe.