🥃 Samanė

Samanė is a Lithuanian grain spirit with a protected name: it was entered in the EU register on 13 February 2008 and in the British register from 31 December 2020. According to Defra it is category 3, a grain spirit, with Lithuania as the country of origin. The name belongs to the tradition of the country’s home distillates.

What a grain spirit is. Under EU Regulation 2019/787 this is category 3: a drink obtained only by distilling a fermented mash of whole cereal grains, at least 35% ABV. No spirit from another source is added. This category differs from vodka, which can be made from any agricultural raw material.

Protected name. The word “Samanė” is registered as a protected geographical indication: it may be used only for a product that meets the specification and comes from Lithuania. Details on the grain and the strength should be checked in the official register, since Defra does not publish them on its page.

Place among others. Samanė is one of several protected names covering regional distillates of Europe, alongside Polish bison grass vodka and Norsk Vodka. The difference from home-made samohon is essential: a protected product is made to a specification and under control, and the label makes the origin checkable.

Why it matters to you. A protected name guarantees origin and conformity to the specification, but not the taste or the safety of drinking it. Check the strength stated on the label. The WHO reminds: there is no safe amount of alcohol.