Slivovitz

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Origin

Although the exact origins of slivovitz are unknown, it is believed to have been first produced in the Balkans [cite book |last=Lennox |first=Doug |year=2003 |title=Now you know |isbn=9781550026481 |publisher=Dundurn |location=Toronto |oclc=52455722 |pages= [http://books.google.com/books?id=fQ7NosjSRQUC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA102,M1 102] |chapter=Food & Drink] (possibly in Croatia, [cite book |title=The World and its peoples: Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland |year=1965 |publisher=Greystone Press |location=New York |oclc=399998 |id=LCCN|65|0|20542 |pages= [http://books.google.com/books?id=bbtBAAAAIAAJ&q=slivovitz+originated&dq=slivovitz+originated&pgis=1 33] |quote=Slivovitz is a brandy made from plums which originated in Croatia.] [cite book |first=Darwin |last=Porter |coauthors=Danforth Prince |year=2005 |title=Frommer's Vienna & the Danube Valley |isbn=0764597175 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |location=Hoboken, New Jersey |oclc=60397040 60649498 |pages=230 |quote=Two of the most famous and favored liqueurs among Austrians are slivovitz (a plum brandy that originated in Croatia) and barack (made from apricots).] Serbia, [cite journal |last=Bruce |first=Dave |year=1980 |title=Dining Discoveries |journal=Home & Away in Kentucky |pages=14 |publisher=American Automobile Association |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=kwRgAAAAIAAJ&q=slivovitz+serbian&dq=slivovitz+serbian&lr=&pgis=1 |accessdate=2008-09-16 |quote=To get things started, have a round or two of "Slivovitz" (Serbian plum brandy)…] [cite book |last=Branigan |first=James Joseph |coauthors=Harold Reginald Jarrett |year=1975 |title=The Mediterranean Lands |isbn=0-7121-1367-3 |publisher=Macdonald & Evans |location=Michigan |oclc=60004517 |pages= |chapter=Serbia |quote= pn] Moravia, [cite book |author=Wilson, Neil |title=Prague |publisher=Lonely Planet |year=2005 |pages= [http://books.google.com/books?id=xSGrfmQCPLAC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA16,M1 16] |isbn=1-74059-758-3 |oclc=58434605 |quote=The fiery and potent "slivovice" (plum brandy) is said to have originated in Moravia…] [cite book |author=Warren, Matt; Neal Bedford; Jane Rawson |title=Czech & Slovak republics |publisher=Lonely Planet |year=2004 |pages= [http://books.google.com/books?id=YPCMq-Wff5kC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA65,M1 65] |isbn=1-74104-046-9 |oclc=56466554 |quote=Slivovice is a fiery, potent plum brandy said to have originated in Moravia…] Czechoslovakia,cite book |last=Arthey |first=David |coauthors=P. R. Ashurst |title=Fruit processing |publisher=Blackie Academic & Professional |location=London |year=1996 |pages= [http://books.google.com/books?id=TvatVJxVTykC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA129,M1 129] |isbn=0-7514-0039-4 |oclc=34116886 |quote=Type: Slivovitz; Synonym: Plumb brandy; Country of origin: Former Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria] Hungary or Bulgaria).

Production and consumption

Slivovitz is primarily produced in Slavic regions of Central and Eastern Europe, both commercially as well as by many households on an informal, homemade basis. Primary producing nations include the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Serbia. [cite book |first=William |last=Pokhlebkin |year=1992 |title=A history of vodka |isbn=0-86091-359-7 |publisher=Verso Books |location=London |oclc=28183139 |pages= [http://books.google.com/books?id=esHVFxS0F8YC&pg=PA206&sig=ACfU3U0jG_zR6Uy3VpmlNdLH94s15RHpgw 206] |chapter=Appendix 5: The Raw Materials and Production Techniques of Other Principal Spirits of the World] It is most popularly consumed in those nations, as well as wherever communities of expatriate from these nations exist. Similar plum brandies are also produced in Switzerland, France, the United States, and Canada, but marketed under other names, such as brandy, "Pflümli", or eau de vie.

Distilling process

In the manufacturing process, the plums and a liberal proportion of the ground kernels are first crushed and pressed, then starch and sugar are added to the juice and the mixture is allowed to ferment. Distillation gives the crude product, and clarifying processes complete the liqueur, but aging is required to develop its finer qualities. Its pleasing flavor is due largely to the plum kernels, which contain a considerable percentage of amygdalin, the characteristic component of bitter almonds.

Some producers have obtained a Hechsher for their slivovitz, certifying that it is kosher. [cite web |url=http://www.rjelinek.cz/kosher-vyroba.php?LANG=en |title=Rudolf Jelínek: Kosher production |accessdate=2008-05-30 ]

Imitation slivovitz is made by flavoring spirits with prune juice and artificial oil of bitter almonds.

Producers

Bulgaria

* Troyanska Slivova (owned by Rudolf Jelínek) [cite web |url=http://www.vinprom-troyan.bg/page/produkty/7/ |title=Сливова ракия |publisher=Винпром-Троян |language=Bulgarian |accessdate=2008-08-15 ]
* Tetevenska Slivova (owned by Rudolf Jelínek) [cite web |url=http://www.dnevnik.bg/show/?storyid=279646 |title=Чехи купиха тетевенския винпром "Дестила" |publisher=Дневник |language=Bulgarian |accessdate=2008-08-15 ]
* Lesidrenska Slivova [cite web |url=http://www.lesedra.hit.bg/lesidrenska-slivova-rakia.htm |title=Лесидренска сливова ракия |publisher=Леседра |language=Bulgarian |accessdate=2008-08-15 ]
* Elenska Slivova (owned by the Lyaskovets winery) [cite web |url=http://winery.lyaskovec.com/en/rakia.htm |title=Our sic|high|nolink=1 alcoholic drinks |publisher=Lyaskovets Winery |accessdate=2008-08-19 ]

Croatia

*Badel 1862 [cite web |url=http://www.badel1862.hr/en_jap.asp |title=Product range: spirits |accessdate=2008-08-13 |publisher=Badel 1862]
*MaraskaFact|date=September 2008

Czech Republic

*Rudolf Jelínek [cite web |url=http://www.rjelinek.cz/profil-spolecnosti.php |title=Company profile |accessdate=2008-08-13 |publisher=Rudolf Jelínek]
*Zusy [cite web |url=http://www.zufanek.cz/en/slivovitz.html |title=Slivovitz |accessdate=2008-08-13 |publisher=Zufanek]

Hungary

*ZwackFact|date=September 2008

Italy

*LuxardoFact|date=September 2008

Poland

*Polmos [cite web |url=http://www.polmos.bielsko.pl/en/passover.html |title=Passover Slivovitz |accessdate=2008-09-16 |publisher=Polmos Bielsko-Biała] [cite web |url=http://www.polmos.torun.pl/english/t5.html |title=Our products |accessdate=2008-09-16 |publisher=Polmos Toruń]

erbia

*Flores [cite web |url=http://www.flores.co.yu/flores.htm |title=Flores |accessdate=2008-08-13]
*Wolf Inter Export [cite web |url=http://www.madeinserbia.net/Products/Food_and_drinks/Spirits///STEFAN_NEMANJA-serbian_slivovitz/3660.html |title=Stefan Nemanja Serbian slivovitz |accessdate=2008-08-13 |publisher=MadeInSerbia.co.yu]
*Navip [cite web |url=http://www.navip.co.yu/izvoz/proizvodi.html |title=Navip products |accessdate=2008-08-13]
*Stara Sokolova [cite web |url=http://www.starasokolova.com/index_eng.htm | title=Stara Sokolova |accessdate=2008-09-11]

lovakia

*St. Nicolaus [cite web |url=http://www.st-nicolaus.sk/index.php?page_id=386&noitem%91%92=333&noitem%91%92=335&noitem%91%92=337 |title=Fruit Liquors |accessdate=2008-08-13 |publisher=St. Nicolaus]
*S 52 [cite web |url=http://www.s52.sk/|title=Fruit Destilates|accessdate=2008-09-01 |publisher=s52]

United States

*Black Star Farms [cite web |url=http://www.blackstarfarms.com/winery/spirits/?id=161 |title=Spirit of Plum |accessdate=2008-08-13 |publisher=Black Star Farms]
*Clear Creek Distillery [cite web |url=http://clearcreekdistillery.com/other.html |title=Additional Clear Creek Eaux de Vie |accessdate=2008-08-13 |publisher=Clear Creek Distillery]
*Peach Street Distillers [cite web |url=http://www.peachstreetdistillers.com/prod-plum-brandy.htm |title= Jack and Jenny Plum Brandy |accessdate=2008-08-13 |publisher=Peach Street Distillers]
*Stringer's Orchard [cite web |url=http://www.stringersorchard.com/brandy.htm |title=Plum Brandy |accessdate=2008-08-13 |publisher=Stringer's Orchard]

In popular culture

]

The group Andra Generationen participated in the Swedish music contest Melodifestivalen 2008 with a song called "Kebabpizza Slivovitza." [cite web |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/9855 |title=Melodifestivalen line-up complete |accessdate=2008-06-03 |last=Viniker |first=Barry |date=2007-12-11 |publisher=esctoday]

Slivovitz is offered to Jonathan Harker in Dracula. [cite book |last=Stoker |first=Bram |authorlink=Bram Stoker |title=Dracula |publisher=Forgotten Books |origyear=1897 |year=2007 |pages= [http://books.google.com/books?id=oumkzuahwZwC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA11,M1 11] |isbn=1-60506-003-8 |quote=…the driver said in excellent German—'The night is chill, mein Herr, and my master the Count bade me take all care of you. There is a flask of slivovitz (the plum brandy of the country) underneath the seat, if you should require it.']

In Mart Crowley's play The Boys in the Band, slivovitz is used as an example of the banality of self indulgence. "Hate tequila, what about slivovitz? Tired of boys, what about girls? Or what about boys and girls mixed and in what combination?"Fact|date=October 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.slivovitz.us/ Slivovitz Festival]
* [http://www.slivovitz.us/library.htm List of brands]
* [http://www.internetwines.com/spirits-brandy-sliv.html Brands of slivovitz]
* [http://www.stefannemanja.com/ Famous Serbian Slivovitz]

ee also

*Eau-de-vie
*Rakia
*Palinka
*Raki (alcoholic beverage)
*Tsikoudia
*Tsipouro
*Ţuică
*Pálenka