What is Slivovitz?
Slivovitz is plum brandy from Central Europe—sliva is the Slavic root for plum—that Serbia headed the petition to have added to UNESCO’s heritage list.
This plum brandy, while popular across the Balkans, Eastern and Central Europe, for Ashkenazi Jews, Slivovitz is like the hard liquor equivalent of Manischewitz Concord Grape Wine.
How much alcohol is in Slivovitz?
The drink's different variants range from between 100- and 140-proof, which means it packs a punch, and it first appeared sometime in the 15th or 16th century.
What is the Jewish connection to Slivovitz?
Although theories abound, Jews most likely started drinking Slivovitz because their non-Jewish neighbors did, and it's hard to keep a good hooch under wraps.
As Jews became prominent in the field of alcohol production and the running of inns and taverns, it only grew in popularity. Unlike wine and traditional brandy, being made from plums meant the drink was not subject to the same extra Kosher rules that apply to grape-based beverages.
Slivovitz also has a special appeal to Jews in that it's grain-free, making it the ideal Passover spirit, when—due to a prohibition against consuming leavened products—most grain-based alcohols are off limits.
What does Slivovitz taste like?
Kara Newman, a food, wine and spirits writer, writes in Tablet Mag, “It had a pleasingly fruity aroma, but it burned like paint thinner going down.” She later discovered that not all slivovitz are created equal and fell in love with the plum brandy just like many modern bartenders.
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Slivovitz has always been a staple amongst the herring-eating set, although in recent years it's been making a comeback, especially amongst the post-hipster brandy-drinking cognoscenti.
Thanks for the nice writeup/info.
When playing for the folks at one of the Jewish ‘old folks’ homes here recently my guitarist asked, “What sort of liquor do Jewish people drink?”
My mind went back to a 1992 tour of Eastern Europe led by the one and only Cantor Isaac Goodfriend z’l’ and having many l’chayims on the bus. It was my introduction to Slivovitz.
Being a Georgia guy I’ve tried clear liquor - or “brandy” - from corn, peaches, and apples, but the plum distillation Slivovitz from Europe holds a certain ‘smoothness’ and charm all its own!