Stara Sokolova Old Falcon's 7 Year Old Plum Brandy

Slivovitz or plum brandy has been a long-standing traditional drink in central and south eastern Europe. Serbia, being the largest producer of plums in the region, has a centuries-old tradition of distilling this beverage. Plums hold a significant place in Serbian culture, with special care given to the growth of plum yards in the sunniest areas of farms. Every tree is treated with utmost attention to ensure the best quality fruit. Nearly every farmer produces their own slivovitz, often holding onto secret techniques to create the finest drink. Stara Sokolova is a brand that follows a century-old tradition in the Bogdanovi? family from the village of Kostojevi?i in western Serbia. Its name, meaning "Old Falcon's," is derived from the historical name of the river Drina watershed in Western Serbia, named after the medieval fort town of Soko. The climate and clean environment in this area provide excellent conditions for growing plums. Through generations, the Bogdanovi? family has perfected age-old techniques for producing slivovitz. They use traditional plum varieties from their own plum yards and other local farmers, carefully selecting those with the best taste and aroma. The resulting drink has a similar flavor to aged grape brandy and a distinct fruity scent derived from the plums. Plums are distilled in traditional copper stills and then aged in wooden casks, preferably made of oak. Stara Sokolova is aged for 7 years in oak casks sourced from trees in eastern Serbia near the Romanian and Bulgarian border. This aging process imparts a mature and mellow taste to the brandy, with hints of vanilla that develop from the interaction between plum brandy and oak wood. Stara Sokolova is now in its third generation within the Bogdanovi? family and has received numerous awards in Serbia and internationally over the past two decades. As awareness and popularity of rakija (plum brandy) have grown outside of South-eastern Europe, Stara Sokolova has established itself as the best slivovitz in Serbia and the world, leading sales in the premium segment.