Yebiga Rakija Plum Brandy celebrates Serbian craftsmanship and culture through dark Balkan humor.
Yebiga is a feisty term, roughly translated (Serbian-English) to “eh, screw it,” yet defined as great attention to care, craftsmanship, and culture, according to founder and importer Bill Gould.
Yebiga Rakija is a top traditional Serbian fruit brandy crafted with centuries of Balkan history (and humor) at heart. It pays tribute to the passed-down distilling process of the region’s premium brandy as a loyal supporter of hyper-local ingredients and typical Balkan satire.
“It is [one] of those spirits that many do not know about, though it has shaped the [Balkan] culture for the past 800 years,” Gould mentions.
While rakija (or rakia) can be distilled from different fruits, Yebiga presses ripe, regional plums from Šumadija with native mountain spring water and wild yeast. The first aged expression, PRVA, arrived stateside in 2019 after an 18-month maceration in second-fill Serbian oak barrels. Seen on select shelves, the bottle label retains the Serbian-Croatian name following a freakish image of a drinking elder—a nod to the “famed” funniness. Tasting notes include vanilla, honey, blackcurrant, and other baking fruits.
“Drink it neat: for breakfast with coffee, in the afternoon with cheese and fatty foods, and at night over long conversations,” Gould suggests. “I would say this would be the traditional approach.”
Yebiga is a spirit set for storytelling, greeting loved ones (and lovers), toasting to new achievements, and getting saucy at Sunday supper.
Partnering with acclaimed mixologist Naren Young to curate signature cocktails that feature Yebiga’s two rakijas, showcasing what the product is all about, complete with unusual names and fun filled cocktail photography incorporating chickens. A nod to the dark Balkan humor used throughout the brand’s entire identity.
Yebiga has brought the real taste of the Balkans to the United States with two rakijas on the market—PRVA and BELA:
PRVA (SRP $38.99) – Yebiga’s first expression to come stateside is a style that favors the Serbian methods of starting with fresh, ripe plums domestic to the region, hand-plucked and barrel aged for 18 months.
BELA ($29.99) – Yebiga’s youngest expression. This rakija is lighter, free of color and finished in stainless steel. BELA is smooth, delicious, and rustic, perfect for everyday occasions and cocktail experimentation.
Stormy Vetar
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz Rakija Bela
- 1 1/2 oz. black pepper-infused dry vermouth
- 1 barspoon pickle juice
- Tiny pinch salt
Preparation: Stir and strain with ice in a Martini glass. Garnish with pickled anything!
The post Yebiga Rakija Plum Brandy appeared first on Chilled Magazine.
Source: Mixology News
