liquid inspiration
Serbian Plum Brandy Yebiga Rakija A premium, traditional Serbian fruit brandy crafted with centuries of Balkan distilling prowess at heart, honoring passed-down knowledge, the bounty of the land, the plum juice from the harvest and the culture of the Serbian people, Yebiga Rakija is the first quality rakija brought to the United States by founder and importer Bill Gould, who on his many tours in the Balkans, fell in love with the spirit and realized rakija was overwhelmingly unknown in the U.S. market. Introduced in 2019 as one of the first, old-world, premium handcrafted rakija brands to ever be exported out of the Balkans, Yebiga is one of those spirits that not many people know about but that has shaped the culture of a whole part of the world for the past 800 years. The philosophy of the company is to honor and respect the old-world tradition of producing the iconic, traditional fruit brandy of the region so the brand’s labels retain Serbian-Croatian names, a sense of humor and a stalwart refusal to compromise on quality and ingredients. Two rakijas are available in the U.S market right now: PRVA – 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 – Yebiga’s youngest expression, this rakija is lighter, free of color and finished in stainless steel. Smooth, delicious, and rustic, perfect for everyday occasions and cocktail experimentation. Both can be used in your cocktail recipes. Here are a few ideas to get you started!
46 www.travelerandtourist.com
