Slivopolitan
Slivopolitan by Dushan Zaric
Slovenia, a mountainous country south of Austria in central Europe, has a rich tradition of fruit brandy. Perhaps most famous locally for their juniper berry brandy, they are perhaps better known internationally for their plum brandy, known generally as slivovitz. Brandy made from the damson plum is regional to many countries in central and southeastern Europe. It is typically served at room temperature to allow the flavors to come out, in a shot glass. It can be quite strong, to put it mildly.
puttin’ on the ‘vitz
Dushan Zaric, a Yugoslavian cocktail industry leader who created the well known bar Employees Only, groups slivovitz in that category of spirits that is very hard to work with in a cocktail. It tends to dominate everything else, and like a “bull in a china shop”. Zaric has vast experience with creating and refining classic, well balanced, and innovative cocktails, so ought to know. He actually created one really good cocktail with slivovitz for the bar once, a variation on the Cosmopolitan, and the only decent cocktail with slivovitz he could ever find. Na zdravje!
a plum pair
Slivopolitan by Dushan Zaric
1 ½ oz slivovitz
1 oz Cointreau
¾ oz plum puree
½ oz lime
Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a coupe. Plum wedge.
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