Pálinka

Hungarian-language name for a fruit brandy; derived from the Slovakian verb páliť (to boil = to distil). The name pálinka first appeared in the 16th century. Spirits have been consumed as a drink since around this time. Today, it is a protected designation of origin for a fruit brandy that must be distilled from 100% Hungarian fruit, bottled in Hungary and have an alcohol content of more than 37.5%.

Pálinka - Barackpálinka (Aprikosen bzw. Marillen), Cseresznyepálinka (Kirschen)

Indication of origin

Since 2004, only Hungary and the four Austrian federal states of Burgenland, Lower Austria, Styria and Vienna have had the right to label the corresponding products as Pálinka. In contrast to Hungary, however, in Austria the name Barackpálinka may only be used for apricot brandy.

Pálinka types

In Hungary, there are different names depending on the type of fruit used, such as Almapálinka (made from apples), Barackpálinka (apricots), Cseresznyepálinka (cherries), Körtepálinka (pears), Szilvapálinka (plums or damsons), Törkölypálinka (marc) and Vegyespálinka (various types of fruit).

Further information

For the production of alcoholic beverages, see Champagne (sparkling wines), Distillation (distillates), Speciality wines, Spirits (types), Winemaking (wines and wine types) and Wine law (wine law issues).

Barackpálinka: by Guus Bosman - Own work, CC BY 2.5, Link
Apricots: by Fir0002, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

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Pálinka

Indication of origin

Pálinka types

Further information

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