Strykover Slivovitz 72% 750ML

Strykover Slivovitz 72% 750ML is a 144-proof kosher Polish plum brandy distilled from Damson plums in a 750ml bottle. This fiercely concentrated slivovitz earned a Monde Selection Gold Medal in 2012 and stands apart in the category for its adherence to a XIX century recipe originating from the Jewish community of the town of Stryków.

Quick Facts: ABV: 72% (144 proof)  |  Origin: Stryków, Łódź region, Poland  |  Kosher Certified  |  Style: Traditional Slivovitz  |  Distillery: Stryków Distillery

Production & Heritage

Strykover traces its origins to the Jewish inhabitants of Stryków, a small town near the city of Łódź in central Poland, who developed the recipe and passed it through generations. The modern revival came when the Jewish community took the initiative to bring back to life their ancient savoir-faire, selecting locally grown Damson plums and crystal-clear water as the spirit's foundation. At 72% ABV, this is a full-strength expression that undergoes no dilution to soften its intensity — a hallmark of old-world slivovitz production where the distillate is bottled at or near cask strength to preserve maximum fruit character.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe Damson plum dominates from the first nosing, followed by a wave of concentrated stone-fruit sweetness. The high alcohol carries a warming, almost medicinal intensity that opens gradually with time in the glass.

Taste: The entry is immediately powerful — 144 proof announces itself with a surge of heat that quickly resolves into deeply concentrated plum flavor. At mid-palate, the fruit becomes intensely sweet and jammy, with an almost syrupy density despite containing no added sugar. There is an underlying minerality that keeps the fruit from becoming one-dimensional.

Finish: Long and warming, with dried plum and a faint bitter-almond note lingering well after each sip. The producer recommends sipping slowly and taking a deep breath between each taste to fully appreciate the layered fruit character beneath the proof.

How to Drink Strykover Slivovitz

At 72% ABV, neat sipping in very small measures — ideally in a tulip-shaped glass at room temperature — is the traditional approach and allows the plum intensity to unfold without being masked. A few drops of water can tame the heat and open additional fruit nuance for those who find the full proof overwhelming. For cocktail use, the high ABV makes it a potent modifier: a Slivovitz Sour balances the spirit's sweetness against fresh lemon juice and egg white; a Plum Old Fashioned uses a half-measure of Strykover in place of standard whiskey to produce a rich, fruit-driven riff on the classic; and a Palinka Smash-style serve with muddled fresh herbs and seasonal fruit showcases the brandy's natural plum backbone against garden-fresh aromatics.

Best For

• Gifting someone who collects high-proof or heritage spirits
• Serving as a traditional Eastern European digestif after a rich holiday meal
• Adding to a home bar as a conversation-starting, high-proof plum brandy
• Sharing during cultural celebrations or Passover gatherings, given its kosher certification

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Strykover Slivovitz taste like? Strykover Slivovitz delivers intensely concentrated Damson plum flavor with a powerful 144-proof heat that gives way to a sweet, jammy stone-fruit core and a long, warming finish.

How does Strykover Slivovitz compare to Rudolf Jelínek Slivovitz? Rudolf Jelínek, produced in the Czech Republic, is typically bottled at a considerably lower ABV (around 45-50%) and offers a more approachable, lighter plum profile. Strykover's 72% ABV places it in a different intensity class entirely, closer to a cask-strength eau de vie than a standard commercial slivovitz.

Is Strykover Slivovitz good for sipping neat? It is traditionally enjoyed neat in small measures, sipped slowly with a pause between each taste to let the intense plum flavor reveal itself beneath the high proof. Beginners to overproof spirits should start with a very small pour and consider adding a few drops of water.

Where is Strykover Slivovitz made? It is produced in the town of Stryków, located near the city of Łódź in central Poland, by a small distillery that revived the original XIX century recipe of the town's Jewish community.

What foods pair well with Strykover Slivovitz? Dark chocolate complements the deep plum sweetness; aged hard cheeses like Oscypek (Polish smoked cheese) provide a savory contrast; dried apricots and prunes echo the stone-fruit character; rich nut-based pastries such as babka or rugelach mirror its Eastern European heritage; and smoked meats or charcuterie balance the spirit's intensity with fat and salt.

What sizes does Strykover Slivovitz come in? Strykover Slivovitz 72% is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Strykover Slivovitz worth the price? Strykover positions itself as a premium, artisanal slivovitz within a niche category; its kosher certification, heritage recipe, overproof strength, and Monde Selection Gold Medal place it above mass-market plum brandies in both quality and collectibility.

Why Strykover Slivovitz?

Few plum brandies on the market carry the cultural weight of Strykover. Built on a XIX century recipe preserved and transmitted by the Jewish community of Stryków, it represents an act of cultural restoration as much as distillation. The 72% ABV is uncompromising — this is slivovitz at full intensity, bottled without dilution, and rewarded with a Monde Selection Gold Medal in 2012 for its quality. For anyone seeking a genuinely traditional, kosher-certified Polish plum brandy that refuses to soften itself for modern palates, Strykover occupies a category almost entirely its own.