Podrum Pevac Desetka Slivovitz 10 Year Plum Brandy 700ML

Podrum Pevac Desetka Slivovitz 10 Year Plum Brandy 700ML is a 40% ABV Serbian plum brandy aged a minimum of ten years, distilled from indigenous Ranka plums in Šumadija, Central Serbia. It earned a Silver medal at the 2024 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) and was featured among "The World's 15 Best Rakijas" at the 2025 ZGrappa festival by spirits judge Marin Levaj — recognition that places it among the top tier of Eastern European fruit brandies.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40%  |  Origin: Šumadija, Central Serbia  |  10 Year Age Statement  |  Distillery: Podrum Pevac, Cvetojevac

Production & Heritage

Podrum Pevac operates out of the village of Cvetojevac near Kragujevac, in the heart of Serbia's Šumadija region — an area long regarded as the spiritual home of Serbian rakija production. The Desetka expression is distilled using a modern 1,000-liter distillation column powered by an automated steam boiler, a setup that allows precise control over cuts and retention of delicate plum aromatics. After distillation, the spirit rests for a minimum of ten years in domestic oak barrels of 225- and 500-liter capacity. What truly separates the Desetka from most commercial slivovitz is its exclusive use of Ranka plums, an autochthonous variety indigenous to the Šumadija highlands, prized for its concentrated sugar content and aromatic intensity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe stone fruit emerges first, followed by layers of dried plum and a clear vanilla sweetness drawn from a decade in oak. There is a subtle spiciness underneath — warm and resinous — that adds complexity without overwhelming the fruit.

Taste: The entry is soft and fruit-forward, with a lush plum character that feels authentic rather than artificial. At mid-palate, vanilla and light caramel notes appear alongside a harmonious tannic structure that gives the spirit genuine backbone. The oak integration is measured; the wood supports rather than dominates.

Finish: Long and remarkably durable, with dried fruit and gentle tannin lingering well after each sip. A faint warmth of baking spice closes things out cleanly, leaving a persistent plum echo.

How to Drink Desetka Slivovitz

A ten-year aged slivovitz of this caliber is best appreciated neat at room temperature, served in a tulip-shaped glass to concentrate the aromatics. A few drops of water can open up additional fruit nuances if desired. For cocktail exploration, it works well in a Slivovitz Sour, where the plum intensity stands up to citrus and egg white; a Plum Old Fashioned, substituting bourbon for a Central European twist with natural fruit sweetness reducing the need for added sugar; and a Brandy Sazerac, where the oak-aged depth and tannic structure mirror the richness traditionally provided by cognac.

Best For

• Gifting a spirits enthusiast interested in rare Eastern European fruit brandies
• After-dinner sipping as a digestif alongside dark chocolate or dried fruit
• Expanding a brandy collection beyond cognac and calvados
• Introducing guests to premium Serbian rakija at a tasting or dinner party

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Desetka Slivovitz taste like? It delivers a rich, fruit-forward plum character layered with vanilla and light caramel from ten years of oak maturation, supported by a harmonious tannic structure and a long, warm finish.

How does Desetka Slivovitz compare to Žuta Osa (Yellow Wasp)? Both are acclaimed Serbian plum brandies, but Desetka distinguishes itself with a ten-year minimum aging period and exclusive use of indigenous Ranka plums, resulting in deeper oak complexity. Žuta Osa by Flores distillery is widely recognized for its pure varietal character but typically presents a fresher, less wood-influenced profile.

Is Desetka Slivovitz good for sipping neat? Yes — the decade of barrel aging produces a smooth, well-integrated spirit at 40% ABV that rewards slow, contemplative neat sipping without requiring dilution.

Where is Desetka Slivovitz made? It is produced by Podrum Pevac in the village of Cvetojevac, near the city of Kragujevac in Serbia's Šumadija region — a Central Serbian area historically renowned for plum cultivation and rakija distillation.

What foods pair well with Desetka Slivovitz? Dark chocolate complements the vanilla and dried-fruit notes; aged hard cheeses like Serbian Pirotski kačkavalj mirror its tannic depth; walnuts and hazelnuts echo the oak-aged warmth; dried plums and apricots reinforce the core fruit character; and rich charcuterie such as Serbian suvo meso provides a savory counterpoint.

What sizes does Desetka Slivovitz come in? The standard bottle size is 700ml (70cl), which is the format most widely available for this expression.

Is Desetka Slivovitz worth the price? Desetka positions as a premium expression within the slivovitz category, justified by a ten-year minimum aging statement and the use of a specific indigenous plum variety — factors uncommon at lower price tiers in the fruit brandy market.

Why Desetka Slivovitz?

Ten years in oak is exceptional for a plum brandy; most commercially available slivovitz carries little or no age statement. The exclusive use of Ranka plums — an indigenous Šumadija variety — gives the Desetka a varietal specificity that mass-produced competitors cannot replicate. Its 2024 IWSC Silver medal and inclusion in the ZGrappa festival's top 15 world rakijas confirm that international judges recognize the quality here. For anyone serious about fruit brandy, this is one of the few Serbian expressions that can stand alongside aged eaux-de-vie from Western Europe on sheer complexity and craftsmanship.