Stara Sokolova 12 Year Slivovitz 750ML

Stara Sokolova 12 Year Slivovitz 750ML is a limited-production Serbian plum brandy aged twelve years, bottled at 40% ABV in a 750ml format. An award winner at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in London (2020), this expression is released in batches of only 3,000 bottles per year, making it one of the more exclusive aged slivovitz offerings on the market.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40%  |  Origin: Krivaja, Serbia  |  12 Year Age Statement  |  Distillery: Bogdanovic Family Estate

Production & Heritage

The Bogdanovic family estate in Krivaja, Serbia, produces Stara Sokolova using traditional plum varieties — pozegaca and trnovaca — that are central to the country's slivovitz heritage. In a distinctive approach, only plums that have dropped naturally from the trees are harvested, a method the estate uses to ensure peak ripeness and sugar concentration before fermentation. The spirit is double-distilled in traditional copper pot stills and then aged for a full twelve years, resulting in an unusually deep and complex brandy for the category. The limited annual release of 3,000 bottles further distinguishes this expression from more widely available plum brandies.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Caramel and vanilla lead on the nose, followed by layers of dried plum, toasted oak, and baking spice. Orange peel emerges with time in the glass, adding brightness to the rich, warm bouquet.

Taste: The entry is full and rounded, with rich plum and caramelized fruit arriving immediately. The mid-palate builds with dark chocolate, cinnamon, and vanilla, supported by a big, weighty mouthfeel that reflects the twelve years of oak maturation. Baking spices weave throughout, adding depth without overwhelming the core fruit character.

Finish: The finish is smooth and velvety, with cocoa and oak undertones lingering gently. It lands on the shorter side but stays clean and well-integrated, leaving a warm impression of spiced plum.

How to Drink Stara Sokolova 12 Year

Given the twelve years of aging and the complexity that results, this slivovitz is best enjoyed neat at room temperature, perhaps with a few drops of water to open the aromatics. A tulip-shaped glass will concentrate the caramel and dried fruit notes effectively.

For cocktail use, the 12 Year's depth works well in these applications:

• Slivovitz Old Fashioned — the plum and dark chocolate notes stand up to bitters and sugar, creating a rich variation on the classic.
• Plum Sidecar — swapping cognac for this aged slivovitz adds a fruit-forward, spice-driven twist with excellent balance.
• Eastern Manhattan — the oak-aged character and vanilla backbone pair naturally with sweet vermouth and aromatic bitters.

Best For

• Gifting a brandy or spirits enthusiast who appreciates rare, aged expressions
• After-dinner sipping alongside dark chocolate or fruit-based desserts
• Introducing friends to premium Eastern European distilling traditions
• Adding a distinctive bottle to a curated home spirits collection

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Stara Sokolova 12 Year taste like? It delivers rich plum, dark chocolate, cinnamon, and vanilla flavors with a big mouthfeel, finishing smooth with oak undertones. Caramel and dried fruit run throughout, reflecting the extended twelve-year maturation.

How does Stara Sokolova 12 Year compare to Maraska Slivovitz 10 Year? Both are premium aged slivovitz expressions at a similar price point, but the Stara Sokolova carries two additional years of aging, which contributes deeper oak integration and more pronounced chocolate and vanilla notes. The Maraska 10 Year tends toward a brighter, more fruit-forward profile with less barrel influence.

Is Stara Sokolova 12 Year good for sipping neat? Yes — the twelve years of oak aging create a smooth, layered spirit with enough complexity to reward slow, contemplative sipping without any mixer or dilution.

Where is Stara Sokolova 12 Year made? It is produced by the Bogdanovic family estate in Krivaja, Serbia, a region with deep roots in traditional plum brandy production. The plums are sourced from the estate's own orchards.

What foods pair well with Stara Sokolova 12 Year? Dark chocolate truffles complement the cocoa and vanilla notes directly. Dried fruit and nut platters echo the dried plum character. Aged hard cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano contrast the sweetness with savory depth. Cinnamon-spiced pastries mirror the baking spice profile, and grilled stone fruit with honey amplifies the core plum identity.

What sizes does Stara Sokolova 12 Year come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Stara Sokolova 12 Year worth the price? It positions as a premium aged slivovitz, competing in a narrow field of twelve-year-old plum brandies. The limited annual production of 3,000 bottles, natural-drop harvesting method, and IWSC recognition support its value within the aged fruit brandy category.

Why Stara Sokolova 12 Year?

What separates this expression from the broader slivovitz market is its combination of rarity and process. Only 3,000 bottles are released each year, and the Bogdanovic estate's practice of harvesting only naturally dropped plums — rather than mechanically or manually picking them — ensures that only fruit at full maturity enters fermentation. The result is a twelve-year-old plum brandy with a richness and oak complexity uncommon in the category. Its recognition at the 2020 International Wine and Spirits Competition in London, along with eight great gold medals at the Novi Sad Exhibition, confirms that the quality is not just anecdotal but independently validated.