Stara Sokolova Medovina Brandy 750ML

Stara Sokolova Medovina Brandy 750ML is a Serbian honey plum brandy bottled at 34% ABV that fuses Zlatibor meadow honey with traditional double-distilled plum rakija. Rooted in an 1897 family recipe passed through eight generations, this expression earned a silver medal for quality alongside other entries in the Stara Sokolova portfolio, underscoring its standing among premium Serbian spirits.

Quick Facts: ABV: 34%  |  Origin: Western Serbia  |  Honey Plum Brandy (Medovina)  |  Distillery: Stara Sokolova, Kostojevići

Production & Heritage

Stara Sokolova operates from the village of Kostojevići near Bajina Bašta in far western Serbia, a region long celebrated for its plum orchards and fruit brandy traditions. The distillery traces its founding recipe to 1897 and has been maintained across eight generations, blending traditional methods with modern distillation technology. Each batch of Medovina begins as a plum rakija that is double-distilled, then aged in hand-selected oak barrels before being married with natural meadow honey sourced from Serbia's Zlatibor mountain region. The result is a spirit that sits apart from the distillery's unblended fruit rakijas, offering a distinctly honeyed character layered over the plum distillate base.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with bright floral honey and ripe plum, followed by a gentle waft of warm beeswax and a faint spice note from oak aging. There is an inviting sweetness that reads natural rather than cloying.

Taste: On the palate, honey arrives first—clean and floral—before the full, fruity weight of the plum rakija fills the mid-palate. Subtle oak spice and a thread of dried fruit emerge as the spirit develops, balancing the sweetness with enough structure to keep things engaging. At 34% ABV the texture is smooth and approachable without sacrificing complexity.

Finish: The finish is medium-long with lingering honey and soft stone-fruit warmth. A gentle peppery spice from the oak barrels closes the experience cleanly.

How to Drink Medovina

Medovina is best served slightly chilled or at room temperature in a small tulip glass, which concentrates its honey and plum aromatics. It also works surprisingly well over a single large ice cube, which tempers the sweetness and opens up the fruit base. In cocktails, consider these three:

• Bee's Knees — Medovina replaces both the honey syrup and a portion of the spirit, simplifying the build while adding plum depth.
• Gold Rush — The honey character dovetails naturally with fresh lemon juice and yields a richer, fruit-forward variation.
• Hot Toddy — Warm water, lemon, and a cinnamon stick allow the brandy's honey and oak notes to bloom in a cold-weather serve.

Best For

• Introducing friends to Serbian rakija traditions without the higher proof of standard expressions
• After-dinner digestif service alongside dessert
• Gifting someone who appreciates artisanal, heritage-driven spirits
• Exploring Eastern European brandy styles beyond mainstream slivovitz

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Medovina taste like? Stara Sokolova Medovina leads with bright, floral meadow honey that gives way to ripe plum fruit, gentle oak spice, and a mellow, medium-length finish. It is sweet but balanced, with enough underlying fruit structure to avoid tasting like a liqueur.

How does Medovina compare to Maraska honey slivovitz? Both are honey-infused plum brandies from the Balkan tradition, but Medovina is bottled at a lower 34% ABV and emphasizes Zlatibor-region meadow honey, giving it a more floral, less herbaceous profile. Maraska's Croatian production tends toward a slightly sharper plum character with less pronounced honey sweetness.

Is Medovina good for sipping neat? Yes—its 34% ABV and natural honey sweetness make it one of the more approachable expressions in the Stara Sokolova range, well-suited to slow, neat sipping at room temperature or lightly chilled.

Where is Medovina made? It is produced by the Stara Sokolova distillery in Kostojevići, a village near Bajina Bašta in western Serbia. The region is historically known for plum cultivation and artisanal rakija production.

What foods pair well with Medovina? Aged semi-hard cheeses like Serbian kajmak or Gouda complement the honey sweetness. Baklava and other nut-and-honey pastries echo its primary flavor. Roasted walnuts offer a textural contrast. Dark chocolate with 60–70% cacao balances the sweetness with bitterness. Grilled stone fruits such as peaches or plums create a natural seasonal pairing.

What sizes does Medovina come in? The standard and most widely available size is the 750ml bottle.

Is Medovina worth the price? Medovina positions as a mid-premium expression within the Serbian rakija category, reflecting its eight-generation family recipe, double distillation, oak aging, and natural Zlatibor honey. For the quality of production and the heritage behind it, it represents solid value among artisanal honey-infused brandies.

Why Medovina?

Stara Sokolova Medovina stands on an 1897 family recipe that few spirits in the honey brandy space can match for documented lineage. The deliberate combination of double-distilled plum rakija with Zlatibor meadow honey—rather than a generic sweetener—gives the spirit a terroir-driven identity that separates it from mass-produced flavored brandies. A silver medal for quality validates the distillery's approach. For drinkers looking beyond mainstream brandy categories, Medovina offers an authentic entry point into one of Serbia's most respected rakija houses.