Drink of the Week: Yebiga “PRVA”

Although we’re on the other side of the winter solstice, the Pacific Northwest remains utterly dreary, so once dinner is cleared from the table, I find myself back in my chair, game for a small pour of something strong and neat. A recent presence on my table for this nightly ritual is Yebiga “PRVA,” a Serbian fruit brandy known as rakija. 

The centuries-old Balkan spirit is frequently a homemade affair, brought out and served throughout the region to mark familial occasions. And while the category isn’t a new arrival stateside, Yebiga “PRVA” claims to be the first of quality, calling itself “truly your baba’s rakija.” Produced in a traditional manner through collaboration with an established Serbian distilling family, “PRVA” relies on čačanska rodna plums hand-harvested in the mountainous Goč area. Aged in oak barrels for some 18 months, Yebiga “PRVA” is an 86-proof spirit that’s not for the faint of heart. But when I enjoy one finger or so with a slight chill, the burn hits just right, accenting the sweet, tart fruit, floral character, and spice. I can’t wait until friends can join me around the table to raise a glass. $34.99/1 liter, potomacwines.com