Pálinka is a Hungarian fruit brandy made by distilling fruits like grapes, pears, apricots, plums, and apples. It originates from Hungary and has a strength of at least 40-43% alcohol.
How it is made
Pálinka is produced through distillation of various fruits and berries, similar to its southern Slavic counterpart, rakia. The most prized apricot pálinka comes from Kecskemét. Törkölypálinka is made from grape pomace and is one of the oldest varieties, dating back to at least the 15th century.
Types and styles
Different varieties include Kisüsti (double-distilled in small copper stills), Érlelt (aged in wooden barrels for at least 3-6 months), Ó (aged for at least 12-24 months), and Ágyas (infused with the same fruits it was made from).
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Палинка, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.