Wineries and spirit destilleries

• The Original Pálinka

  The National Spirits of Hungary

  

  

  

  

  "WELCOME to the "BEST DISTILLERY OF EUROPE 2015"

  awarded AGARDI PÁLINKA.

  The Destillata is the most prestigious European competition of all spirits. Agardi has been 8 times winner of this competition in 2017

  The highest recognition of the competition was awarded to a Hungarian distillery: The Agárdi Párlatfőzde became the Distillery of the Year, while one of distillery’s founder and owner, Vértes Tibor became the Cooking Master of the Year.

  This year, 162 distillerries of 14 countries took part in the competition with about 1500 samples. Hungary was represented by 25 distilleries.

  The Hungarian competitors performed well: they won a total of 163 awards, 6 Distillate of the Year Awards, 7 Gold, 62 Silver and 88 Bronze medals.

  Our program includes guided spirit-tasting with gourmet eco-lunch at Agardi Distillery .

  Another option for Hungarian national spirit tasting at lake Balaton :”

  Our host, The family owned Petendi Distillery on the Balaton Uplands

  was founded in 2007 based on the experience of Miklós Kovács who is the head of the family and started his career in Pálinka making in 1991. He developed and designed the technology of the distillery which puts together the traditional double distillation and the modern rectification bringing much more fruity taste.

  The distillery , we visit

  Humour – If you want to buy a product of the Petendi Distillery you have to look for the brand of Fülig Jimmy (Big Smile Jimmy) and Piszkos Fred (Dirty Fred). These two characters are very famous in the Hungarian literature, especially if we talk about comedy. Their unique sense of humour reflects the specialities of these Pálinkas. They make you cheer up as they are zippy and youngish, in the same time fine and elegant distillations. Fülig Jimmy personalizes the lighter, fruity 40% Pálinka, while Piszkos Fred inspires you to smile wider; he is on the bottles of 60% Pálinka.

  

  

  Philosophy – Why are these products so unique? These spirits can contact only 3 materials during their life. This is the philosophy of copper-wood-glass. Spirit goes from the glass tile fermentor to the copper pot stills and copper column. The next stage after double distillation is the oak barrel where these Pálinkas are being matured for years and where Fülig Jimmy and Piszkos Fred gain dignity.

  Harmony – The oak gives not only a beautiful amber colour to the Pálinka, but creates harmony between the rough components of the spirit. It helps to evoke the tasty heydays of fruits what you can smell and feel in your mouth and nose for minutes. It is true for every type of fruits as the Petendi Distillery is the only one in the country where all Pálinkas spend at least several months in the oak barrel. However the majority of them are aged more than one or two years. Fülig Jimmy and Piszkos Fred are trapped in harmony.

  

  Orgasm of flavours – If you taste a 40% Fülig Jimmy Pálinka, it is difficult to resist checking the next fruit. It is worth then having some bottles from them:

  

  • The light, little bit crusty apple
  • The refreshing pear especially with ice cubes
  • The most special Muscat Olivier (grape)
  • The princess of Pálinkas, the apricot
  • The most traditional and classic plum
  • The cognac like sour cherry and its brother the 60% cherry – a gastronomic wonder
  • The double cherry, apricot, plum: they are like liqueurs as they were laid on fruit bed at least 3 months.

  

  The most interesting anecdote regarding Hungarian pálinka is connected to the EU negotiations in 2002, when the Hungarian and Romanian delegates were debating over the rights to use the brand name 'pálinka'. They were asked to present an argument which proves that the name originates from the language of the delegate's country, so the right to use the word can be justified. Avoiding the long debate, the delegate of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs simply opened the Romanian Dictionary of Definitions and looked up the entry 'Palincă', where he found the following definition: 'Palincă is an alcoholic drink of Hungarian origin; it is made of fruits by fermentation and distillation'- This is how 'pálinka' became a genuine Hungaricum protected by the EU, and a brand name which can only be used by Hungary

  Historical background

  The success story of Hungarian distillates originates from the 14th century, when the gout of King Charles I (also known as Charles Robert) of Hungary was cured by his wife's, Queen Elisabeth's rosemary brandy. The 'Hungarian Queen's water of life' became part and parcel of the farmers' life throughout the centuries; the proper and healthy breakfast at dawn prescribed an apple and a shot of pálinka, which were considered to prepare the stomach for a delicious breakfast. Pálinka is still used by traditional medicine for tooth-ache, stomach-ache and sore throat, and beside its medicinal effects, its special fruity aroma made it very popular drink.