Hubert 1924 Dunja Rakija (Quince Brandy) Fruit Brandy 1L

Destilerija Hubert 1924 is a family distillery located in Banatsko Veliko Selo, in Serbia's Vojvodina region near the Romanian border. Though the family business was founded in 2007, it takes its name from the building that houses the distillery, constructed in 1924. The Hubert family sources its fruit entirely from a fifteen hectare family owned orchard, producing a range of six brandies, including quince, apricot, apple, plum, pear, and cherry, all made according to an old family recipe.

Dunja is made from carefully selected quince, a pome fruit related to apples and pears that is too sour and astringent to eat raw and is more commonly used in jams and preserves. Quince has a notably low sugar content, meaning it takes roughly seventy kilograms of fruit to produce a single liter of brandy. The fruit ferments from autumn through spring before undergoing traditional double distillation in copper pot stills without the use of a column. The finished rakija is bottled clear at 40% ABV.

The nose carries unexpectedly tropical notes, with pineapple emerging alongside quince's more familiar pear like character. On the palate, the fruit stays remarkably smooth and well balanced for its strength, with a subdued, elegant core that avoids heaviness. Dunja pairs well with aged, aromatic cheeses such as goat cheese, along with cured meats like prosciutto or carpaccio.