Brandy is a product with strong market potential that contributes to the development of domestic agriculture, tourism and the local economy, it was announced at the Brandy Fest organized by the Crowne Plaza Podgorica hotel.
At that event, it was announced that the traditional production of this drink is growing into a cultural resource of national importance, with the ambition of becoming a recognizable Montenegrin brand.
Montenegrin brandy producer Milovan Jocović from Nikšić said that the distillery he represents produces five types of brandy, from apple, quince, plum and grape, as well as pear brandy, PR Center reports.
Speaking about the volume of production, he stated that around 1,5 thousand liters of strong distillate are produced annually, which corresponds to approximately four thousand 0,7 liter bottles.
"The specificity of our brandy lies in the long aging process. Our brandy is aged in oak barrels for five years, after which it is released on the market," explained Jocović.
He also recalled the long tradition of making brandy in Montenegro.
"Traditional brandy making in Montenegro has long been known. It is a classic distillation process, where the first brandy is separated, and then the process continues, resulting in the final product," said Jocović.
Serbian brandy producer Vladimir Ćurčić said that they produce brandy from plums and pears, stating that his distillery has been in existence for 20 years.
"We produce about 20 thousand liters of strong distillate annually, about 50 thousand bottles. Our brandy is produced in the Dragačevo area, which is a specific geographical area near Čačak, known for its good orchards, from which very high-quality brandies come," said Ćurčić.
He believes that the Montenegrin market is experiencing serious growth, especially with plum brandies, stating that they see their market share in that segment.
On behalf of the Montenegrin producer, Ksenija Despot said that they have been producing brandy in Cetinje for more than six years, while distribution started a year ago.
"We produce brandies from quince, plums and grapes, and we produce about ten tons of brandy annually. Our brandy is specific for its totally "humane", positive approach. We are a completely "humane" team from Cetinje, in the most positive sense of the word," said Despot.
On behalf of the producer from Serbia, Nikolina Knežević emphasized that all of their brandies are produced in Niš exclusively from fruit from their own orchards, stating that the aging process lasts from three to eight years, in domestic oak barrels, depending on the edition.
"Our basic line is Edition 3, which represents an entry into the world of brandies, which contains two varieties of plum. Edition 5 is an exclusive brandy that has been aged for two years longer than Edition 3. It contains one more variety. We are especially proud of Edition 8, which is a limited edition of plum brandy, aged for eight years in an oak barrel," said Knežević.
She said that they have just started working on the Montenegrin market, stating that she hopes to present new products to the public next year.
Visitor Bane Žugić said that it was his first time at the event, and that his impressions were phenomenal.
"I am glad that there is such an atmosphere and that the exhibitors' offer is truly extraordinary. I think that the combination of the ambiance, the quality of the products and the space itself contributed to the success of the event. The atmosphere, thanks to the brandy and the product itself, is phenomenal. The space is good and everything somehow came together, so we have a top-notch event," said Žugić.
He said that he had the opportunity to try different types of brandy at several stands, stating that he was particularly interested in the way the exhibitors presented their products.
"We tried different, interesting brandies. Coming from the media and creative industries, I noticed how much creativity is needed to reach the customer and present the final product, in addition to the quality of the brandy itself," said Žugić.
The promoter of the Rakija Fest, Leka Dedivanović, pointed out that the impressions from the fifth edition of this event were extremely positive, emphasizing the constant growth in interest and the number of exhibitors from year to year.
A particular pleasure, he said, is the increasing participation of domestic producers from Montenegro, of which there were significantly more this year than in previous years.
"What makes us particularly happy is the large number of domestic producers. I hope that next year the number of Montenegrin exhibitors will exceed the number of guests from abroad," said Dedivanović.
He believes that Rakija Fest plays an important role in the development of raki culture, the exchange of experiences, and the improvement of product quality.
"Thanks to such events, the rakija culture is developing, people are exchanging knowledge, recipes and experiences. This is a good step forward that should be promoted not only in Montenegro, but also in the entire region," said Dedivanović.
PR and Marketing Manager of the Crowne Plaza Hotel Podgorica, Jelena Gardović, said that this year's Rakija Fest brings the richest offer so far.
"This year, 32 exhibitors from Montenegro and countries in the region are participating in the festival, representing 37 brands and almost 200 brandy labels. This represents a significant increase in the number of exhibitors, and we are also seeing an increase in the number of visitors, which makes us extremely happy," said Gardović.
She explained that the event brings together producers, distributors and brandy enthusiasts, stating that it represents a great opportunity for business networking.
"What we want is to affirm brandy as a product that needs to be promoted and that deserves the status of a national brand. By organizing the Rakija Fest, Crowne Plaza Podgorica continues to support domestic and regional production, promotes authentic local brands and contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage," said Gardović.
In this way, she added, the hotel confirms its role, not only as a place to stay, but also as a space in which initiatives of importance to the local community are developed and take place.
Visitor Saša Palibrk said that in addition to having the opportunity to enjoy the offer, festival visitors have the opportunity to see that our region truly has world-class products, "which can rival what we see in films and on the shelves of famous world manufacturers."
He emphasized that the festival is an opportunity for the public to get to know the people behind authentic brands.
"What makes me especially happy is that domestic and regional producers are much better in quality than what is normally offered to us on the market. I invite people to attend these events and get to know small producers who bring joy, energy and a personal story to their products," said Palibrk.
Aleksandra Pandurica said that it was her first time attending the Rakija Fest, and that she had extremely positive impressions.
She stated that it is particularly important that the festival gives space to domestic producers and nurtures tradition.
"What I particularly like about this festival is the opportunity to promote domestic producers, quality and tradition in this way," said Pandurica.
Rakija Fest 2025 was realized with the support of the Tourist Organization of Podgorica and the company Aqua Bianca.
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