Tag Archives: manastirka

Prokupac

One of the most well-known products of Prokupac distillery is Manastirka Slivovitz.

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My mother still keeps the old package of Manastirka Slivovitz, made by Prokupac distillery. I remember, when I was a kid, I would always grab it, and pretend to be an adult, but a pretty drunken one. I would start talking nonsense and my sister would laugh at it. Some may say that it’s not how kids should play, but on the other hand, it seems as a way better option than sitting in front of the computer.

The story of Prokupac begins over half of the century ago, in 1955. For all this time, the factory managed to produce almost 270 million liters of beverage, and as such, became the biggest factory of alcoholic beverages on Balkan. It really makes me sad to see that after all the success this factory had, and after all the medals and prizes it won, it ended up fighting to survive, in the new, grim days.

Not so long ago, Prokupac was supposed to be joined with another company, but instead of better work with a joined forces, all that happened was the other company acting like a parasite. Business, contracts and politics almost destroyed the well-known producer of excellent drinks.kaufen_prokupac

Did you know?

One of the most well-known products of Prokupac distillery is Manastirka Slivovitz. Besides being a tasty drink, Manastirka was often used and a healing potion. I don’t know what would doctors say, perhaps they wouldn’t agree on this, but my grandmother would use it whenever I catch a cold. In order to bring down the temperature, she would perform a massage over my hands and feet with the Manastirka. Some say that any alcoholic beverage would do the trick, but this one has been often in our home, so it had the main role in everything: healing, drinking, cheering…

Some say that the recipe for this drink was invented centuries ago, perhaps even by St. Sava himself, but those are just stories without actual proof. However, it is most likely that its production started in monasteries, as the name suggests (manastir=monastery).

Even today, during the whole struggle Prokupac has to deal with, Manastirka is welcomed in every home. I’ve seen lately on the online auctions, that people are ready to give over 2000e for a 30-year old bottle of Manastirka. Considering the fact that the crisis is still present in this part of the world, we can assume that it remained popular and that people haven’t forgotten its old glory.zs_ZS_pro1

Prokupac- One of the Oldest Distilleries of Slivovitz in the Balkans

The story of Prokupac begins over half of the century ago, in 1955. For all this time, the factory managed to produce almost 270 million liters of beverage.

Manastirka Plum Brandy Slivovitz

Manastirka Plum Brandy Slivovitz

My mother still keeps the old package of Manastirka Slivovitz, made by Prokupac distillery. I remember, when I was a kid, I would always grab it, and pretend to be an adult, but a pretty drunken one. I would start talking nonsense and my sister would laugh at it. Some may say that it’s not how kids should play, but on the other hand, it seems as a way better option than sitting in front of the computer.

The story of Prokupac begins over half of the century ago, in 1955. For all this time, the factory managed to produce almost 270 million liters of beverage, and as such, became the biggest factory of alcoholic beverages on Balkan. It really makes me sad to see that after all the success this factory had, and after all the medals and prizes it won, it ended up fighting to survive, in the new, grim days.

Not so long ago, Prokupac was supposed to be joined with another company, but instead of better work with a joined forces, all that happened was the other company acting like a parasite. Business, contracts and politics almost destroyed the well-known producer of excellent drinks.

Did you know?

One of the most well-known products of Prokupac distillery is Manastirka Slivovitz. Besides being a tasty drink, Manastirka was often used and a healing potion. I don’t know what would doctors say, perhaps they wouldn’t agree on this, but my grandmother would use it whenever I catch a cold. In order to bring down the temperature, she would perform a massage over my hands and feet with the Manastirka. Some say that any alcoholic beverage would do the trick, but this one has been often in our home, so it had the main role in everything: healing, drinking, cheering…

Some say that the recipe for this drink was invented centuries ago, perhaps even by St. Sava himself, but those are just stories without actual proof. However, it is most likely that its production started in monasteries, as the name suggests (manastir=monastery).

Even today, during the whole struggle Prokupac has to deal with, Manastirka is welcomed in every home. I’ve seen lately on the online auctions, that people are ready to give over 2000e for a 30-year old bottle of Manastirka. Considering the fact that the crisis is still present in this part of the world, we can assume that it remained popular and that people haven’t forgotten its old glory.

Manastirka- Serbian Brand on 3 Continents

Residents of Toplica, Southern Serbia are famous for their excellent fruit brandy. They also make herbal brandy, with medicinal herbs added to the fruit brandy. The healing effect of the herbal fruit brandy is well known since the ancient times of Saint Sava.

Population has been moving away from Toplica for the last 50 years, so domestic hand crafted brandy is made in very few homes in Toplica. But “Prokupac” from Prokuplje produces more and more every year. It has kept the customers all over the world, says PR of Prokupac Zeljko Rasic. “Prokupac increased the production of Manastirka, and Manastirka (Monastery brandy, Serbian translation) is now exported to Canada, Australia and New Zealand, apart from existing markets. ”

“Prokupac has loyal consumers who originate from the Balkans”, says Rasic, “and wherever they move, we have to follow them with our brandy. Every fourth resident of Chicago originates from the Balkans. Therefore, Prokupac is well known in the USA, Canada, Australia, as well as in the EU.”
“European countries introduced complicated system of protection of their domestic alcoholic beverages. It doesn’t refer to quality. They produce brandies that are not of natural origin. Whiskey made of potato is priced 7 EUR in wholesale in the EU. This brings us a lot of problems.”
 sljivovica
There are 400 workers employed at “Prokupac” nowadays and they produce over 35 wagons of brandy a month. This makes them one of the largest alcohol distilleries in the Balkans.  Around 35% of the production is being exported worldwide. It was awarded a Charter of St Sava in 2010 as the most successful firm in Toplica with over 2500 medals in its lifetime.
People from Prokupac like to emphasize that famous American tennis players, Williams sisters hold a wooden flask of Prokupac brandy on their table.