R. Jelinek 5 Yr (Silver) Kosher Slivovitz
R. Jelinek 5 Yr (Silver) Kosher Slivovitz is a 100-proof (50% ABV) triple-distilled plum brandy, aged 5 years and certified Kosher for Passover. Made by RUDOLF JELINEK in Vizovice, Czech Republic from fully matured fruit grown in the plum region of Bohemia, it is the aged silver style — clear in the glass despite five years of maturation. It scored 91 points at the 2023 Bartender Spirits Awards. Order online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: 100 proof (50% ABV)
- Aging: 5 years (silver/clear style)
- Kosher: Kosher for Passover
- Style: Triple-distilled plum brandy from Bohemian plum-region fruit
- Origin: Vizovice, Czech Republic; RUDOLF JELINEK, established 1894
- Recognition: 91 points, 2023 Bartender Spirits Awards
Five Years That Leave No Color
Aging usually means oak and color, but silver slivovitz rests without picking up barrel tint — the result is a clear spirit with five years of mellowing behind it. The producer's own tasting note promises a smooth, slightly almond taste, the signature of good slivovitz distilled from fully matured plums with the pits. Find more brandy and the R. Jelinek line.
Tasting Notes
Crystal clear. The nose is clean plum with a soft almond lift; the palate is powerful at 100 proof yet smooth — ripe plum, a whisper of marzipan from the pits, and the gentle warmth that five years of rest brings. No oak, no sweetness; the fruit does the work.
How to Enjoy
Serve chilled or at room temperature, sipped neat in a small glass as an aperitif or digestif. Its strength and purity also make it a formidable base for a stone-fruit cocktail — a little goes a long way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does slivovitz taste like, and what is the almond note?
Good slivovitz tastes of ripe plum with a subtle almond-marzipan note that comes from the plum pits during distillation — it is the spirit's signature character.
Is slivovitz kosher for Passover?
This expression is — it is certified Kosher for Passover, produced under the supervision of kosher-certification representatives as part of Jelinek's kosher program, which dates back to 1934.
Should slivovitz be chilled?
Either way is traditional: chilled neat sharpens the fruit, room temperature opens up the aromatics. At 100 proof, a brief chill tames the fire nicely.
The definitive kosher slivovitz — order R. Jelinek 5 Yr (Silver) Kosher Slivovitz online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.