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A Drink A Day: Plum Rickey

May 18, 2009 by Danielle

I went to Domku this weekend and got shot down by the waitress. Not for trying to pick her up – though that would make for a better story – but because Domku never seems to have whatever food you really want. If you want a Anthropologie-infused, Twee’d up version of Soviet Russia head to Domku. The decor is welcoming with exposed brick and light pastels, twigs and flowers hang from the ceiling, and nothing ever, ever seems to be available or in stock.

But I don’t care, I love the place. I decided to drink my brunch instead and got a shot of cranberry aquavit and a cocktail made with Šljivovica, or Serbian plum brandy and ginger ale. The aquavit was a terrible, horrible idea and for some reason I never remember to stay away from it. The plum brandy and ginger ale was to die for.

This plum brandy is an example of a rakija, or a distilled brandy made from any fermented fruit. Plums are the most common, but one can also find peach, pear, cherry, figs, and even quince show up in these fruit brandies. Rakija is similar to mead (made from honey), grappa and Pisco in terms of production and distillation, though the latter two solely use grapes (and for Pisco, Muscat grapes specifically).

Most liquor stores tend to have one Šljivovica on hand, but if you want a wider selection (and want to find the oldest, dustiest, most ridiculous bottles of things you never knew existed) head to Central Liquor in Gallery Place/Chinatown, next to Cowgirl Creamery.

This isn’t the exact drink I consumed, but a great recipe nonetheless. Don’t use Rose’s lime juice, it will make this drink way too sweet for your own good (but it might make some good and incredibly intoxicating hummingbird nectar).

Plum Rickey

• 1 1/2 oz Plum Brandy
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice

Fill highball glass with ice and add both ingredients. Fill with soda and add plum or lime slice, your choice.

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