Winners of Rakija Trophy 2026 Announced
Oct 12, 2026
The best rakijas at this year’s Rakija Trophy competition were announced today as part of the fifth edition of the international Wine Vision by Open Balkan fair. Competing against approximately 130 entries submitted by more than 60 producers from Serbia and the region, the expert jury selected the best rakijas across this year’s competition categories.
This year, the quality of the rakijas was assessed by an international jury of 15 members, working in three panels and comprising seven international and eight domestic judges. The international panel brought together experts from Belgium, France, Germany, Croatia, North Macedonia and Bulgaria, giving this year’s evaluation an international dimension.
The competition was organised by the Serbian Rakija Producers Association, with the aim of recognising and promoting the quality of fruit spirits from Serbia and the surrounding region, while further encouraging the development of rakija as a product with a distinct identity, strong premium potential and growing visibility on international markets.
During the evaluation, the rakijas were divided into three panels, with each entry assessed according to predefined quality criteria.
“The transformation and progress of rakija over the past three years have been truly phenomenal. At the global Spirits Selection by CMB competition, Serbia has gone in just three years from submitting a handful of entries to presenting more than 100 labels, becoming the fifth most represented market at this international spirits competition.
Šljivovica (plum brandy), travarica (herbal brandy) and klekovača (juniper brandy) are no longer unfamiliar local drinks on the global map; they have secured their own official categories and recognition. When outstanding quality and craftsmanship underpin an entire region, this is no longer marketing but authentic cultural heritage that the world is seeking. The key to further success is for producers to continue raising quality standards while presenting themselves collectively on the international stage,” said Ulrich Nijs, Director of Spirits Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.
The number of producers and entries submitted this year demonstrates the breadth and diversity of rakija available on the domestic market, while the participation of international judges ensured that the quality of the spirits was also assessed from the perspective of experts from various European markets.
“Rakija holds a special place in our tradition and is an inseparable part of our cultural heritage, which we must preserve, nurture and promote to the highest standards. Behind every bottle of quality rakija are the knowledge, experience, dedication and tremendous effort of its producer. This competition is an important opportunity not only to reward outstanding quality but also to encourage producers to continuously improve their production standards,” said Aleksandar Janjić, Director of the Serbian Rakija Producers Association.
Janjić added that the Association’s goal is to preserve tradition through events of this kind, promote high standards and contribute to the stronger positioning of Serbian rakija on both domestic and international markets.
“I believe that by working together, we can raise quality standards and make our rakija even more recognisable around the world,” Janjić said.
Rakija is deeply rooted in the culture of Serbia and the Balkans, but its contemporary development increasingly involves precise raw-material selection, control of the distillation process, ageing, brand development and carefully planned product positioning.
The award-winning rakijas gain visibility among industry professionals, visitors, distributors and potential buyers, while producers have the opportunity to highlight the quality of their products through medals and trophies.
Rakija Trophy 2026 Winners
- Best Lozovača (grape brandy): KAMNIK 10 BARRELS MUSKAT HAMBURG, DESTILERIJA KAMNIK
- Best Travarica (herbal brandy): ARHIVA 1982 KLEKOVAČA, DESTILERIJA ZARIĆ
- Best Vinjak (Serbian brandy): BOTUNJAC XO, PODRUM I VINOGRADI BOTUNJAC
- Best Apricot Brandy: ZAPLET KAJSIJA BARIK, USD D.O.O.
- Best Rakija in the Other Rakija Category: STARA SOKOLOVA MALINA LUX, DESTILERIJA RB GLOBAL D.O.O.
- Best Quince Brandy: HUBERT DUNJA, DESTILERIJA HUBERT
- Best Plum Brandy: EMPERUS 15, EMPERUS DESTILERIJA
This year’s Rakija Trophy was held as part of the fifth edition of Wine Vision by Open Balkan, the international wine, food and rakija fair taking place at the Belgrade Fair from 10 to 12 October under the slogan “One Place. The Whole World.”
Photo: M2C
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