Twenty years of Rakijada in Socanica: A tradition that endures

More than 170 brandy samples, 48 gold medals and producers from different parts of the region marked the 20th Ibar Valley Festival of Double-Distilled Plum Brandy and Other Fruit Brandies, held in Socanica. First place in the plum brandy category went to the “Sokoljaca” Association from Socanica, with a score of 18.54.

Due to poor weather conditions, the jubilee 20th Ibar Valley Festival of Double-Distilled Plum Brandy and Other Fruit Brandies was held in the sports hall of the “Vuk Karadzic” Elementary School in Socanica instead of in the town square.

The event was opened by Leposavic Municipal Assembly President Marko Rakic, while Marko Radosavljevic addressed the participants on behalf of the local authorities and organizers.

Organizer and member of the judging panel, Professor Svetomir Milojevic, welcomed the participants and guests.

This year’s festival brought together more than 160 producers and, according to the organizers, around 175 brandy samples were evaluated. A total of 139 samples competed in the plum brandy category, while 24 samples were made from other types of fruit, including apricots, cherries, apples, pears and quinces.

A total of 48 gold medals were awarded.

Guests included brandy producers and enthusiasts from Cacak, Kraljevo, Krusevac, Vrnjacka Banja, Gornja Trepca, Vojvodina, Raska and other areas, as well as from Kosovo, from Zubin Potok to Strpce.

The cultural program also featured the presentation of a book about Socanica written by ophthalmologist Dr. Milos Jovanovic.

First place in the plum brandy category went to the “Sokoljaca” Association from Socanica, with a score of 18.54. The prize was a 100-liter barrel, which representatives of the association decided to donate to the Monastery of St. John in Socanica.

Dragisa Miljojkovic, who has participated in the festival since its very beginnings, said that he had inherited the craft of brandy production from his grandfather and father and had continued to improve his knowledge over the years through interaction with other producers and participation in various events.

“I have been making brandy for as long as I can remember. I learned the craft with the help of my grandfather and father. Over time, we expanded our knowledge, and the professor helped us a great deal. Through events and gatherings, we reached the level of quality that we are able to present today,” Miljojkovic said.

For him, however, success is not measured only in medals, but also in passing on experience.

“The association is, quite literally, about sharing a glass of brandy with good people. It is important that we pass on our experience to one another. Whatever I know to be good practice, I should share with my neighbors and relatives. That benefits everyone,” Miljojkovic said.

Second place went to Dejan Mijailovic from Kraljevo, who received a score of 18.53 and won a distillation still for his brandy. Although this was his first time competing, brandy production is part of his family heritage.

“I come from the village of Pecenogi, between Kraljevo and Kragujevac, an area where plums thrive. This brandy was made from plums from the best harvest and was aged. This was my first competition, and I did not expect a result like this,” Mijailovic said.

He stressed that awards provided an incentive to preserve what previous generations had created.

“The award is merely an incentive to take even better care of what we have and not allow something that generations before us may have cultivated for centuries to disappear. The main point is not to let the place and tradition we come from die out. The fast pace of modern life takes us in other directions, but we must not neglect our origins,” Mijailovic added.

Third place went to Nikola Milic from Cacak, with a score of 18.52, who won a 50-liter barrel. He inherited brandy production from his parents and ancestors and has been more actively involved in it over the past decade.

“I have been among plum orchards since I was a child. It is something I carry within me, and it grew into a love for plums and brandy. I also come to competitions for the socializing, meeting new people and exchanging experiences,” Milic said.

Organizer and judging panel member Professor Svetomir Milojevic said he was pleased with both the turnout of producers and the quality of the submitted samples.

“I am very satisfied, particularly with the number of participants. In the past, we had around 70 or 80 samples, while now we have reached approximately 175 or 176. We exceeded even our own expectations, which made the organization somewhat more demanding, but I believe we successfully completed everything,” Milojevic said.

Speaking about the judging process, he explained that the panel paid particular attention to the color, clarity, typicity, aroma and taste of the brandy.

“Until we taste the brandy, we cannot say whether it is genuinely good. The aroma can mislead us, but only after tasting it and assessing its flavor can we give it a score that truly reflects its quality,” Milojevic explained.

According to him, this area occupies an important place among the regions of Serbia known for high-quality plums and plum brandy. Milojevic sees particular value in the festival’s opportunities to meet producers from other areas, exchange experiences and establish contacts that continue long after the event has ended.

The event was supported by the Socanica and Trepca local communities, the Municipality of Leposavic, the Leposavic Sports and Tourism Organization and the Office for Kosovo and Metohija.