Good slivovice in Prague

Jelinek is considered the best, and I must admit it is pretty good, and certainly the one I get in the pubs there though there are some other brands around and most have been pretty good. the only stuff I was not so keen on was a brand made for the Billa supermarket chain that I took home. ok but not the depth of flavour that Jelinek has. you will get it in all supermarkets and at the airport,best prices will be in the supermarkets and look for it being on offer, check the size of the bottle as they often do deals of different bottles.
I am sure there is a visitor center for Jelinek opening up sometime soon, I saw an area being renovated down near the river.not sure when it will open but I am in Prague in 6 weeks time so will have a look.

https://news.expats.cz/czech-food-drink/na-zdravi-historic-center-prague-get-slivovice-museum/

Several years ago I was meeting a friend who lives in the Czech city of Brno ,knowing I would be meeting up with some of his friends I brought over several minatures of malt whisky to give as little presents ,one guy was so impressed he disappeared for about 20 minutes and came back with a small bottle of his Grandmother's home made Slivovice for me, I can honestly say that was the best I have ever tasted and probably a fair bit stronger than the commercial brands.

I agree with Unclegus , Jelinek is the best , smooth as velvet , in spite of the very high proof . Rather than schlep it back from Prague , you can get it here in the States . Quite near me in Westchester County , NY is a store that routinely carries it . Look here for a US source - https://www.rjelinek.us/

Thank you both for the tips. Slivovice is a unique thing so I am glad I found some knowledge in the forum here. Unclegus - great story about the friends. The homemade stuff is the best. That's what I got used to. Unfortunately, we're losing older relatives due to age. They knew how to get, or make, the really good stuff. A commercial substitute may have to do for now. steven - I appreciate the confirmation on Jelinek and the link. Jelinek isn't in Ohio yet, but that's what out-of-state friends are for.

just checking my fridge last night and I have a bottle of Jelinek Hruska about a 1/4 of a bottle left, bought it at the airport in May, I did also buy a bottle of Jelinek Slivovice but had some friends over for a meal a few weeks ago and we drank it .Less than 6 weeks till I am back in Prague so can get another bottle or two.

Good slivovice in Prague? Prague is for good beer. Not wine and certainly not slivovice. Once I was taking several of my American friends around Prague. We stopped for lunch in the pub U parlamentu, had Svichkova and a very good beer Pilsner Urquell. Then waiter offered slivovice a and we agreed. Yuck! that was ugly taste! I had to spit it out and told the waiter not to offer this concoction to anyone. The problem in Prague is that most people there have no idea how good slivovice is supposed to taste. Jelinek slivovice tastes little better but in reality it is not genuine slivovice or slivovica as they say in Moravia. Real good slivovica is transparent liquid with content of alcohol 50 to 55%.Jelinek is brownish and because of EU rules only 40% of alcohol. The best slivovica is from eastern Moravia and it is homemade. Unfortunately not all homemade slivovica is good. When I drank good slivovica it was always homemade and from eastern Moravia. Almost all villages there have a public distillery. You bring your own fermented plums, distill it and pay the alcohol tax. The tax is considered too high, that's why most people have also their own home distillery to avoid that tax. In Slovacko village Vlcnov there is a museum of home distilleries which were confiscated in police raids.

you can get 45 %and 50% Jelenik and in most cases I see it is clear, the brownish stuff has been aged in oak barrels very similar to the way malt whisky is matured but not with the same success.
I like it but it is not as good as malt whisky but I will still drink Slivovice when in Prague and at home.
Beer in Prague his a whole different kettle of fish and I could easily give a 3 hour lecture on the various pubs and micro-breweries of Prague and their various offerings.

Ilja , the Jelinek slivovice you describe is absolutely nothing like what I bought ( at the Billa grocery store near my hotel ) in Prague . It was crystal clear and was 90 proof . The product that my local store sells here in NY ( Jelinek ) fits the same description with a proof of 100 .

Steven that will be the 45 and 50% alcohol that I refer too, roughly 90 and 100 proof.

Yes , thanks Unclegus

@Ilja – Since Moravia isn’t possible this time, I have to settle for what’s available in Prague. A good, or decent, bottle would be sufficient. The one bottle my local liquor store carries is just god awful. I’d just be happy to bring something back from the CR that's tolerable, and actually Czech.

@Unclegus – if you are willing to share, I’ll take you up on the info on the pubs and micro-breweries of Prague and their various offerings.

@orangecards, If you want something uniquely Czech go for Becherovka. Tastes little bit like medicinal liquor. You can get it in liquor store and in most supermarkets.

Orangecards, when are you visiting and what area are you staying in/,I can try and make a few suggestions. there are numerous comments I have made about beer and where to drink it on the forum over the years.

here are a couple of threads you may be interested in.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/czech/3-newish-micro-breweries-to-try-in-prgaue
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/czech/restaurants-for-those-that-might-like-a-little-adventure.

If you go to Trip Advisor ( I am also Unclegus there)there are 1000's of threads there that I have contributed to over the last 15 years many about the beers and pubs of the city, the whole beer scene has changed quite dramatically in the 25 years since I first started visiting the city and the changes are still going on.
I am back In Prague from the 19th-30 August.

Becherovka is nice stuff , bit of an acquired taste but I acquired it many years ago,an American friend of mine describes it as Christmas in a glass and I would not disagree with that.

If you've got the time for a day trip to Brno then go another 30 minutes and the Jelinek Distillery tour might be an option https://en.rjelinek.cz/distillery-land.html or do an overnight in Zlin and take a cab (about 12km).

If you buy some Becherovka , try a small bottle first . It was good , but a bit on the sweet side for me . Probably best as an after dinner liqueur .

Unclegus - appreciate your comments on TripAdvisor. Found some good info there. Staying in Prague 1 in August. Close to the Florenc metro. The beer places outside city center look great. I'd also appreciate any hidden gems in Old Town or New Town.

Did I see correctly your comment that a Raiffesen ATM free is 150czk? Uni Credit seems to be a better ATM choice?

yes the banks do charge for some cards and I think it depends on your bank and what connections they have with other banks Moneta being a crazy 195 kc. as I said in a previous thread the only ones that did not charge were CSOB and Uni credit but things may be different for you so check before you commit to taking money out the ATM.
One of my favourite pubs is near Florenc metro is Pivovarsky Klub.
http://www.pivovarskyklub.com/
good food and always 6 beers on tap constantly rotating.
I really don't spend much time in the Old or New town for drinks or meals as I am usually out in the outskirts,I stay in the Dejvicka area when in the city and there are numerous great places in that area.
A couple of hidden gems for you in the old town are these two.
https://www.uprovaznice.cz/en/
just off the main drag near the bottom of Wenseslas square.

https://www.vcipu.cz/en/michalska
not far from the Old town square.

https://www.restauracebredovskydvur.cz/
this is my favourite place in the new town for Czech food , you can actually seen it being prepared .

https://www.praguebeergarden.com/pubs/category/beer-gardens
have a look at this website for info on places to try great beer in the city, Daniel and his friends that run it have opened up a beer café ( http://lyabeercafe.cz/?utm_source=pbg&utm_content=v03&utm_campaign=lya&utm_medium=banner_lead__web) that is a nice little place and I had the pleasure of visiting there a couple of months ago and met with Daniel for the first time.

hope this all helps