Finest Spirits – Munich 2026
Branko Drljača
Slap Spirits
A Meeting of Knowledge and the Modern Spirits Scene
Munich is a city where tradition and a contemporary approach to drinking culture naturally meet. When the international community of producers, experts, and enthusiasts of strong spirits gathers in such an environment, the result is an event that goes far beyond a classic trade fair. This is precisely the kind of experience offered by Finest Spirits, one of the most significant spirits festivals in Europe.
Finest Spirits is held under the patronage of the publishing house Meininger Verlag, an institution that has been setting standards in the world of wine and spirits for decades. Meininger is not only a publisher and organizer of trade fairs, but also the organizer of one of the most respected international competitions for spirits, the International Spirits Award, where distillates from around the world are evaluated according to strictly defined professional criteria.
It is precisely this combination of education, media expertise, and a serious evaluation system that gives Finest Spirits additional weight. People do not come here only to taste, but also to discuss quality, identity, and the direction in which the industry is developing.
The German audience demonstrates a high level of knowledge and curiosity, and Munich confirms itself as a city where there is genuine interest in premium and craft distillates. The atmosphere of the fair was professional, yet at the same time open and communicative, perfect for the exchange of experiences between producers, educators, distributors, and judges.
Masterclass on Rakija “Rakija Reloaded”
A special part of my participation at the fair was a masterclass dedicated to rakija, which I held at the invitation and with the engagement of Rakija Shop. The masterclass was titled “Rakija Reloaded – A Renaissance: Old Knowledge, New Paths” and was conceived as an educational introduction to rakija as a premium category of distillates.
Through the lecture and guided tasting, I spoke about the historical roots of rakija as well as its contemporary development, emphasizing the importance of raw materials, fermentation, distillation, and style. The focus was on presenting rakija without stereotypes, as a spirit with a clear identity, regional character, and real potential on the international stage.
The interaction with the audience was exceptionally engaging, and the level of interest and the questions asked showed a genuine curiosity and a willingness to view rakija from a serious, professional perspective.
The rakijas presented during the masterclass tasting came from the following distilleries: Gorda (Quince 3 yo) , Potpis (Apricot 5 yo) , Gorda (Plum 7 yo) , Nasleđe (Plum 8 yo) , Želja (Plum 12 yo) .
Tastings and Personal Discoveries
One of the greatest values of a fair like Finest Spirits is the opportunity to taste an exceptionally wide range of strong spirits in one place. During the event, I sampled numerous whiskies, rums, gins, and fruit distillates, from both large, established producers and smaller, craft distilleries.
A particularly noticeable trend is a return to the basics: clean aromatic profiles, balance, and precision. Increasingly, producers are moving away from aggressive styles and focusing on the quality of raw materials and clarity of expression. Among my personal discoveries, several smaller producers stood out for their technical precision and authentic character, especially in the segment of fruit rakijas and aged spirits.
Here, I would highlight Strauch Distillery, a very interesting example of a distillery emerging from a wine culture. Instead of sticking to classic categories, it develops its own style of wine-based spirits, somewhere between innovative brandy and modern craft distillates. The distillery is connected to a family winery dating back to 1545. The modern distillery was founded in 1995, when the family decided to transform part of their wine production into premium spirits.
Vintage Grand Reserve 1962 represents a very old fortified wine from the winery’s archive (in a style similar to Port) that today holds value primarily as a rare and historical example of winemaking from that period.
Barrignac Paradies 25yo is one of the most prestigious releases from this distillery. It is an aged wine distillate, a quarter of a century old, with a style somewhere between a top quality brandy, a vintage vinjak, and a craft digestif.
As soon as I started thinking about writing more about them, it became clear that such spirits deserve much more space than a blog on this fair can offer. Their complexity, character, and overall experience make them truly extraordinary.
Amid a sea of excellent distillates available for tasting, these two stood out and left a lasting impression on me. Moments like these remind us why events like this are important, because sometimes, among many good spirits, you encounter those that genuinely surprise you and remain memorable for a long time.
Fair Highlight – People and Conversations
While tastings are an important part of any fair, the true highlight of Finest Spirits was the people. The event provided an ideal opportunity to reconnect with old acquaintances from the world of spirits, fellow distillers, judges, educators, and industry professionals.
Equally valuable were the conversations with people I met for the first time. Exchanging views on trends, market challenges, and production philosophy was often as inspiring as the tastings themselves. Such encounters reaffirm that the world of strong spirits is global, yet still deeply connected through personal relationships and a shared passion for the craft.
Conclusion
Finest Spirits in Munich once again confirmed that the contemporary spirits scene demands more than just taste, it seeks knowledge, context, and authenticity. Participating in such an event, as well as having the opportunity to present rakija in an educational format, demonstrates how important it is to continually foster dialogue between tradition and modern approaches.
Events like these are not only about showcasing products; they are about connecting people, ideas, and cultures, and that is where their greatest value lies.
Branko Drljača
