Cocktails with Quince rakija
Quince rakija is a fruit brandy from Southeastern Europe, distilled from fermented quince, unflavored.
ABV40%
Substitutes for Quince rakija
Another quince distillate
The closest match, swapped one for one. A Balkan dunjevača or a French eau-de-vie shares the exact same strength and lacks sugar.
Other fruit rakija
Plum or apricot rakija swaps straight in. The character of the spirit stays intact, with only the fruit changing.
Pear brandy
A backup option at the same strength. It has a softer aroma that does not stand out as sharply in a blend.
Works well in long drinks with tonic or sparkling wine. It adds a light touch of apple and oak aging.
Description
Quince is barely edible raw: hard, astringent and sour. Distilled, it gives a floral, honeyed apple-pear note with none of the sweetness those words suggest. Like any fruit spirit it is unflavored, and EU rules cap any rounding sugar at 18 g per liter. It is a Balkan house spirit before it is a cocktail ingredient, and in a drink it behaves like any dry fruit eau-de-vie.
