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As the rum is the medicine for the sailors out on the Sea … the pálinka for the Hungarian’s was … still is as an universal miracle medicine for external-internal pain reliever, sleep aids and in use for antiseptic.
Still more than a half-day or so to roll down to the Pálinka Festival, if you haven’t made it yet, to taste the PEAR Pálinka of the Year 2014 cause will reach the end by 10 p.m. this evening.
For many foreigner visitors staying in Budapest, small group travelers may have been introduced for the first time and went on a full-day pálinka tour when joining to taste the blend of the Year which was this year the Pear Pálinka at the City Hall Square this week-end. Furthermore most probably they enjoyed the good atmosphere, tastes and the good performances all along the way. One of the best way to learn about the country’s culture and traditions is to be where things are happening, and yepp the Pálinka Festivals in Budapest always are the timing to be around.
In addition to the well-known distillers, this year the visitors have had the opportunity to see-taste-buy several pálinkas to enjoy and to fulfill their foregoing experience by taking a sip at home.
Pálinka is not for the faint hearted folks, but there is a so-called saying … … If the pálinka is stronger than you than you’re not a man, so test your self and see on what you have to improve. Anyway having too much tasting, head on over to one of the food stalls offering home-cooked traditional meals which are boiling on the spot to ease the hunger.
A record number of exhibitors were busy throughout the festival explaining to their visitors, customs about their background at their domestic pálinka distillery.
The number of pálinka distilleries present at the festival were higher than even before and these qualified pálinka makers were passionate about their work and more to it valued their customers.
Many Qs and As filled the air and many old pálinka festival visitors and foreigners learnt a lot of why the Hungarian Pálinkas taste rich in fully fruity and delicious flavors.
Just mentioning a couple of stands beside the overall 41 of them to be worthwhile to visit and have a sip: the „BUTI” Distillery and Pálinka House is a smaller family own environment, but as small as it is the wider selection of fruit and „veggies” are the stars, as: pumpkin, rose hips, elderberry, blackthorn, hawthorn, rowan, wild plum pálinka. Tasted the pumkin and hawthorn and became speechless, not because having too much but words can hardly describe simply heavenly, rich in flavors.
This year celebrating the 30-year-old „BÉKÉSI” Pálinka House, an invitation stood on the wooden-wall at the stand to come and celebrate together this anniversary by having a shot of pálinka from the Békésiville, of course this invitation was to call all who this year celebrated their 30th birthday. is as wonderful as the owner, so friendly and full of hospitality.
Many stop by at the „ZSINDELYES” Pálinka House stall and was curious to taste the house speciality the: walnut liqueur. While taking a good look at the lineup of assortment, a kind couple was looking at the lovely decorated stall and were wondering which on should they taste. Having a short chat with them, Estel, the young lady came from Barcelona and her boyfriend Emre from Cyprus, a lovely pair (see slide show). What really was amazing, she told me she met already the rollinginbudapest.com site and has read articles and also about the Pálinka festival and so they are both here right now. Well was a coincident situation … you ain’t meeting too often folks who come upon a visit reading the herald news of events to come in Budapest.
Last but not least, indeed worthwhile to pull attention to the MÁRTON AND DAUGTHERS” Pálinka House. Having to have spoken to Mr. Márton learned something new which may pull attention for many of interest. As he said the Marton and Daugthers wished to produce kosher pálinka, but soon learned that it has rules to be kept having to be kosher and they cannot make it at the same distillery. Therefore, bought another pálinka distillery named „MATHEUS” Pálinka House, where under the rules of producing kosher pálinka was under the supervision of two rabbis. One Sephardi rabbi arrived from Jerusalem from the Beit (House) Yosef Badac who is present keeping the Bet Yosef’s standards and the other rabbi Michael Scharf from London who is present, observing the compliance with the rules of producing kosher pálinka. Mr. Marton and Daugthers have surely gold fingers to produce such a velvet taste in the BARDIN aged apple brandy which can be also tasted on the spot as well. It has an awesome VSOP quality. Received a bronze medal at the Destillata International Spirits Competition in Austria in 2007.
The highlight on the past 4 days having finally beside the warmth of the sunshine days, Márton and Daughters booth served the cool long shot , a mixture of juniper pálinka with tonic, lay on with ice.
Well „So long!” for now till the Year the Pálinka of 2015.
Update and snaps by Aggie Reiter
Rolling in Budapest 