Rézangyal, one of the most prominent high-end palinkas in Hungary, isn’t a producer per se. Rather, they buy their products from a variety of other producers, tasting, blending and bottling what they consider to be among the top-quality brandies available. The company is part of a move in Hungary to bring palinka up market, competing on quality, tradition and mystique with drinks like scotch or top-shelf vodka. Naturally we’re fans.

We first tasted their products a few years ago on a trip to Budapest, late on a lazy summer café evening, at a waitress’ recommendation. A plum and a honey-based brandy, both outstanding. We brought home a bottle of the plum, long since gone, but a generous friend has now procured a new bottle of the Barrique Plum for us.

Our thoughts: On first pour, and early sip, there is a strong hint of green herb, like a wet, crushed mint or catnip. This loosens over a few minutes into a blend of well-defined ripe plum and the toasted caramel of the barrel. Though the two flavors are distinct, we noted a strong spicy character closest to cloves, as well as a pleasant sweetness that reminded me of the Smarties candies of my childhood. Very pleasant, very smooth, although I found the barrel flavor a bit overpowering. I’d love to taste the same batch or blend without nearly so much wood.

Unfortunately, the company has stopped putting the original producer or producers’ name on the bottle (our first bottle listed the original distiller, and Rézangyal as the bottler.) As a geek, I’d love to know these things. But even with the slight over-wooded flavor, this bottle – like everything I’ve tasted with this label – comes highly recommended.