The first regional trophy for the Balkans’ leading spirit

The Open Balkan Rakija Trophy evaluates and commends the remarkable quality of this traditional fruit-based spirit, elevating it to global prominence as one of the world’s most esteemed spirits.

As Serbia’s national brand, rakija represents the finest craft fruit spirit. Inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, its time-honoured method of distillation, passed down from generation to generation, forms an essential part of the national identity.

Once again, Wine Vision by Open Balkan opens its doors, bringing together all key distillers shaping the contemporary spirits scene. In addition to the exclusive opportunity to present the results of their dedicated work to both the wider public and industry professionals, exhibitors will have the chance to compete for prestigious awards — proving why our region is a leader in the production of premium fruit spirits.

Outstanding rakija distillation craftsmanship is recognised and awarded through the Open Balkan Rakija Trophy in four main categories, defined by the fruit from which the rakija is produced: plum, quince, grape and other fruit. We are proud that, for the fifth consecutive year, the laureates of the Open Balkan Rakija Trophy undoubtedly represent the finest selection our region has to offer.

How it works

Open Balkan Rakija Trophy

Four categories, an international 100-point competition standard, and a panel of 15 judges.

Categories
Spirits made from plum, quince, grape and other fruit are evaluated, with each fruit variety scored according to its own criteria.
International judging standard
An international 100-point judging standard is applied, following the same protocol used by the world’s leading spirits competitions.
Judges
In 2025, fifteen judges across three panels evaluated a total of 105 spirits samples.