How to Drink Pelinkovac

Co-authored by Mimi Perryman and Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: January 17, 2023 References

If a bottle of pelinkovac has caught your eye, learn how to enjoy the bitter-tasting herbal liqueur that's popular in Croatia and Serbia. Try sipping it on its own or with a few ice cubes to enjoy its characteristic wormwood flavor. You could also use it as a base for cocktails that pack an herbal kick or play around with pelinkovac to create your own signature beverage.

Ingredients

Sipping Pelinkovac

1 ¹⁄₂ fl oz (44 mL) of Pelinkovac
2 to 3 ice cubes or 1 to 2 teaspoons (4.9 to 9.9 mL) of water, optional
Lemon or lime wedges, optional

Makes 1 drink

Zagreb Night Cocktail

1 fl oz (30 mL) of pelinkovac
1 fl oz (30 mL) of vodka
4 fl oz (120 mL) of orange juice
Ice cubes

Makes 1 drink

One-Trick Pony Cocktail

1 ¹⁄₂ fl oz (44 mL) of pelinkovac
¹⁄₂ fl oz (15 mL) of maraschino liqueur
4 fluid ounces (120 mL) of tonic
Ice cubes
Lime wedge, for serving

Makes 1 drink

Bittersweet Symphony Cocktail

1 ¹⁄₂ fl oz (44 mL) of bourbon
¹⁄₂ fl oz (15 mL) of pelinkovac
¹⁄₂ fl oz (15 mL) of Punt e Mes
1 dash of angostura bitters
2 dashes of Peychaud's bitters
Ice cubes

Makes 1 drink

Pelinkovac Toddy

1 fl oz (30 mL) of pelinkovac
1 fl oz (30 mL) of spiced rum
¹⁄₂ fl oz (15 mL) of simple syrup
3 ¹⁄₂ fl oz (100 mL) of hot water
1 pinch of ground cinnamon or cloves, optional
Lemon wedge, optional

Makes 1 drink

Red Licorice Whip Cocktail

1 fl oz (30 mL) of licorice liqueur, such as Galliano or Pernod
1 fl oz (30 mL) of pelinkovac
1 fl oz (30 mL) of orange juice
2 teaspoons (9.9 mL) of almond syrup, also called orgeat syrup
Ice cubes
¹⁄₄ to ¹⁄₂ fl oz (7.4 to 14.8 mL) of grenadine syrup, optional
Red licorice stick, optional

Makes 1 drink

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Sipping Pelinkovac

1
Put the bottle of pelinkovac in the fridge to chill for 2 hours. Most pelinkovac producers recommend serving the pelinkovac chilled, especially if you don't want to add ice. Either store the bottle in the fridge so it's always perfectly chilled or put the bottle in about 2 hours before you drink the pelinkovac.^{[1]
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2
Pour the pelinkovac into an old-fashioned glass. Although you could use any type of glass, an old-fashioned or lowball glass gives the pelinkovac room to move around so you smell more of its aromatics. In general, put about 1 ¹⁄₂ fl oz (44 mL) of pelinkovac into your glass.^{[2]
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- Feel free to pour as much or as little pelinkovac into your glass as you want to drink. To enjoy a small amount, just fill a shotglass.
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3
Add ice or cold water if you'd like the pelinkovac to have a mellower flavor. To slightly dilute the drink, put 2 to 3 ice cubes or 1 to 2 teaspoons (4.9 to 9.9 mL) of cold water into the glass. Swirl the glass a few times to further chill the pelinkovac.^{[3]
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- If you're adding ice, wait to add the cubes until you're ready to begin drinking the pelinkovac. If the ice sits too long, the pelinkovac will be too watery.
Tip: To make a more flavorful drink, add cola, tonic water, or cranberry juice instead of cold water. Taste the drink and add more mixer depending on how strong you'd like the drink to be.
4
Stick a citrus wedge onto the rim of the glass if you want to add a bright flavor. Orange, lemon, and lime pair well with the herbal flavors of pelinkovac, so garnish the drink with a citrus wedge. You can squeeze it into the pelinkovac and drop it into the glass for a bolder flavor.^{[4]
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- For a slight citrus flavor, peel a lemon, lime, or orange twist and add it to the pelinkovac.
5
Sip the pelinkovac before or after a meal. There's no wrong way to drink pelinkovac and it's a popular drink in Eastern Europe. Try enjoying it as an aperitif before your meal or as a digestif to finish a nice dinner.^{[5]
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- If you dislike the herbal aftertaste, suck on the citrus wedge or sip a little water.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Pelinkovac in Mixed Drinks

1
Combine pelinkovac, vodka, and orange juice for a Zagreb night cocktail. Fill an old-fashioned glass with ice and pour in 4 fl oz (120 mL) of orange juice. Add 1 fl oz (30 mL) of pelinkovac and 1 fl oz (30 mL) of vodka. Then, stir the cocktail a few times and enjoy it cold.^{[6]
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- Use orange-flavored vodka for an extra citrusy tasting cocktail.
2
Make a fizzy Pelinkovac cocktail with maraschino liqueur and tonic water. To make a one-trick pony cocktail, fill an old-fashioned glass with ice. Pour in 1 ¹⁄₂ fl oz (44 mL) of pelinkovac, ¹⁄₂ fl oz (15 mL) of maraschino liqueur, and 4 fluid ounces (120 mL) of tonic. Then, stir the cocktail gently to distribute the liqueurs.^{[7]
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- For a simple garnish, stick a lime wedge on the rim of the glass.
3
Shake a pelinkovac cocktail with bourbon and bitters. If you love the taste of a Manhattan, pour 1 ¹⁄₂ fl oz (44 mL) of bourbon into a cocktail shaker. Add ¹⁄₂ fl oz (15 mL) of pelinkovac, ¹⁄₂ fl oz (15 mL) of Punt e Mes, 1 dash of angostura bitters, and 2 dashes of Peychaud's bitters. Fill the shaker with ice and put the lid on it. Then, shake the cocktail for about 20 seconds before you strain it into a martini glass.^{[8]
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- If you can't find Punt e Mes, mix 2 parts of sweet vermouth with 1 part of Campari. Then, measure out ¹⁄₂ fl oz (15 mL) to use in the cocktail.
4
Add pelinkovac and rum to hot water for an herbal hot toddy. Get out a mug or Irish coffee glass and pour in 1 fl oz (30 mL) of pelinkovac. Add 1 fl oz (30 mL) of spiced rum and ¹⁄₂ fl oz (15 mL) of simple syrup. Then, slowly stir in 3 ¹⁄₂ fl oz (100 mL) of hot water and garnish the toddy with a pinch of cinnamon or cloves if you'd like it to be spicier.^{[9]
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- You can also add a lemon wedge to the toddy to give it a bright, citrus flavor.
5
Mix pelinkovac with licorice liqueur and juice to make a red licorice whip cocktail. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in 1 fl oz (30 mL) of licorice liqueur, 1 fl oz (30 mL) of pelinkovac, and 1 fl oz (30 mL) of orange juice along with 2 teaspoons (9.9 mL) of almond syrup. Use a long spoon to stir the liquid and strain it into a martini glass. Serve the cocktail cold with a red licorice stick garnish.^{[10]
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- Stir the cocktail for 20 to 30 seconds so the ice dilutes the cocktail slightly and blends the ingredients.
Tip: If you'd like to decorate the martini glass, drizzle ¹⁄₄ to ¹⁄₂ fl oz (7.4 to 14.8 mL) grenadine syrup on the inside of the glass. Then, pour the cocktail into it.

Expert Q&A

Question

What can you mix pelinkovac with?

Mimi Perryman
Business Owner & Bartender
Mimi Perryman is a Bartender and the Owner of Events with LML, an events company based in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area but serving the full state of California. With over 15 years of experience in the serving industry, she specializes in traveling bartender services and event planning. She earned a BS in Marketing from California State University-Dominguez Hills, is ServSafe & RBS Certified, and carries a bartending license. She also has a Marketing & Graphic Design background and is a member of the American Marketing Association. Events with LML has a 5-star rating on Yelp and is a featured vendor on The Knot.

Mimi Perryman

Business Owner & Bartender

Expert Answer

Mix 1 oz (29.6 mL) of pelinkovac with 2 oz (59.1 mL) of tequila, 3/4 oz (22.2 mL) of lime juice, 3/4 oz (22.2 mL) of simple syrup, and 1 oz (29.6 mL) of pineapple juice to create a Pineapple Express cocktail.