Rakija (also spelled rakia) is a traditional fruit brandy originating from the Balkans — and it's exactly what Blacklisted Brandy is. Made in Serbia from 100% fermented fruit with zero additives, zero sugar, and no shortcuts, each bottle requires 30-40 lbs of fresh fruit. The result is a pure, intense expression of whatever fruit it's made from — apricot, pear, quince, or plum. No filler, no flavoring, just fruit and distillation. It's one of the oldest and most respected spirits traditions in the world, and still largely unknown in the US — until now.

Blacklisted Brandy is a fruit brandy made from 100% heirloom, non-GMO, glyphosate-free fruit sourced exclusively from family-owned farms in Serbia — available in Apricot, Pear, and Quince, plus an Aged Plum. Copper pot-distilled with nothing but purified water, it's the same category of spirit known around the world by different names. In the Balkans it's called rakija (or rakia), in Austria and Germany it's Schnaps or Obstler, in France it's eau de vie, and in Italy acquavite. In the US it's simply fruit brandy. Same tradition, same craft, different passport.

No. Blacklisted is a true fruit brandy, not a liqueur.

Unlike liqueurs, which are typically sweetened and often flavored after distillation, Blacklisted is distilled directly from heirloom fruit using traditional copper pot distillation. There is no added sugar, no artificial flavors, no colors, and no additives—just fruit and water.

Depending on the expression, Blacklisted is bottled at 40–50% ABV, making it a full-strength spirit designed for sipping or premium cocktails.

Every bottle is crafted from approximately 30–40 pounds of heirloom fruit, resulting in a naturally fruit-forward spirit without the sweetness of a liqueur.

Blacklisted isn't flavored vodka, schnapps, or a fruit liqueur—it's a true fruit brandy.

Our spirits are distilled directly from approximately 30–40 pounds of heirloom fruit per bottle using traditional copper pot distillation. Unlike flavored spirits, we never start with neutral alcohol and add fruit flavoring. Unlike liqueurs and schnapps, we don't add sugar, artificial flavors, colors, or other additives.

The fruit character comes entirely from the fruit itself—not from ingredients added after distillation.

Depending on the expression, Blacklisted is bottled at 40–50% ABV, making it a full-strength spirit that's equally at home in premium cocktails or enjoyed neat.

Blacklisted Brandy is incredibly versatile — here's how we recommend it:

Neat or slightly chilled — the traditional Balkan way. Pour it straight, let it breathe, and taste the fruit. No ice, no mixer, nothing to hide.

Over one large ice cube — especially recommended for the Aged Plum. A rocks glass, one big cube, and let it slowly open up.

In cocktails — Blacklisted works beautifully anywhere you'd use vodka or gin. Because the brandy is fruit-forward and naturally expressive, our cocktails are cleaner and more vibrant than most — less sugar, less syrup, just fruit doing the work.

Our signature serves:

• Apricot — The Blackball: A clean, refreshing highball.

• Pear — The Pear Martini: Silky and sophisticated.

• Quince — Forbidden Fruit (Quince) Margarita: Bright, smoky, unexpected.

• Aged Plum — The Old Fashioned: A natural.

See all cocktail recipes on our Clean Cocktails page.

Rakija /fruit brandy tastes like pure fruit — and that's the point. Unlike many spirits where the base ingredient gets lost in the distillation process, a well-made rakija puts the fruit front and center. You should be able to close your eyes and know exactly what it's made from.

The flavor profile depends entirely on the fruit — apricot is fragrant and floral, pear is delicate and fresh, quince is aromatic and slightly tart, plum is rich and complex. Aged versions take on additional depth from the barrel while still letting the fruit shine.

What you won't find in a quality rakija: artificial flavoring, added sugar, or anything that doesn't belong. The best examples are clean, vibrant, and surprisingly sophisticated — closer to a fine single malt whisky in their craft than to the sugary fruit liqueurs many people expect.

Every variant is different — that's the point. Each one tastes exactly like the fruit it's made from, nothing more, nothing less.

Apricot — Bright, delicate, and confidently expressive. Fresh apricot on the nose with hints of wild raspberry and sage, a sweet-tart palate, and a gentle lingering warmth. Lighter than wine, fresher than a cocktail. Simple notes: Wild Raspberry & Sage // Delicate & Clean

Pear — Luxurious and soft with a buttery texture. Orange blossom on the nose, crisp freshly picked pear on the palate, with a subtle hint of eucalyptus and a long clean finish. Simple notes: Crisp Pear & Eucalyptus // Crisp & Bright

Quince — The unexpected one. Rich and earthy with notes of umami, grilled fruit, subtle smoke and white pepper, finishing with nectar and gentle spice. Simple notes: Subtle Smoke & Nectar // Earthy & Complex

Aged Plum — Rich, warming, and sophisticated. Sherry and toasted oak on the nose, ripe plum with cinnamon and dark chocolate on the palate, finishing long with oak, spice and tobacco. Best enjoyed over a single large ice cube. Your new favorite dessert might just be a glass. Simple notes: Dark Chocolate & Tobacco // Spicy, Rustic & Oaky

Blacklisted Brandy is currently available in Illinois, Indiana, New York, and California — with the strongest presence in Illinois across both retail and on-premise accounts.

Use our interactive map on the Shop Now page to find the nearest location, or to order online for delivery to your state.

Blacklisted Brandy was built for cocktails. Because it's made from 100% heirloom fruit with zero additives and zero sugar, the natural fruit character is clean and concentrated enough to hold up against citrus, bubbles, and bitters without getting lost in the mix.

Every variant has a purpose-built signature cocktail:

• Apricot — The Blackball: Apricot Blacklisted over ice, soda water or tonic, lemon peel. Light, fizzy, effortless — and a natural Aperol Spritz alternative.

• Pear — The Pear Martini: Blacklisted Pear, fresh lemon juice, grapefruit juice, and honey syrup. Pink salt rim. Silky and sophisticated.

• Quince — The Quince Margarita: Blacklisted Quince, lime juice, blood orange, orange bitters, agave sweetener. Bright, tart, unexpected — and a natural mezcal alternative.

• Aged Plum — The Plum Old Fashioned: Blacklisted Aged Plum, Demerara syrup, aromatic bitters. Orange peel. A natural.

The rule with Blacklisted is simple: whatever the cocktail calls for — vodka, gin, mezcal, or pisco — there's a Blacklisted variant that does it cleaner and with more character.

Yes. Blacklisted Brandy is naturally gluten free. Unlike grain-based spirits such as bourbon, whiskey, or vodka, Blacklisted is made entirely from fruit — no grains, no gluten, no compromise. Just fruit and water.

Heirloom fruit comes from vintage, open-pollinated seeds that have been passed down for generations — in our case, varieties that are over 50 years old. These are not commercial, mass-produced fruits engineered for size or shelf life. They're grown the old way, on small family-owned farms, for flavor and quality above everything else.

Every fruit in Blacklisted Brandy has a specific origin:

• Čačanska Rodna Plums — from Šumadija, one of Serbia's most celebrated plum-growing regions

• Williams Pears — from Vojvodina, in northern Serbia

• Novosadska Apricots — a rare, prized heirloom variety from Novi Sad

• Quince — farmed in Leskovačka by our single family-owned production partner

All fruit is fermented on-site using a century-old recipe, then slowly copper pot-distilled with a tighter hearts cut — meaning only the purest, smoothest part of the distillate makes it into every bottle of Blacklisted.

Because there are only two ingredients: fruit and water. That's it.

Blacklisted Brandy is sugar free, carb free, additive free, and glyphosate free — made from 100% heirloom, non-GMO fruit sourced from family-owned farms in Serbia with nothing added and nothing artificial. No sweeteners, no flavorings, no fillers. Each variant is copper pot-distilled and either rested in stainless steel vats (Apricot, Pear, Quince) or aged in Serbian oak (Aged Plum). We take a narrow hearts cut during distillation, which means only the purest, cleanest part of the distillate makes it into the bottle.

The result is a naturally fruit-forward spirit that's lighter, cleaner, and more expressive than most things on your bar shelf. If you're drinking cleaner everywhere else — why not in your glass too?

Prepare to be surprised. Most people expect brandy to be dark, syrupy, and sweet — the bottom shelf stuff. Blacklisted is none of that. It's clean, clear, and vibrant — like biting into fresh fruit. The most common reaction we hear is "I had no idea brandy could taste like this." Once you try it, you'll wonder what took you so long.

Zero sugar. Zero fat. Zero additives. And we put it right on the label — voluntarily.

Spirits brands are not required by law to disclose ingredients or nutritional content. We do it anyway. Every Blacklisted bottle carries a full nutritional label because we believe you have the right to know exactly what you're drinking. Two ingredients, fruit and water. Nothing to hide, nothing to fear. We call it radical transparency — and we think every spirits brand should do the same.

Fruit is mostly water. During fermentation and distillation, only a small portion of the fruit ultimately becomes the finished spirit.

That's why producing authentic fruit brandy requires an extraordinary amount of fresh fruit. Depending on the expression, each bottle of Blacklisted is distilled from approximately 30–40 pounds of heirloom fruit.

We don't add neutral grain spirit, sugar, artificial flavors, or concentrates to increase yield or mimic fruit flavor. The vibrant fruit character comes entirely from the fruit itself—a process that's more labor-intensive but results in a spirit with remarkable depth, complexity, and authenticity.

Blacklisted Brandy is for the intentional drinker — someone who reads ingredients, avoids sugar, and thinks carefully about what they put in their body. If you eat clean, work out, care about wellness, and still want to enjoy a great drink, Blacklisted was made for you. Our mantra is #DrinkLessButBetter — less quantity, more quality, zero compromise.

Most spirits are loaded with sugar, additives, and ingredients you can't pronounce. Blacklisted Brandy is the answer for anyone who's cleaned up their diet but hasn't been able to find a spirit that matches that standard. Two ingredients — fruit and water — glyphosate free, sugar free, additive free. Finally, a drink that fits the way you actually live.