Rakija Sour 🍋 Serbian Classic 🇷🇸 (Serbian Brandy Sour)

Name: Rakija Sour 🍋 Serbian Classic 🇷🇸 (Serbian Brandy Sour)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Balkan
Ingredients: 🥃 Rakija (plum brandy/šljivovica): 60 ml (¼ cup / 2 fl oz); 🍋 Fresh lemon juice: 30 ml (2 tbsp / 1 fl oz); 🍯 Simple syrup (1:1): 15 ml (1 tbsp / 0.5 fl oz); 🥚 Egg white (optional, for foam): 15 ml (1 tbsp / 0.5 fl oz); 🧊 Ice cubes: ≈1 cup (8–10 cubes); 🌿 Lemon peel or slice, for garnish: 1 (to taste); 🟤 Aromatic bitters (optional): 2 dashes

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Cocktails Balkan RichardObradovic Sep 18, 2025 57

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Image for recipe: Rakija Sour 🍋 Serbian Classic 🇷🇸 (Serbian Brandy Sour)

Description

Bright, silky sour built on rakija (usually šljivovica), fresh lemon, and a hint of sweetness—balanced and sessionable. 🍋🥃

Hook: Bar-quality cocktail in 5 minutes—foam crown, zero fuss. ⚡

Ingredients

🥃 Rakija (plum brandy/šljivovica): 60 ml (¼ cup / 2 fl oz)
🍋 Fresh lemon juice: 30 ml (2 tbsp / 1 fl oz)
🍯 Simple syrup (1:1): 15 ml (1 tbsp / 0.5 fl oz)
🥚 Egg white (optional, for foam): 15 ml (1 tbsp / 0.5 fl oz)
🧊 Ice cubes: ≈1 cup (8–10 cubes)
🌿 Lemon peel or slice, for garnish: 1 (to taste)
🟤 Aromatic bitters (optional): 2 dashes

Preparation

1️⃣ If using egg white, add rakija, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white to a shaker. Dry shake (no ice) 10–12 seconds to build foam.
2️⃣ Add ice and shake hard 12–15 seconds until well-chilled.
3️⃣ Double-strain into a chilled rocks glass over fresh ice (or into a coupe, no ice, for a “straight up” serve).
4️⃣ Express lemon peel over the top; garnish with peel or slice. Add bitters as drops on the foam if using.

Total Time

🕒 Prep: 5 min
⏳ Total: 5 min

Nutritional Value

🔋 Energy: ~185 kcal
💪 Protein: ~3 g (with egg white)
🧈 Fat: 0 g
🍞 Carbohydrates: ~13 g
🧂 Sodium: ~20 mg

Advice

For a taller, stable foam, dry-shake with the spring from a hawthorne strainer, then wet-shake with ice.

Why it works

Rakija’s fruity backbone (plum/apricot notes) pairs with lemon’s acidity; simple syrup balances the sour. Dry-shake denatures egg proteins for a fine, glossy foam.

Twist

Apricot Rakija Sour: Swap plum rakija for kajsijevača (apricot) for stone-fruit aroma.

Honey-Thyme Sour: Replace simple syrup with 15 ml honey syrup (1:1) and clap a thyme sprig as garnish.

Smoky Balkan: Add a barspoon of peated whisky or a drop of liquid smoke to echo grilled-plum vibes.

Status

Classic Balkan spirit, cocktail-bar finish—Rakija Sour is your crisp sundown sip. #grannyzen #balkancocktail #rakijasour

Menu

Granny Zen Galaxy Kitchen 🚀