Debrecen4U
February 10, 2026
The Best Palinka of 2025 Has Been Selected
“In the production of palinka, conscious variety selection and tradition-based yet continuously renewing technology are present at the same time,” stated State Secretary András Tállai at the National Pálinka Excellence Program 2025 Awards Gala, held in Budapest on February 3.
The State Secretary recalled that the Ministry of Agriculture first launched the National Pálinka Excellence Program in 2014, with the enduring goal of ensuring that high-quality domestic palinkas become well known both in Hungary and internationally. He pointed out that if we look back at the past 15 to 20 years of palinka and grape pomace palinka production, it is clearly visible that distillery capacities have expanded significantly and professional expertise has developed.
András Tállai emphasized that the number of entries—both in terms of distilleries and submitted products—has been similar year after year, which proves that the program enjoys stable and reliable popularity among commercial distilleries.
In the 2025 program, 21 distilleries participated in the competition with a total of 131 entries.
In line with regulations, 74 products from 18 entrants received certifications: 21 products earned the TOP Palinka Excellence title, 39 products received Palinka Excellence certification, while the number of gold-rated gins, vodkas, whiskies, spirits, and liqueurs was 8, and the number of silver-rated ones was 6.
This year as well, the program awarded the most outstanding enterprises and products in several categories. The title “Palinka of the Ministry of Agriculture” was awarded to the Apricot Palinka entry of the Sáppusztai Distillery from among the TOP Palinka Excellence winners. The title “Palinka of Nébih” was earned by the Aurum Williams pear pálinka of 1 Csepp Pálinkaház. The Most Successful Palinka Distillery in 2025 was the Sáppusztai Distillery. The Best Gin award went to Flying Emu Gin by the Sáppusztai Distillery, while the title of Most Successful Gin and Other Spirits Producing Enterprise was awarded to Győri Likőrgyár Zrt. / Pannonhalmi Pálinkárium.
Source and photo credit: dehir.hu
