One Day in Slovenia, I Drank Here…
Schnapps, schnapps and more schnapps…Tasting Slovenian schnapps in Ljubljana
Doing a little shopping is one of the top things to do in Ljubljana, and while doing so you must stop by Šnopc o’ tecca. I’m not a big liquor drinker, but even I had fun in this welcoming store. Though don’t stop there right before lunch on an empty stomach. You’ll be tipsy by the time you leave.
My mom and I stumbled upon Šnopc o’ tecca while strolling down Miklošičeva street on our way to Allegria Restaurant. We noticed the free tastings and thought a little sip of some local liquor might be fun, plus I had a feeling a bottle of something inside might be a good souvenir for Tom.
Well, turns out there are many bottles to choose from inside Šnopc o’ tecca. Not just different brands of main liquors like I was expecting (rum, vodka, whiskey et al), but different flavors, too. Crazy flavors, in fact, with an emphasis on different varieties of schnapps.
Schnapps distilling is an old rural Slovenian tradition that is being brought back to the forefront of today’s liquor scene in the country, and in Šnopc o’ tecca you can find variations of it with interesting flavors like pine, orange, and lavendar, plus traditional flavors such as pear, apple, and honey. This isn’t like the flavored liquor you used to drink in college. The intricacies of the added ingredients meant that the flavor tones weren’t too overpowering, but instead complemented the sharp tang of the distilled fruit.
The different flavors also seemed like they’d be fun to play around with pairing with different foods – something I normally think is best left to wine.
I know all this about the flavors because I tasted many of them – probably one too many (luckily the heat of the day and the hearty meal at Allegria quickly sopped up any excess alcohol seeping its way through my veins). The friendly owners were a cute, young couple who were excited about sharing their love of the drink with visitors.
The pine schnapps was my favorite. Though it was nearly 100 degrees outside, I could just picture how tasty and cozy it would be dumped into some coffee or hot chocolate for a different twist on an old favorite during a cold winter day.
Šnopc o’ tecca’s free tasting strategy seemed to work, because for not being much of liquor drinkers, both Mom and I bought several bottles from Šnopc o’ tecca’s wide selection. They also have small bottles in case you only have a carry-on suitcase but still want a souvenir you can drink to bring home.
Šnopc o’ tecca Quick Tips
Address: Miklošičeva cesta 2 1000, Ljubljana
Phone: +386 1 425 17 06
