Jelínek is a venerable Czech brand of slivovitz that has been important in international markets since before the Second World War and is now the world’s largest producer of the spirit. In the eighteenth century, an abundance of plum trees surrounding Vizovice, in what was then the Austro-Hungarian province of Moravia, garnered the area a nickname “the Valley of Plums.” This plethora of fruit led to the production of slivovitz, the characteristic plum brandy of southeastern Europe. See slivovitz.
One man intrigued by the distillation process was Jakub Jelínek, who in 1882 rented the grain and fruit distillery operated in Vizovice by a fellow Jew, Aron Eichen, and put his son Zikmund (1859–1936) in charge. Thus was born a four-generation spirits empire.
In 1891, Zikmund Jelínek established a second distillery of his own, which specialized in slivovitz. By 1900, Vizovice had become a substantial distilling center. When Zikmund retired in 1919, having seen Moravia become a part of the new Czechoslovakia, his two sons, Rudolf and Vladimir, took over the family business and began acquiring other local distilleries. In 1926, they parted ways, with Rudolf remaining in charge of the largest of their distilleries. The R. Jelínek company began exporting Kosher slivovitz to the United States after repeal, gaining considerable success in the New York market. In 1938, however, the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia put a halt to that. Rudolf was murdered at Auschwitz in 1944.
Rudolf’s sons survived the war and restarted the company in 1945, only to see it nationalized three years later. Under state ownership, the R. Jelínek brand, a part of the portfolio of Moravian Distilleries, nonetheless managed to return to the US market in a limited way. In 1994, Jelínek returned to private hands when grandnephew Andre Lenard acquired a role on the advisory board. That year R. Jelínek USA launched stateside, and today it flaunts a wide distribution network throughout the country.
The small export portfolio of R. Jelínek is anchored by thrice-distilled Silver Slivovitz, which embraces a centuries-old recipe. There is also a triple-distilled five-year-old Kosher Slivovitz. Additionally, there is a triple-distilled ten-year-old Gold Slivovitz crafted from mature, late-harvested plums, as well as apricot and poire Williams brandies. The company also produces Bohemia Honey (aged plum brandy and honey), Jelínek Fernet, and a bitter amaro, as well as a potato vodka that is sold both plain and lightly plum-flavored.
See also apricot brandy and kosher spirits.
“Gimbels Famous Liquor Store” (advertisement). New York Daily News, March 27, 1936, 26.
R. Jelínek USA. “Our Story.” https://rjelinek.us/our-story/ (accessed March 23, 2021).
“Rudolf Jelínek.” Holocaust.cz. https://www.holocaust.cz/en/database-of-victims/victim/96231-rudolf-jelinek/ (accessed September 10, 2020).
By: Alia Akkam