Name for a fruit brandy; derived from the Slovakian verb páliť (to boil = to distil). The name pálinka first appeared in the 16th century. Spirits have been consumed as a drink since around this time. Today, it is a protected designation of origin for a fruit brandy that must be distilled from 100% Hungarian fruit, bottled in Hungary and have an alcohol content of more than 37.5%.

1 = Barackpálinka (apricot), 2 = apricot (apricot), 3 = Cseresznyepálinka (cherry)
Since 2004, only Hungary and the four Austrian provinces of Burgenland, Lower Austria, Styria and Vienna have had the right to label the corresponding products as pálinka. In contrast to Hungary, however, the name Barackpálinka may only be used for apricot brandy in Austria.
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