Rakija tasting in Banja Luka: Orchard tour and brandy workshop

Taste brandy like a local, starting in the orchards where it begins

The Eau de Vie Excursion is a three-hour brandy tasting activity at Đedova Rakija estate near Banja Luka, where you walk the orchards, watch fermentation and distillation, and learn sensory evaluation techniques in a hands-on workshop. Private transport from your hotel is included, along with a light lunch of traditional mezze. The minimum age is 18 and a live guide speaks English or German.

The experience

You start with a walk through the orchards where the fruit for the brandy grows, learning which varieties go into each recipe. Then you move into the distillery itself to see fermentation and distillation in action: the actual process that turns those fruits into the spirit. The guide walks you through the history and tradition of Đedova Rakija, which uses recipes passed down through generations, so you understand not just how it's made but why it matters to the people who make it.

The core of the experience is a brandy-tasting workshop where you learn the sensory evaluation techniques: how to look, smell and taste the way professionals do. This is not a casual pour-and-sip. You're picking up skills you can use anywhere. Afterward, light lunch arrives: traditional mezze produced locally, eaten on the estate. You have free time to explore the grounds or simply sit with what you've learned before the drive back to your hotel.

What’s included

• Private transport from your hotel.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• guided orchard and distillery tour.
• brandy-tasting workshop with sensory evaluation instruction.
• light lunch of traditional mezze.
• free time to explore the estate.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 18 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Good Host

Is this one for you?The pickup from your hotel means you don't need a car or local knowledge to reach the estate, so it works whether you're staying in the city center or arriving without a vehicle. The three-hour window fits a free afternoon without eating your whole day.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and German.

What fruits does Đedova Rakija use to make its brandy?

The estate grows different fruit varieties in its orchards, and the guided orchard walk shows you which ones go into each recipe. The specific fruits vary by season and by the brandy style being produced.

How long does the whole experience take?

The excursion runs three hours from start to finish, including the orchard walk, distillery visit, tasting workshop and light lunch.

Is transport from my hotel included?

Yes, private transportation picks you up from your hotel and brings you back, so you don't need a car or to arrange your own way to the estate.

What exactly happens in the brandy-tasting workshop?

You learn sensory evaluation techniques (how to assess brandy by sight, smell and taste) in a hands-on session. The guide teaches you the same methods professionals use, so you can taste critically rather than just drink.