site.btaPlum Fest in Troyan Features Unique Local Brandy Distilling, Trademark Pottery and More

The second day of the traditional Plum Fest in Troyan was launched Saturday with the heating of the still for making plum brandy. This year, the honour went to rakiya brandy master distiller Milko Vachev, a local businessman, Troyan Mayor Donka Mihailova said.

The respected owner of a company for food additives and items sold in 25 countries across the world, Vachev is also known as a master of making the local plum brandy. “When speaking of this plum brandy, we should mention that it is the symbol of the town,” Mihailova said, underscoring his contribution to the community and the town in general.

Vachev says the local plum brandy is emblematic for Troyan and every family has a sip or two before dinner for health. He considers the fest a period of celebration for the town and the people of the region, marking the time of taking in a good plum harvest and the process of distilling Troyan brandy.

"Troyan rakiya brandy is the best because it is made with a lot of love, and anything made with love is good. Besides, the plums that grow here are particularly good for plum brandy and Troyan masters have the skill, and lots of patience to run the brandy twice or even three times, so that the plum brandy is the best not only in Bulgaria, but in Europe as well," Mihailova told BTA.

Visitors of the fest can also visit the art pottery zone, another local must, a sports section, catering facilities and tasting traditional dishes, naturally including the rakiya brandy.

Craftmen’s Street offers the products of a range of crafts by their makers from across the country, while local and visiting ensembles provide the musical background in downtown Troyan.

Sunday will see visitors in the form of rose oil producers and the unveiling of visiting exhibition "La Belle Rose. The Mystical Power of a Little Flower", co-organized by the National Museum of History, the Rose Museum and the Iskra Museum of History in Kazanlak. The exhibition is dedicated to the history of rose production in Bulgaria.