Unicum

Unicum is one of the great icons of Hungarian drinking, a dark herbal bitter made by the Zwack family since 1790. Legend has it the recipe was first mixed for the Habsburg court, and it has passed down the generations ever since, its blend of botanicals a closely guarded secret.

The liqueur is built from more than forty herbs and spices, macerated and distilled, then matured in oak casks to round its bittersweet intensity. The distinctive round bottle and red cross have made it an unmistakable symbol of Budapest.

Unicum is drunk as both aperitif and digestif across Central Europe, served chilled to reveal its complex, warming, gently medicinal character. It rewards the curious palate and sits comfortably alongside the world's great amari.

Bold, storied and utterly distinctive, this is a piece of liquid history. Discover the bitter that Hungary made its own.