Bottles of palinka for sale at a wine shop in Budapest. Palinka is one of Hungary's most prized drinks.

Hungary has a vast array of alcoholic beverages including quality wines and beers, as well as liqueurs and brandies that are made exclusively in the country.

Here are a few suggestions of various drinks to try.

 Egészségedre! (Cheers!)

Palinka

Produced in both Hungary and Transylvania, this traditional brandy is made from various kinds of fruit such as plums, pears, apricots, mulberries or quinces.  It is consumed at all hours of the day, but is particularly popular as an after work or after dinner drink. A must try!

Wine

Hungary is famous for its excellent wines. There are 22 distinct wine regions across the country which produce the full spectrum of wine styles including reds, whites, roses, and sparkling wines. Tokaji Aszu, which comes from the Tokaj region, is Hungary most famous wine and is even mentioned in the Hungarian national anthem. Other wines include full-bodied, robust reds from Villány-Siklós and Szekszárd, while Somló and Badacsony is regarded for its mineral rich whites.

Beer

Although Hungary is better known as a wine-producing country, beer has been made here for over a thousand years and the country has a significant history of commercial beer production. Top domestic brands include Arany Ászok, Kobányai (the first commercial brewery in Hungary that was established in Buda in 1845), Borsodi, Soproni and Dreher. A number of small microbreweries have also emerged in recent years.

Spritzer

Spritzer also known as fröccs in Hungarian, is a popular drink in Hungary that is mixed from wine and soda water in varying proportions. The most common is the basic classic, known as the “nagy“, or large, fröccs. This is a mix of two parts wine to one part soda water, a third of a litre in size. Fröccs is especially ideal for the summer.

Unicum

This traditional bitter liqueur has been produced by the Zwach family for over 150 years. It is a blend of 40 different herbs, based on an old secret recipe. Unicum is sold in a characteristic bomb-shaped bottle which features a golden cross on the front. Usually drunk as an apéritif, Unicum is an acquired taste.

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The 5th annual Budapest Palinka Festival will be happening from May 6th to 9th at City Hall Park (Városháza Park) from 12pm to midnight, and Friday and Saturday to 2am.

The four day event features over 300 palinka types prepared by master distilleries and specialist shops. Hungarian smoked sausages, cheese specialities, locally baked bread and grill food are also available. Apart from great food and drinks, visitors can enjoy the live music and entertainment such as András Lovasi from cult band Kispál és a Borz.

Visit the Budapest Palinka Festival, for more information and tickets.

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Becherovka is a famous Czech bitter herb liqueur. In 2007, the drink celebrated its 200th anniversary.

The Czech’s may be world famous for their beer but they also have a wide variety of other alcoholic beverages.

Introduction

Becherovka is a bitter herb liqueur from the Czech Republic. It is produced in Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) in the West Bohemia. The recipe is kept in secret and there are only two persons in the world who know the right ingredients and herbs used in production.

History of Becherovka

In 1807, a pharmacist from Karlový Vary named Josef Becher began selling bitters made from his own recipe as a medicinal tonic. It was known as the “English Bitter” and was used to treat stomach ailments. His personal physician and friend, Dr. Frobrig is known to have influenced Josef Becher recipe for Becherovka.

In 1838, Josef Becher passed on the business to his son Johann. Soon afterwards he started large-scale production of the drink, and accordingly his name has been associated with Becherovka to the present day.

The signature of Johann Becher can be found on every bottle of Becherovka, confirming its original quality and taste.

Following the post-war expulsion of the Becher family and the nationalisation of the liqueur plant, Becherovka spent 57 years in the hands of the state. Privatisation commenced in the year 1997, although the process was not brought to a successful conclusion until 2001.

The current owner of the company is Pernod Ricard, which is French owned and is one of the world’s three largest producers of alcoholic beverages. It currently owns almost 100% of company shares. One share, the so-called Golden Share, is owned by the state.

Taste Profile

Becherovka contains a mixture of 100%-natural herbs and spices with 38% alcohol content. It is best served ice cold and can also be included in various cocktail drinks. Although, it can be said that Becherovka is an acquired taste.

Further Information

For more information about Becherovka, you can visit the official Becherovka website.

There is also the Jan Becher Museum located in Bohemia, Czech Republic where visitors can tour the historic cellars and watch a video on the aging and production of Becherovka.

Becherovka Official Website
www.becherovka.cz

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Putinka limited edition vodka.

If you’re interested in learning about the history of vodka, you can visit the official Vodka Museum located in Moscow, Russia.

The museum has a collection of over 600 exhibits and artifacts including several brands of vodkas, XVIIIth century recipes, posters, labels, bottles of different sizes, and more.

There is also a restaurant where visitors can sample various speciality vodka drinks and a souvenir shop.

Open daily from 11 am-10 pm.

73G, Izmailovskoye Shosse, Moscow, Russia
Kremlin in Izmailovo
Tel: +7 (499) 166-50-97
Email: vodka@moscow-vernisage.com
Website: http://www.vodkamuseum.ru

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Unicum is a herbal flavored liqueur that dates back to 1790.

About

Known as the national drink of Hungary, Unicum is a herbal flavoured liqueur with a subtle bitter sweet taste.

History

The history of the drink dates back to 1790, when a court physician named József Zwack combined different herbs and roots to create a remedy for Kaiser Joseph II, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary, who was suffering from stomach ailments. When the monarch tasted the drink he exclaimed, “Das ist ein unicum!”, meaning in English,“This is unique!”. Thus the name of the drink was given.

The first Unicum factory started production in 1840 in Pest, and together with the secret recipe it is still the property of the Zwack family. Although, the exact recipe is not known, it can be divulged that Unicum is made of over 40 different herbs and spices, blended and distilled before being aged in oak casks for six months to create its inimitable flavour and harmony.

There are also two other varieties of Unicum which are Unicum Next and Millenicum.

How to serve

Unicum has a beneficial effect on the digestion, and it can be savoured either as an apéritif or as a digestif. You can drink it chilled, yet its rich taste can be appreciated the best at room temperature.

Further information

For more information about Unicum, you can visit the official website of Zwack. If your planning a trip to Hungary, you can visit the Zwack Unicum Heritage Visitors Centre in Budapest.  As well, you can visit the Zwack Palinka Distillery for a detailed tour and tastings of various Unicum drinks.

Where to buy

Unicum isn’t the easiest drink to find at your nearest liquor store. However, it is gaining more popularity outside Europe especially within North America. Just remember to always call the store a head of time to ensure the item is stocked even though it may be listed on their website or catalogue.

CANADA

Ontario

LBCO (various versions)
http://www.lcbo.com/main/en.shtml

USA

California

Wally’s Wine and Spirits
http://www.wallywine.com/default.aspx

New York

Marketview Liquor (labeled as Zwack only)
http://marketviewliquor.com

Mount Carmel Wines & Spirits (Unicum Modified)
http://www.mountcarmelwines.com

UK

Drinkon.com
http://www.drinkon.com

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