🥃 Božkov

Božkov is a Czech spirits brand, best known for its tuzemák Božkov Originál: a molasses spirit flavoured with rum essence, with caramel and vanilla, 37.5% ABV. If you have seen it on a shelf next to rum, note that it is a different drink. It is made in Plzeň at the Stock Plzeň-Božkov plant, part of Stock Spirits Group. The name comes from the Plzeň district of Božkov, where the distillery stands.

History. The company Camis & Stock was founded in 1884 in Trieste by Lionello Stock and Carlo Camis. According to the company's history, in 1920, after the collapse of Austria-Hungary, Stock bought an existing distillery in Plzeň-Božkov and set up a subsidiary, Stock Cognac Medicinal; in 1927 Fernet Stock began to be made here. In 1948 the plant was nationalised. Today it belongs to Stock Spirits Group, which the CVC Capital Partners fund acquired in 2021.

How it is made. Tuzemák is the historic "domestic rum" of Austria-Hungary, which had no tropical colonies: spirit made from potatoes or sugar beet was flavoured to resemble rum. According to the label, Božkov Originál is a molasses spirit with rum essence, sugar, caramel colouring and vanilla flavouring.

Why it is not "rum". The drink was once sold as "tuzemský rum", but the name had to change before the Czech Republic joined the EU. In autumn 2002 Radio Prague reported that from 2003 the word "rum" could no longer be used on the bottle; thus "tuzemák", meaning "domestic", appeared.

Why this matters to you. In the EU, "rum" is only the name for a distillate of sugar cane products without flavourings, so Božkov Originál is a flavoured spirit drink, not a rum. Its strength is similar to that of many vodkas. Treat it as a separate style and read the ingredients. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.