🥃 Unicum
Unicum is the classic bitter herbal liqueur from the Hungarian company Zwack, based on brandy: over 40 herbs, a secret recipe, 40% ABV (80 proof).
Unicum is the original bitter herbal liqueur of the Hungarian company Zwack, at 40% ABV (80 proof). It is the producer's main and best-known line, from which its other versions derive. According to legend, the recipe dates from 1790 and was created by court physician Josef Zwack; Emperor Joseph II exclaimed "Das ist ein Unicum!".
According to the producer's website, the drink is made using the original process and a secret recipe with over forty herbs. Difford's Guide adds that the base is brandy and that the drink is matured for six months in oak; the taste is dark and bittersweet, with coffee, cocoa, liquorice and a light peppery warmth. The producer itself stresses that the brand has existed for more than two hundred and twenty years and keeps its core values. Commercial production began in 1840.
Why it matters to you. Unicum is the starting point for Unicum Szilva, Unicum Riserva and Unicum Barista: they change the ageing or add plum, Tokaj casks or coffee. Compare it with Becherovka and Jägermeister, but check the strength on the label. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol.
Facts
| Year founded | Unicum: commercial production since 1840; recipe according to legend, 1790 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787, Annex I: bitter drink or liqueur depending on sugar content |
| Raw material | over 40 herbs and roots (according to the producer's page) |
| Distillation method | infusion and distillation of herbs in a brandy base (Difford's Guide) |
| Cask type | oak barrels |
| Minimum maturation | 6 months in oak (Difford's Guide) |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Unicum → kind of → 🌿 Bitters and bitter spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- Hungarians
- Part of
- 🥃 Zwack, 🌿 Bitters and bitter spirits
- Similar and different
- 🍸 Liqueurs, 🥃 Becherovka, 🥃 Jägermeister, 🥃 Fernet
Frequently asked questions
Was Unicum really created in 1790?
That is a legend cited by the producer itself. Commercial production began in 1840.
What ABV and proof is Unicum?
40% ABV, which is 80 proof, according to the producer's website and Difford's Guide.
How many herbs are in Unicum?
According to the producer, over forty; the exact composition is secret.
What is Unicum made from and how is it aged?
According to Difford's Guide, the base is brandy and the drink is matured for six months in oak.
How does Unicum compare with Becherovka and Jägermeister?
They are other bitter herbal liqueurs: Becherovka is Czech and Jägermeister is German. The tastes differ, so check the strength on each label.
What to read next
- Hungarians — Hungarians (Magyars) are the main population of Hungary; on this site: Gyulai kolbász, Szegedi szalámi, Tokaji, Bikavér, Békés plum pálinka, Unicum and acacia honey.
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden vessel made of oak staves in which wine matures, picks up new aromas and slowly takes in air.
- 🍸 Liqueurs — A liqueur is a sweetened, flavoured spirit: at least 15% ABV and usually at least 100 g/l of sugar under EU rules. “Cherry brandy” and “crème de…” on a label mean a liqueur.
Similar
🥃 Unicum Riserva · 🥃 Unicum Szilva · 🥃 Unicum Barista · 🥃 Jägermeister Manifest · 🥃 Jägermeister Original · 🥃 Jägermeister Orange
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Zwack Unicum Nyrt. (producer): Unicum (40 %, secret recipe, over 40 herbs, legend 1790)
- Zwack Unicum Nyrt. (producer): brand portfolio
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)