U.S. Gets A Taste Of Zwack

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Feb 26th 2007 at 12:02PM

Are you ready for Zwack? Zwack is a Hungarian liqueur which is now being rolled out in the states courtesy of Diego North America. The liqueur was test marketed in Buffalo, New York and will be distributed in Ohio starting March 1. Zwack is known as Unicum in Hungary and has been made since the 1790s. It contains more than 40 herbs and is aged in oak casks aged for at least six months. It has a dark amber color and smells of herbs and citrus. It can be served as an appertif or a digestif and according to Internet Wines, which is selling it for $34 a bottle, the Hungarians steep prunes in it and serve the prunes with it. I'm guessing it probably tastes like a spicier version of Chartreuse. Anyone out there tasted Zwack yet?

Tags: hungary, liqueur, spirits, zwack

Filed under: Spirits

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Chrissy654 Nov 30th 2009 2:54PM

Unicum Next is fantastic. I love it as a shot with Red Bull!

Unicumdrinker Feb 26th 2007 1:15PM

Think Fernet Branca, Gammel Dansk or Braulio rather. It is a bitter, and is great after fat, artery-clogging Hungarian food. As an aperitif? Yes, if you wish to kill your taste before you eat...

george Feb 26th 2007 4:52PM

Unicum is exactly the best apertizer, very (seriously very) strong taste, i advise to try out half a sip first. It smells sweet but tastes very different.

Alf Oct 21st 2007 10:56AM

Unicum is definitely an acquired taste which I have not yet acquired. I would liken it to chewing on cloves or maybe a more medicinal Campari mixed with a bitter soda.

Steve Feb 26th 2007 10:58PM

Besides being a good digestive, Unikum is great for treating colds and sore throats. Sipping several shots seems to do the trick or at least give one a false sense of improved health.

dieselboi Feb 26th 2007 11:49PM

We've had Unicum in Portland Oregon for awhile now. We were first introduced to it at a local bar named Apotheke and were able to purchase it locally for about $31. I think it tastes like tree bark, but it grows on you.

Tim Feb 28th 2007 4:13PM

Wow, This stuff has been all over Buffalo for a while. I had no idea that we were a test market. There's been a big push with the club crowd.

nen Mar 5th 2007 3:18PM

Unicum tastes like cough medicine. Blurgh.

Lance Mar 16th 2007 11:21AM

This product being launched in Ohio is not Unicum. Unicum has always been available in Ohio in limited distribution and still is. What is being launched in Ohio is ZWACK, known in Hungary as Unicum Next. It is a sweeter version, not nearly as bitter as Unicum, and has flavors of citrus and orange zest. It finishes very smooth. ZWACK is targeting males 21-29 and hopes to grap a chunk of Jagermeister business.

Zwack Attack Mar 21st 2007 3:33PM

You're part right and part not. What's coming to Ohio is not the original formula of Unicum. It is an Americanized version (interpreted - toned down) of the original. I guess we don't rate the heavy stuff, huh? I reckon they figure we like our beers watered down so we'll prefer our Unicum the same way - and they may well be right.

Unicum Next is a cherrified version of Unicum and is an entirely different formula. A picture of the two products (Unicum, and Unicum Next) are here:

http://www.zwackwebshop.hu/display/index.phtml?op=webshop&op2=kategoriaoldal&category_id=001

$30-something a bottle doesn't seem terribly bad, though I wouldn't mind trying the original Unicum alongside it to see which I prefer before plunking down the coin on a 750ml bottle or larger.

Unfortunately, one of the largest liquor stores in the country is across the river in Kentucky. They might have Unicum but probably won't carry Zwack, maybe I'll check with the good folks at Jungle Jim's here in town.

Jan Apr 29th 2007 12:16PM

Unicum is not a drink to "sip" and enjoy. But it is the best medicine for digestive problems. And since you also get a bit "tipsy" after a sip or two. So why not try it? You'll like the effects, not the taste. BTW they have an updated version of Unicum called
"Unicum Next" which according to some taste much better and still works.