Zwack Unicum Herbal Liqueur

There’s an old Hungarian proverb that goes “In love, there’s more bitterness than sweetness.” No surprise, then, that the national spirit of Hungary is Zwack Unicum, an liqueur made from an infusion of 40 medicinal herbs that’s beloved by people of all ages. According to lore, the liqueur dates to 1790 when Habsburg ruler Joseph II was suffering from indigestion and his physician, Dr. Zwack, whipped up a herbal remedy that cured him. Joseph declared the potion to be “unikum” (German for “unique”), which launched Zwack to fame. The Zwack family’s fortunes rose and fell over the next century (re: collapse, war, occupation, etc) until descendents revived the brand in 1989. Today, the liqueur is rightfully served everywhere in Hungary (and now the US!) as a delicious, slightly bitter antidote to life’s woes. Egészségére!