Zwack Unicum Riserva

Zwack Unicum Riserva is a special edition of Unicum, the Hungarian herbal liqueur, produced at the traditional Zwack Unicum distillery in Budapest, the house that has worked from a secret recipe of over 40 herbs since 1790. Its depth comes from a double cask ageing: the original Unicum is matured in oak, then given a second maturation in a different cask type, which builds a deeper and more complex interplay of flavours. Bottled at 40%, it is the fuller, more contemplative end of the Unicum range, made to be sipped rather than mixed.

The nose is spicy and aromatic with herbs, dried fruit, honey and wood. The palate is complex, round and harmonious, balancing bitter notes, sweetness and a Tokaj fruitiness, and the finish is long, elegant and warm with honey, spice and gentle oak. This is a digestif first, where its depth and warmth come into their own after a hearty meal, served at room temperature or slightly chilled. It pairs with dark chocolate and nuts, and where it does reach a glass it lends a honeyed, bittersweet herbal backbone with oak and dried fruit weight.