Unicum Riserva: ‘Limited-Edition Perfection’
- 4 May 2021 1:52 PM
Unicum Riserva from the legendary Zwack distillery in Budapest is doubly unique because it is aged not once but twice in two very different and special casks.
First it is aged in the largest and oldest cask in the distillery which has been in the cellars for eighty years. Over the decades the wood has acquired a coating of what we call “black honey” which gives the Unicum still more depth and character.
In the second phase the Unicum is put into a Tokaji Aszu cask where for years this legendary wine has aged in the cellars of Tokaji.
Once the familiar bittersweet taste of Unicum encounters the sensuous sweetness of Tokaji, Unicum Riserva becomes mellower but at the same time spicy and fruity, with hints of dried apricots and an elusively herbal, minty taste like a cool breeze.
Finally the 2007 vintage of Tokaji Aszu from the Dobogo Winery is blended into the Riserva to further enhance this uniquely unusual blend of flavours.
Thus Unicum Riserva combines in perfect harmony the exciting and exotic herbs with the seductive honeyed essence of Tokaji.
In the Zwack family Sandor is known as a master of herbs and spices and Izabella as a 'master of wines', and so Unicum Riserva also represents the unity of this duo.
Once the familiar bittersweet taste of Unicum encounters the sensuous sweetness of Tokaji, Unicum Riserva becomes mellower but at the same time spicy and fruity, with hints of dried apricots and an 'elusively herbal and minty taste'.
"Years ago when we realized the need to develop a premium version of Unicum, we joined forces with Isabella to pool all the knowledge that we have acquired over the years," explains Sándor Zwack.
"The more we talked and became inspired, the more it became clear that we had to approach this uniquely from two sides: on one hand to return to the combined blending of herbs which have been developed over time - so we use the black honey.
On the other hand to introduce an element dear to us, the wine for which Izabella is the master. So that is how we decided on the ageing in Tokaji Aszú casks and adding the Tokaji aszu."
This special product can be ordered for delivery to any Hungarian address, and will be sent in an elegant black paper gift bag.
Ordered direct from the Zwack webshop this limited-edition version of ‘Unicum Perfection’ costs around HUF 10,000.
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Click here to visit Zwack Webshop
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