Zwack Unicum

Also known as “Unicum”. Aggressively flavored, proprietary Hungarian spirit-based aperitif/digestif bitters said to have been formulated by the court physician to the Emperor of Austria Hungary, in the late 18th Century. Not to be confused with Zwack Liqueur, which is packaged almost identically in many markets, and is a significantly milder herbal liqueur. Aperitif/digestif bitters is a generic category for bitter-sweet spirit- or wine-based beverage bitters. Consumed straight or in mixed drinks in larger proportions than aromatic bitters or fruit bitters. Prominent examples are Amer Picon, Fernet Branca, Unicum, and Campari. Nearly all aperitif/digestif bitters are complex, proprietary formulas and even products that aim to copy better-known brands tend to noticeably distinct. Factoring the extreme flavor potency of all these liqueurs, none are true substitutes for each other, but often, with careful discretion, not willy-nilly, one can be substituted for a similar one to different (but satisfying) effect.