🥃 Božkov
Czech spirits brand from Plzeň-Božkov, known for the tuzemák Božkov Originál (37.5% ABV); produced by Stock Plzeň-Božkov, part of Stock Spirits Group.
Božkov is a Czech spirits brand, best known for its tuzemák Božkov Originál: a molasses spirit flavoured with rum essence, with caramel and vanilla, 37.5% ABV. It is made in Plzeň at the Stock Plzeň-Božkov plant, part of Stock Spirits Group. The name comes from the Plzeň district of Božkov, where the distillery stands.
History. The company Camis & Stock was founded in 1884 in Trieste by Lionello Stock and Carlo Camis. According to the company's history, in 1920, after the collapse of Austria-Hungary, Stock bought an existing distillery in Plzeň-Božkov and set up a subsidiary, Stock Cognac Medicinal; in 1927 Fernet Stock began to be made here. In 1948 the plant was nationalised. Today it belongs to Stock Spirits Group, which the CVC Capital Partners fund acquired in 2021.
How it is made. Tuzemák is the historic “domestic rum” of Austria-Hungary, which had no tropical colonies: spirit made from potatoes or sugar beet was flavoured to resemble rum. According to the label, Božkov Originál is a molasses spirit with rum essence, sugar, caramel colouring and vanilla flavouring.
Why it is not “rum”. The drink was once sold as “tuzemský rum”, but the name had to change before the Czech Republic joined the EU. In autumn 2002 Radio Prague reported that from 2003 the word “rum” could no longer be used on the bottle; thus “tuzemák”, meaning “domestic”, appeared.
Why this matters to you. In the EU, “rum” is only the name for a distillate of sugar cane products without flavourings, so Božkov Originál is a flavoured spirit drink, not a rum. Its strength is similar to that of many vodkas. Treat it as a separate style and read the ingredients. The WHO reminds that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1920 — distillery in Plzeň-Božkov (Lionello Stock); Camis & Stock — 1884, Trieste |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787: “rum” only for distillate of sugar cane products; tuzemák is a different spirit drink |
| Raw material | molasses spirit; rum essence, sugar, caramel, vanilla (Originál) |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 37.5% ABV (Originál) |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Božkov → kind of → 🌴 Rum and sugarcane spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Made from
- 🥃 Sugar cane and molasses
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🌴 Rum and sugarcane spirits
- Related to
- 🌍 Central Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Rum, 🥃 Becherovka
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Božkov is a rum?
No. Božkov Originál is a tuzemák: a molasses spirit with rum essence. Under EU rules, only a distillate of sugar cane products may be called rum.
Who makes Božkov?
Stock Plzeň-Božkov in Plzeň. The company belongs to Stock Spirits Group, which the CVC Capital Partners fund has owned since 2021.
Where does the name Božkov come from?
From Božkov, a part of Plzeň where Lionello Stock bought a distillery in 1920. The brand has no link with the village of the same name in northern Bohemia.
When did “tuzemský rum” become “tuzemák”?
From 2003, before the Czech Republic joined the EU in 2004: the word “rum” was banned for such a drink.
What is the strength of Božkov Originál?
37.5% ABV, according to the producer's label.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🥃 Rum — A distillate of sugar-cane molasses, syrup or juice: in the EU at least 37.5% vol., no flavourings or added alcohol, up to 20 g/l of sugar.
- 🌍 Central Europe — Curd cheese (quark), cheeses and butter in peasant cooking.
- 🥃 Becherovka — Czech bitter herbal liqueur from Karlovy Vary, 38% ABV; produced to the Becher recipe since 1807, owned by Poland's Maspex since 2024.
Similar
🥃 Stroh · 🥃 Old Monk · 🥃 Havana Club · 🥃 Captain Morgan · 🥃 Bacardi 151 · 🥃 Killepitsch
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Stock Spirits: Heritage (1884 Camis & Stock, Trieste; 1920 distillery in Plzeň-Božkov; 1927 Fernet Stock; 1948 nationalisation; 2021 CVC)
- Radio Prague International: Last Call for Czech Rum (04.10.2002; Stock Pilsen-Božkov; from 2003 the name «Tuzemák»)
- Expats.cz: Farewell fake rum — a short history of a beloved Czech spirit (Inländer-Rum, potatoes or sugar beets, rum essence, renamed 2003)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I (категорії: 1 — ром, 6 — горілка з вичавок, 15 — горілка, 20/21 — джин, 33 — лікер) і Annex III (граппа)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)