🥃 Unicum Szilva
Zwack line based on Unicum: over 40 herbs, maturation in oak barrels on dried plums, 34.5% ABV.
Unicum Szilva is a variation of the classic Unicum from the Hungarian company Zwack, at 34.5% ABV. The word szilva means "plum" in Hungarian. The producer presents it as a line with a fruity note, and it is lower in strength than the original bitter liqueur. The producer itself calls it a novelty.
According to the producer's page, the drink contains extracts and distillates of over forty herbs, and it is matured in oak barrels on a bed of dried plums. The plums are dried gently to preserve their aroma. The taste is described by the producer as harmonious fruitiness; the page does not mention the duration of ageing.
Why it matters to you. Szilva is weaker than the classic Unicum (40% ABV) and fruitier, so compare it with Unicum Riserva rather than with dry liqueurs. Do not confuse it with slivovitz: it is not a distillate of plums but a herbal liqueur. The bottles come in different sizes, from miniatures to three litres. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol.
Facts
| Year founded | Unicum: commercial production since 1840; recipe according to legend, 1790 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787, Annex I: bitter drink or liqueur depending on sugar content |
| Raw material | over 40 herbs and roots (according to the producer's page) |
| Distillation method | extracts and distillates of over 40 herbs; maturation on dried plums |
| Cask type | oak barrels |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 34.5% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Unicum Szilva → kind of → 🌿 Bitters and bitter spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Zwack, 🌿 Bitters and bitter spirits
- Similar and different
- 🍸 Liqueurs, 🥃 Slivovitz (šljivovica), 🥃 Becherovka
Frequently asked questions
Is Unicum Szilva a slivovitz?
No. It is a herbal liqueur based on Unicum, matured on dried plums.
What is the strength of Unicum Szilva?
34.5% ABV according to the producer's page.
How is it aged?
In oak barrels on a bed of dried plums.
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.
- 🥃 Slivovitz (šljivovica) — Fruit spirit distilled from fermented plums: in the EU from 37.5% vol., methanol up to 1200 g/hl; Serbian šljivovica on UNESCO's list since 2022.
- 🥃 Becherovka — Czech bitter herbal liqueur from Karlovy Vary, 38% ABV; produced to the Becher recipe since 1807, owned by Poland's Maspex since 2024.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Unicum Riserva · 🥃 Unicum Barista · 🥃 Unicum · 🥃 Jägermeister Manifest · 🥃 Jägermeister Original · 🥃 Luxardo Amaretto di Saschira
⚠️ 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
- Zwack Unicum Nyrt. (producer): Unicum Szilva (34.5 %, matured in oak on dried plums)
- Zwack Unicum Nyrt. (producer): brand portfolio
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)