Unicum
 "Das ist ein Unikum! " Said his Majesty Joseph II when he first tasted this digestive elixir on the suggestion of his physician, Doctor Zwack. The fame of this restorative liqueur soon spread far and beyond the confines of the Imperial Court and was destined to become one of the favorite tipples of the Empire, particularly in Hungary. In 1840, J. Zwack és Társa, the family firm, was founded in Pest. After the formation of the Dual Monarchy in 1867 when Vienna and Pest became twin capitals on the Danube, the Zwack firm was awarded the coveted title of Sole Purveyor to the Imperial and Royal Court of Austria and Hungary, or "K.u.K.".
By the turn of the century the Company was producing not only Unicum but a vast assortment of liqueurs and brandies which were exported all over the world. The flagship brand, however, remained Unicum which has for decades been the national drink of Hungary.
The family firm flourished until the outbreak of World War II. Budapest was one of the most ravaged cities of Europe and the factory was reduced to rubble by the Allied bombings.
 After the war, the two Zwack brothers, Janos and Bela, completely rebuilt the plant using the most modern technology available at the time. Business resumed as usual until 1948 when the Communist government confiscated both factory and family home. Janos and his family managed to escape and emigrate, via Ellis Island, while Bela chose to remain and was deported, like so many Hungarian "bourgeois", before leaving the country in 1955.
The Communist government took over the running of the factory and continued to export Unicum without the technical know-how and without the original recipe which has always been a carefully guarded family secret. In the United States Janos Zwack instigated a lawsuit against the Hungarian government, through their importers, for having illegally retained the Zwack trademarks.
This was a precedent-setting case ending in victory for the Zwacks. It was ruled that the Communist controlled factory in Budapest could no longer export its version of Unicum, and the other liqueurs under the Zwack label to the West. Peter Zwack, the fourth generation heir, came into the family business in 1972. It became Peter Zwack's goal to re-establish old markets and open new accounts. At the time he was living with his English wife, Anne and their children in Florence.
With the advent of perestroika and the winds of change in the entire Eastern block, Unicum was able to return to its homeland. Peter Zwack received pressing invitations to return to Hungary and take over the running of his old family factory. In July 1989, a Joint Venture was signed with the Hungarian State Monopoly, Buliv, in which Peter Zwack und Consorten AG became fifty per cent partners.
In 1991 came privatization. In order to gain full ownership of the Unicum factory, Peter Zwack and his partners were obliged to put in a successful bid for the entire Budapest liquor monopoly. The company went public in 1993. Today Peter Zwack and Emil Underberg retain 50% plus one share of the ownership, thus ensuring majority, while 26% is Diagio and 24% minus one share of the Company has been floated on the Stock Exchange.
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 Your Top Choice! Budget place, great location & helpful staff! Different rooms and apartments.
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 Self catering apartments in the downtown Cheap solution for your stay.
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 The cheapest way to stay in the City is in a dormitory room. If you like it go on!
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 For a more pleasant and luxury stay we also offer 3 and 4 star hotels in the capital.
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