Antique Herbal Liqueur is, indeed, the Spirit of Croatia. The legacy of Antique goes back to 1862 and Franjo Pokorny, a distiller and tradesman in 1862. It was initially sold to pharmacies as a “digestif elixir” to help “cleanse the blood and strengthen the stomach”. Herbal Liqueurs in Croatia are called Pelinkovac. Pelinkovac liqueurs are truly the spirit of the Country. This century old drink is part of Croatian’s everyday life. The taste profile of Antique Pelinkovac is complex and layered with over 40 different types of Mediterranean herbs, spices, and botanicals. Because of how it is made, it has not only complexity, but also balance. The dominating flavor on the palate is anise/licorice which comes from the dominating botanical, wormwood. Wormwood is an intricate part of any Pelinkovac. As a matter of fact, the word “Pelin” in Pelinkovac actually translates to wormwood.
