History
History of distillation industry at the Spiš´s region is dated around year 1,500 BC. The oldest known distillation pot is also dated approximately in this period, found at the Myšia Hôrka at Spišský Štvrtok. Monks were those who probably brought the distillation skills to the Spiš´s region in the medieval ages. The first monasteries were built in the region in the 13th century. Since then, spirit has been produced there continuously, i.e. for eight centuries.
Myšia Hôrka (Spišský Štvrtok)
Partial distillation tank dated in approx. 1500 BC. It is considered one of the oldest known distillation tanks within the whole Europe. It was found at the Myšia Hôrka at Spišský Štvrtok.
Taberna Krempak
Tavern was for the first time mentioned in 1343 in written deeds found in the territory of Stará Ľubovňa. The tavern had been the most popular pub at the Hungarian – Polish borders region for many centuries. It was built at the important trade route from Stará Ľubovňa to Piwniczna and it was called Taberna Krempak after the German name of the creek Hraničná (Krummbach). The tavern had referred to a center of the societal life for many centuries, where traders and pilgrims from various countries used to meet for refreshment (meals and beverages were served there, e.g. beer, wine, liquors), overnight, entertainment, money exchange and information gathering.
Right of tapping
In 1343 the Hungarian King Ľudovít Veľký promoted Stará Ľubovňa to a royal town and granted the right for tapping to the citizens of Stará Ľubovňa, among other privileges. They were allowed to use the tapping yields „for own benefit“.
Wooden distillery on the Ľubovňa castle uphill
Foundation of the Ľubovňa castle distillery is dated in the 17th century at the latest. At the time the Polish noblemen Lubomirski assumed the position of a Spiš´s burger master. Detail information about the distillery is dated in the first half of the 18th century. A wooden distillery was built on the castle uphill as indicated in the deeds dated in 1746, however the distillery was built earlier. A few distillation tanks were found therein, as well as four copper pots, three pairs of copper pipes led through the trough, and eight wooden vats. There were three wells around the distillery and water was supplied to the distillery via wooden pipeline.
Spirit drink gorzalka
Since the ages the spirit drink production has used cereal grown on the Stará Ľubovňa county, e.g. rye, wheat, barley and oats. Spirit drink / gorzalka was flavored with typical fruit and herbs grown in the region, for example anise. It was especially rye that was distributed to the distillers (gorzelniki) for purpose of gorzalka – rye liquor distillation, as indicated in the records dated in 1747.
Building of stone distillery
In the 50s of the 18th century when the spared territory belonged to the Polish Queen Mary Josephine, the royal architect Francesco Placidi prepared the building plans for magnificent reconstruction of the extramural settlement. The building work was managed by Italian mason master Janetti. A modern huge stone distillery (das Brandweinhaus) was built around 1752 within the new extramural settlement building. The distillery production reached production rate of approx. 25,935 holbas, i.e. approx. 15,000 liters in 1756. Detail building project of the stone distillery was preserved in the form of a precious layout drawing dated in 1773. The new Castle DISTILLERY refers to a construction follow-up project.
Mention of Borovička from Spišská Belá
Statistical survey of important regions and matters of the Austrian Monarchy: Export of the Spiš´s Gin (Spišská borovička) to Austrian and Czechia. Total 95 distillation tanks were found in the local households.
Castle distillery was acquired by J. F. Raisz
As an integral part of the castle manor, the castle distillery was acquired by Juraj Felix Raisz.
Stará Ľubovňa town bought castle and distillery
The distillery was stated as the castle manor estate as late as in 1880 when the Raisz family decided to sell the castle to Stará Ľubovňa.
Castle distillery acquired by the family Zamoysky
The town sold the castle including the estate to the Polish family Zamoysky that had been living in Stará Ľubovňa until 1944.
Postcard showing storage premises with borovička owned by Arpád Gretzmacher at Spišská Belá dated before 1918.
A labeled borovička bottle is illustrated on the top of the postcard.
Distillery in the town center
The family Morgenbesser from Stará Ľubovňa contributed to the continuation of distillation tradition in the town in the 20s of the 20th century. Henrich Morgenbesser founded the distillery in the Stará Ľubovňa town center in 1929. Distillates as gin, herb cordials, eggnog and chocolate nog, rum and gin were produced there. Bottle necks and corks were dipped into color wax in sloped position.
Production break
Following the seizure in 1948 the private companies were closed, however the reputation of local high quality distillates, rum, brandy and cordials has been still alive.
Foundation of company GAS Familia
GAS Familia, s.r.o., with registered office in Stará Ľubovňa was founded upon incorporation in the Company Register on June 16, 1994. The company was founded by the family father Ladislav Gurega and his son Marián as a business subject. The original idea of the company founders was to follow up the extensive distillery tradition in the region Spiš and the tradition of private distillates and cordials producers´ business in the town Stará Ľubovňa and its surroundings.
Discovery of the secret of exceptional taste
The fact that the house situated in the Stará Ľubovňa center, where one of the most prestigious distilleries of the region Spiš had been located from 1929 till its seizure, became a property of the company GAS Familia in 2000, contributed to the improvement of the alcoholic beverages´ recipes. During the house reconstruction, the family Gurega found traditional production documents therein and it helped them to improve the formulas and create quality alcoholic beverages that have been produced by GAS Familia, s.r.o. to date.
Protected geographical mark
The Spiš´s region can praise itself with a product produced therein, awarded with the protected geographical mark – Originál Spišská Borovička, which means that all carefully selected raw materials, starting from processed common juniper berries and ending with quality cereal spirit, come from this distinctive Slovak region. This attribute – spirit awarded with the protected geographical mark, was registered and certified also within the European Union in 2008. Spišská borovička is the only Slovak representative in this list in the category of spirits.
Spišská Pálenica (distillery)
Spišská Pálenica (distillery) is exceptional with its design and the latest technology, which are unique in Slovakia and even in Europe. The new distillery object includes also other interesting premises – the Spiš´s Pub intended for quality spirits´ fans.
The most famous products of the Spišská Pálenica (distillery) include primarily Original Spišská Borovička; we were also awarded with the quality certificate KOSHER for th whole production range of the Spiš´s flavored distillates produced in the (Spišská Pálenica (distillery).
Book about distillery industry
The book presents four topics to readers.
The first topic refers to basic overview of the regional administrative development, focused on the medieval era. The second topic is dedicated to selected settlements of the northern part of the Spiš region from geographical point of view. The third topic contains basic overview of pomiculture in the region, accentuating the surroundings of Stará Ľubovňa and Hniezdne. In the past, economic activities of the Spiš inhabitants broadly resonated far beyond the region borders. Distillery industry was one of them. The four topic investigates its development, focusing on the settlements of the northern part of the upper Spiš region, especially on Ľubovňa, Hniezdne and Spišská Belá.
