The Green Tree Distillery

Lore & Background

The distillery traces its origins to 4 July 1518, when William of Pernštejn granted brewing rights to thirty-one house owners in Prostějov, including Hajný Jež of Seloutek, owner of the house The Green Tree. Charles of Liechtenstein later extended these rights to include a monopoly on distillation and infusion. The distillery survived the Thirty Years' War, epidemics, and the devastating fire of 1697 that destroyed half of Prostějov, while the Green Tree house remained intact. In 1735, new owner Michael Storch of Markvartice, a pharmacist, began adding herbs and spices—especially anise—to the mash, laying the foundation for the Starorežná recipe.

In 1843, Jakub Vojáček bought the distillery at auction and upgraded it to a factory, inspired by whisky production and improving distillation processes. After his death in 1858, the family ran it as 'J. Vojáček Heirs' through World War I. In 1925, the distillery became property of the 'Cooperative Enterprise of Innkeepers'. During World War II, a merger with a self-help cooperative of innkeepers doubled the company's size; in 1940 turnover exceeded 13 million crowns. The distillery was nationalised in 1946.

After the 1992 privatization, it produced 60 types of spirits. In 2011, it merged with Ústí liquor company GRANETTE, becoming the largest purely Czech-capital spirits producer. The historical name 'The Green Tree Distillery' was renewed in 2017.

Reader's Guide

The Green Tree Distillery holds a unique position in European distilling as the continent's oldest continuously operating distillery, with a documented history spanning over five centuries. Its significance lies not only in its longevity but in its consistent adherence to traditional methods, such as the classified original recipe for Old Hunter's Rye, which is kept in a vault accessible to only three individuals. The distillery's portfolio includes brands that have become household names in the Czech Republic, notably Old Hunter's Rye, which consistently ranks among the top five best-selling spirits in the country and has won gold medals at international exhibitions in London, Hong Kong, Warsaw, Vitoria, and Japan.

The company's resilience is demonstrated by its survival of wars, fires, epidemics, nationalisation, and economic shifts, while remaining family-owned and free of foreign capital. Its export reach extends to twenty countries across five continents, and its annual production of 100,000 hectolitres makes it the second largest spirits producer in the Czech Republic. The distillery continues to innovate, launching new products such as Heffron rum in 2019 and limited-edition whiskies, while maintaining its historical identity through the renewed name and the iconic green tree symbol.

Did You Know?

• The Heffron rum brand is named after the ship that transported Czechoslovak Legionnaires home from Panama.