From the German trading idea to the Croatian distillery
The history of Nimco Brands & Liqueurs does not begin in Croatia, but in Germany. Nikola Serdar initially built up a spirits portfolio there under the name NIM GmbH and in 1984 brought Julischka — a combination of Slivovitz (plum brandy) and Kruškovac (pear liqueur) — onto the German market, where it was soon listed in chains such as Metro, Edeka, and Rewe. With this market knowledge in his luggage, he founded the Croatian company in 1994, which today forms the core company of the group. The parent company in Germany was later taken over by the Swiss company Levitan; the Croatian branch in Bestovje, a small town near Zagreb in the Zagrebačka županija, developed into the actual production headquarters.
In 2011, Nimco took over Pepito and Istra Bitter, two legendary brands of the former producer Istravino, revised their design, and continued them with a new look. In 2016, the company changed its name from Nimcro to Nimco Brands & Liqueurs — a conscious rebranding with a modernized identity while maintaining the same product philosophy.
Recipe development, orchard, and over 30 own brands
Nimco does not see itself as a mere bottler, but as a complete brand maker: idea, recipe, bottle design, and brand development are created under one roof. On the company premises in Bestovje, there are production facilities, office buildings, an in-house orchard, and a herb garden — both direct sources of raw materials for liqueur production. Over 30 patent-protected products have been developed in the company's history; some of them have been sold to international spirits houses. According to the company, recycling is an integral part of the operating philosophy because nature is considered the central driving force. More than half of the revenue is generated by Nimco through exports to Northern European markets — proof that the brands find buyers far beyond Croatia.
New products are created through an iterative process: aromas, ingredients, and proportions are adjusted until the recipe and bottle design are considered harmonious. This demand for sensory accuracy before market launch runs through the entire portfolio.
Croatian classics, herbal bitters, and international styles
Nimco's range revolves around typical Croatian spirits. Julischka is the best-known product in the German-speaking world: a liqueur with 25% vol., whose character arises from the interplay of plum brandy and pear liqueur — golden yellow, fruity, with a clear pear-plum line. As an independent liqueur, Istra Kruškovac stands for the same craftsmanship: natural pear aromas, rounded sweetness, a recipe that has remained unchanged for decades. In addition, the range includes herbal bitters such as Pelin Kräuter, fruit liqueurs of the Moretto line based on cherries and blueberries, honey liqueurs such as Medica, the Istrian Biska, as well as brandies under the names Brioni and Marco Polo — and with Cobalt Vodka and Five Corners Gin, international styles as well. Anyone who wants to get to know Croatian distilling art beyond the usual Slivovitz bottle will find one of the widest style palettes in the country at Nimco.
