“He had one year to go before retiring. But instead of resting, Roman Hříbal turned to business, which today connects Canada and the Czech Republic. Together with a friend from overseas, they revived the original maple liqueur recipe and brought it from Winnipeg to the heart of Plzeň. And the result? Maple Liqueur – a unique drink that is now conquering European bars and cafés.”
🖊 Ivana Bednářová | archiv mapleliqueur.eu
Mr Hříbal, before we dig into your liqueur story, let’s start at the beginning. What was your profession before you went into business?
I had worked as an economist my whole life; the last couple of years I headed the financial department of one of ŠKODA’s plants in Plzeň. I was not exactly looking forward to retiring, but I certainly wasn’t planning on going into business either.
So what was the turning point?
During a party at a friend’s house I met an old mate, Zdeněk Roth, who had emigrated to Canada. We talked and he mentioned that he would like to start importing maple liqueur to the Czech Republic, but needed a partner. I tasted the liqueur and immediately went: “I’m in!”
What was the original plan?
My primary motivation was to secure an additional source of income and to take up a hobby for after I retire. We imported three pallets of the liqueur from Winnipeg and it sold out pretty quickly. But then we found out that the Winnipeg distillery had ceased its operations – the owner closed it and sold off the equipment.
That must have been a shock. What did you do next?
Fortunately, Zdeněk managed to obtain a licence and the original recipe. And just like that, a whole new story began to unfold. We found a supplier of raw materials, but we didn’t know where to make the liqueur, how to get bottles, corks, labels… Suddenly I found myself sitting at the computer trying to find a glass manufacturer. Everybody I spoke to was ready to deliver a million bottles, when all we really needed was a few thousand. I had no idea where to turn.
So you had to invest your own savings?
Yes, I gradually invested about two million crowns, and so has my partner in Canada. It was our ‘retirement adventure’.
And how did you eventually get to making the liqueur itself?
By accident, I came across this Jenčík and Daughters family distillery near Nepomuk. I explained the situation to them, we reached a deal – and soon after that they began filling the first bottles with our liqueur.
But selling liqueur wasn’t exactly easy, was it?
You bet it was not. The first batch from Canada flew off the shelves almost by itself, but then the harsh reality set in. I drove around businesses, called wholesalers, applied the duty stamps on the bottles myself before treating the foil with a hair-dryer. Every bottle passed through my hands.
Where can we come across your liqueur today?
At present, you can mainly get it from selected distributors and partners – we cooperate, for example, with the Plzeň-based F. L. Věk Nápoje, as well as with L’OR Special Drinks, Fanny, La-Vin or Best Drink. The liqueur is also served in some bars and cafés, where it is enjoyed by guests, especially with coffee. But that’s not all – we’re also working on our own online store to get closer to people who want to order our product for their homes. We want to make ordering easy and delivery fast. This is another step for us to bring Maple Liqueur to everyone who is interested in it – not only in Plzeň, but all over the country and abroad.
Was there ever a time when you wanted to quit?
Never. I hate gardening and tending to flower beds. That’s not for me. This is what I enjoy – meeting interesting people, experiencing adventures. And most importantly – I’ve never heard anyone say our liqueur isn’t good.
And finally – how to best enjoy your liqueur?
It tastes best with coffee. But frankly – Maple Liqueur can be enjoyed on any occasion.
