At Roots to Flavors, we’re honored to shine a light on PATER Spirits—an extraordinary Romanian brand that distills more than just fruit. It distills heritage, emotion, and five generations of craftsmanship into every drop. Their story is one of deep family roots, artisanal pride, and a passionate mission to elevate Romanian țuică to its rightful place on the global stage.

Featuring PATER on our platform is not only a celebration of their beautiful spirits, but also a testament to what makes Romanian terroir so special: care, legacy, and soul.

Feed your curious mind with the interview we had with Irina Marasoiu, the girl from Pater’s story:

1. A Guiding Quote or Personal Philosophy

Is there a phrase, family saying, or personal belief that captures your passion for traditional Romanian spirits?

I always say that plum brandy probably runs through my veins, braided with my blood. Ever since I can remember, țuică has been part of our lives—not just as a drink, but as a passion pursued with skill and responsibility. It’s one of the Romanian traditions that deserves to be preserved, celebrated, and taken pride in. Romanian țuică and distillates are no less refined than cognac, whiskey, rum, or grappa—they simply need to be respected. And by “respect,” I mean every step of the process: the fruit, the fermentation, the distillation, aging, bottling, and packaging.

2. A Heritage in Every Drop

Pater is rooted in five generations of craft. Can you tell us more about how your family history influenced your path and what it feels like to carry this legacy forward?

For me, PATER means family. It holds the memories of those who came before—my great-grandparents and grandparents—but also of those still with us: my father, mother, brother, and all the moments we’ve shared. More than anything, it’s about the joy our spirits bring to people. That connection is rooted in our heritage. Just as our spirits awaken memories for me, they do the same for our friends and customers—evoking old ones or helping to create new ones alongside PATER.

3. From Romania to the World

Pater is now on the menu at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Berlin and featured by many farm-to-table establishments. How do you think international audiences perceive Romanian spirits, and what would you like them to know about Pater?

I try to be an ambassador for Romanian distillates and to showcase high-quality spirits on the international stage. When it comes to PATER, foreign audiences have been truly enchanted. They were the first to recognize us with awards and to place orders for our products. That started around 2018, when many Romanians were still skeptical—perhaps because of a past bad experience (let’s be honest, an ugly hangover 😊) with low-quality țuică or palincă, or simply because strong spirits (50–70% ABV) weren’t what they were looking for.


But our products helped rebuild trust in Romanian spirits. We showed that premium taste and design are absolutely possible, and international awards helped immensely. I know the question is “From Romania to the world,” but in our case, I feel like we first went into the world, and only afterward did Romania accept us. We don’t export yet, but international interest in PATER is what helped elevate our presence at home.

 

4. The Ingredient with a Soul

Which fruit do you feel most connected to in your distillation process? Why does it speak to you personally or culturally?

Definitely the plum—and our Plum Țuică. It’s the spirit that started it all, rooted in our family orchards and the region we come from. The taste is unique and the fruit itself is known for its digestive benefits. It’s a spirit that can be enjoyed before, during, or after a meal—or simply on its own, whether in the company of friends or in a moment of solitary reflection.
Our village is called “Bogati,” which means “The Rich Ones,” and the name comes from the abundance of plum trees once found here. The municipal archives still hold the exact number of trees my great-grandfather and others in the village owned.

5. A Signature Creation

Which Pater spirit best represents your vision? Could you share a short story behind its flavor, how it’s made, or how people enjoy it?

I have to return again to Plum Țuică, because it’s where everything began. I vividly remember the moment when my brother and I were sealing a cork into a bottle and said, “What if we created a brand? Packaged this beautifully and sold it legally so others could enjoy it too?”
Since then, we’ve developed 10 different PATER varieties, but Plum Țuică remains our core product—the closest to Romanian tradition and the one that most often leaves a lasting impression.
The plums come from our family orchards, carefully tended by our father, a horticultural engineer. We know the exact quality of the fruit. After fermentation, they’re distilled in our 220-liter copper still—a traditional design custom-built by my father piece by piece.
The țuică is then aged in mulberry barrels, another local and family tradition, and finally dressed in a beautiful bottle with a unique letterpress label, pressed three times, stamped, hand-written by my mother and glued by hand. That packaging won the Gold Medal for Design and Product Concept at the International Wine and Spirits Competition’s Design & Media Awards in London.

6. A Tasting Moment to Remember

Can you share a special memory or moment of joy that happened during a tasting or an event?

Joy is a constant presence at our tastings and events, so it’s hard to choose just one moment. But if I must, I’d say the first event we attended after the long pandemic break. It was an open-air fair, and afterward, as we walked down Victory Avenue, we saw groups of people sitting on curbs with open bottles of PATER and plastic cups beside them.
They had just bought the bottles at the fair, and the sight filled me with joy. That image captured the essence of our brand: bringing people together, creating happiness—and if alcohol is involved, let it be a high-quality one, meant to be truly enjoyed.

7. Romania in a Glass – For Curious Travelers

If someone is visiting Romania for the first time, what Pater experience would you invite them to try? What could they discover about Romanian culture through this tasting?

PATER is a HORECA-focused brand, and we believe that the best way to discover the spirit of Romania is through the restaurants and bars where we are featured. PATER pairs beautifully with both traditional and modern Romanian cuisine, and the stories told through these pairings are richer when experienced together.
For those wanting to take a bit of Romanian spirit home, we’re also available in select specialty stores and at the airport, with bottles in various sizes—easy to carry and perfect as gifts.

8. From Farm to Glass – The Perfect Pairing

Pater is featured in many culinary settings. Could you tell us about some exciting food pairings or collaborations with restaurants that highlight your spirits?

Every collaboration with restaurants excites us—whether PATER is served straight, in cocktails, or paired with specific dishes.
Some standout culinary “art moments” include a dessert at NOUA, created by chef Alex Petricean and Joao Rodrigues, featuring a cake infused with PATER țuică. The way the țuică’s flavor came through was simply unforgettable.
Other memorable pairings include:

  • A plum brandy sauce by Mihai Toader for a dish at De Soi,
  • Blackberry brandy pralines created at Noeme for a Ukrainian charity dinner,
  • Pear brandy ice cream at Casa Timiș by Gelateria Velluto.
    We especially love when PATER is used not just as a pairing but as a standalone ingredient.

Our cocktail collaborations also hold a special place in my heart. Traditional distillate mixology is still developing in Romania, and more bartenders are now creating unique PATER cocktails with care and passion. Some amazing contributors: Alex Puiu, Silviu Popa, Mihai Pop, Silviu Bălășescu, NOUA BAR, Visuin, Teoria Bar, Modelier, De Soi, Negroni Aperitivo Bar, Popina Dobrogea.

And then there’s the pride of having four PATER varieties listed at a Michelin-starred restaurant. I’ll never forget sitting there and enjoying a glass of PATER Țuică at the end of a beautiful dinner—it still gives me goosebumps.

9. Craft Meets Creativity – Cocktails & Pop-ups

Roots to Flavors will host a cocktail tasting using your spirits with Alex Puiu. What excites you about mixing tradition with modern interpretations?

We’re trying to give more attention to mixing our spirits. Long drinks and low-ABV cocktails are trending, and we want to align with that. PATER is elegant, clean, and highly mixable—its delicate aromas and balanced alcohol content make it a great base.
Alex Puiu was a trailblazer for us in this direction. He not only encouraged us to explore this path, but he also helped us understand why it was important.
He’s created dozens of PATER-based cocktails, and what we love most is how thoughtfully he designs tasting experiences. He curates each element with intention—showing where the drink started, what inspired it, and what it has become. And when you finally taste it, everything just clicks into place.

10. Souvenirs with Soul

More and more travelers seek meaningful souvenirs. Why do you think a bottle of Pater makes a memorable gift or keepsake?

A small bottle of PATER holds the spirit of Romania in a single dose. The native fruit aromas and the beautiful packaging make for a perfect souvenir, in my opinion.
That’s why we created our miniatures and the three-piece gift set—so travelers can sample different flavors in small, airplane-friendly sizes.
A souvenir is, in a way, a business card for a country. The person who receives or tastes it will form an impression of where it came from. With PATER, I believe we leave a good one.

11. Making an Impact Through Experience

More and more people are interested in connecting with authentic makers. How do you envision your spirits being part of a larger story — one that includes tastings, cultural experiences, or even tour activities?

From the very first bottle, our mission was to bring Romanian distillates to the world—reviving, refreshing, and celebrating tradition. We wanted to spark curiosity and turn PATER into a lovemark.
To some extent, we’ve succeeded: we’ve built a community, people recognize us, they order consistently, they enjoy PATER in bars and restaurants, and some have even become brand ambassadors—carrying our spirits across the world as gifts or personal treasures.
We’ve been present at fairs and events from the beginning, sharing our products and brand philosophy openly and sincerely. We’ve taken part in unique experiences—from dinners on the Orient Express, to meals with Michelin-starred chefs, charity tastings, Art Safari, IDEAL Evolution conferences, and more.
Every event, no matter how small, created an opportunity for discovery. We hope to stay rooted in this niche of beauty, art, and culture—and we dream of soon hosting our own tastings at the distillery.

12. Looking Forward

What dreams or plans do you have for the future of Pater? How do you see your role evolving in promoting Romanian terroir internationally?

Our first priority is to continue growing our presence in restaurants and bars across Romania. This is our home, and here we want to be truly known and appreciated. We want to help make artisanal distillates a standard offering in local venues—something people actively seek out and enjoy.

We’ve often spoken about our new distillery, which is nearly complete. It will soon open to the public for visits, and it will allow us to double our production capacity. That growth is essential if we want to seriously consider exporting. Once we can meet demand both at home and abroad, we plan to actively promote our distillates internationally as well.

13. Final Thoughts

Is there anything you’d like people to feel, remember, or take with them after tasting your spirits?

I’d love for people to walk away from a tasting with a piece of our family’s spirit and philosophy in their hearts. The same spirit that we’ve written on every PATER bottle:

“A story crafted with effort and deep love by our family. A recipe passed down from father to son over five generations. Tradition. Love. Dedication. Family. This is what PATER means.”

 

PATER is more than a distillery — it’s a living tribute to Romanian roots, reimagined with precision, pride, and soul. In a world chasing trends, their spirits remind us of the value of origin, intention, and real craftsmanship.

I’m grateful to share their story on Roots to Flavors, and to support voices like theirs that help redefine Romania’s place on the global culinary map.

If you’re curious about the people behind the plate — or the glass — and want to explore Romania through flavor and story, I’d love to hear from you.
Reach out at contact@rootstoflavors.com — let’s taste something meaningful together.