1897—1905 Childhood in Vizovice

As a young boy, Alois spent every summer at his grandparents' in Vizovice. He had never been like the other kids who climbed trees, engaged in fights with children from nearby villages and swam in the local fish pond. He preferred to help his grandma, an avid gardener, to weed her flower and vegetable beds and pick fruit. Together, they used the plentiful crops of strawberries, currants, gooseberries and apples to make home-made syrups and purées. Plums which they picked in his grandparents' orchard went to the new local distillery where Alois's grandfather worked as the head taster. To his grandma's chagrin, grandfather's job became his hobby, as well. Grandfather used most of the fruit from grandma's garden in his home-made distillery. So in his early years Alois learnt to make the best fruit syrups and the strongest spirits.