Top 10 Polish Vodka Brands

Vodka is a part of Polish culture and social tradition and has always been present at Polish celebrations, parties, and weddings. While the everyday drink most beloved by Poles is beer, it’s hard to imagine any kind of formal party in Poland without a few bottles of vodka on each table. Some people claim that vodka is somehow linked to Polish national identity.  It’s made from fermented grain or potatoes, two staple ingredients to our baking and cooking, so no wonder Poland is one of the biggest producers of this popular liquor.

The favorite Polish way of drinking vodka is to drink it straight and frozen in a chilled shot glass. Polish pottery is another traditional product from the nation and shot glasses made of this fine European stoneware are perfect for keeping vodkas cold longer than traditional glass versions.  Of course, making bigger cocktails is also very popular, as there are many different types of vodka to mix.

4 oz. Polish pottery shot glasses available at www.artisanimports.com

Here’s the list of the best vodkas produced in Poland:

Sobieski

This vodka is named after the 17th-century Polish King Jan III Sobieski. It is made from a grain, Dankowski Rye, recognized for centuries for its distinctive character. Crystalline water from the Oligocene springs contributes to the silky finish of this noble spirit. Continuously distilled after combining it with this water, this mixture creates one of the purest and smoothest vodkas in the world. It comes in a variety of flavors such as original, vanilla, melon, citron, peach, etc. Sobieski vodka was ranked #1 by the Beverage Tasting Institute in 2007.  Interestingly, Bruce Willis is the vodka’s spokesperson and part owner as well.

A Vodka Sunrise, pictured with Polish pottery glasses (in “Circling Sunflowers” by Galia) and a shot glass (in “Little Meadow Pride” from Ceramika Artystyczna). Carafe is from Artland in the “Frosty Daisies” painted design.

Pan Tadeusz

This one is named after the famous national epic “Pan Tadeusz” written by Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz. The composition of “Pan Tadeusz” has been elevated in such a way as to associate the product with good, Old Polish Vodka. It belongs to a luxurious pure vodkas group, made from selected rye grains, and combines several hundred years of Polish alcohol distinctive tradition with a modern spirit rectification process. Both those factors ensure the product is of the highest quality.

Belvedere

This premium, single-grain vodka has a subtle sweetness and smooth, clean finish, that has been pot-distilled 4 times – the optimum number for enhancing the full character. It’s a vodka that combines over 600 years of vodka-producing expertise and an uncompromising commitment to quality and heritage. Belvedere takes its name from the Polish presidential palace placed in the capital city, Warsaw.

Żołądkowa Gorzka

The name of this vodka is translated as “bitter vodka for the stomach”. Despite its name, it’s a sweet, amber-colored vodka with a unique, spiced aroma and herbal flavor. It is also produced in five flavor variations: traditional, classic, special herb, bitter vodka, with Mint, Honey, clear/white, and with Bison-Grass.

Dębowa

Called the “Oak vodka of Poland”, in recent years this vodka has become very popular.  It boasts the highest quality, refined taste, consistent with traditional recipes. The most amazing feature of Debowa Vodka is its special wooden packaging or bottles decorated with wooden details, promoted successfully all over the world.

Chopin

Chopin is named after the greatest Polish composer known all over the world, Frederik Chopin. From the integrity of its naturally grown ingredients to its pride in its process, Chopin Vodka stands alone among premium brands. Chopin vodka is produced from three other components which gives us three different types and flavors of vodka. Chopin Potato Vodka has an alluring nose with subtle notes of vanilla and green apple. Chopin Rye is extraordinarily silky with a medium body, a rich, balanced finish, and a lively hint of spice. And Chopin Wheat – delicate bread dough nose, initial hints of honey on the front palate, finishing with notes of butterscotch and honey.

Żubrówka

Żubrówka, also known in English as Bison Grass Vodka, is a brand of dry, herb-flavored vodka that is distilled from rye and bottled at 40% alcohol by volume. Its flavor is unique and is described as having woodruff, vanilla, coconut, and almond notes. The name of this vodka comes from a grass eaten by Polish bison, (żubr – bison), and a blade of bison grass is placed in each bottle. While this grass may be used mostly for decorative purposes, in mass production alcohol is infused with a bulk amount of grass in order to obtain the beverage’s taste and yellowish color.

Żubrówka tastes best with apple juice (my favorite way of drinking it is to add a slice of cucumber, wedge of lime, and some leaves of mint, built over lots of ice).

Krupnik

Krupnik is an ancient Polish liquor that traces its roots back to the 1300′s. As such, it has been a traditional drink in Poland for centuries. Honey and spices shape its taste and aroma, made according to an authentic old recipe from southeast Poland, with carefully selected varieties of honey. The vodka base allows the honey to come through, with a good herby bite.

Luksusowa

Luksusowa, the Polish word for “luxury, has a superior taste that is a result of its potato base. Luksusowa vodka is triple distilled from potatoes, through charcoal. Thanks to an unrivaled distillation process, all undesirable fermentation by-products are removed, resulting in a perfectly smooth, richer-tasting product and the number #1 potato vodka in the world. It is also produced in Citron and Wild Berries flavors.

Wyborowa

Wyborowa is produced from rye grain, which imparts an incredible natural sweetness, using a double-step distillation process. Wyborowa, the Polish word for “Exquisite”, has rich, rounded, well-balanced nutty flavors with creamy notes and velvety texture. Lemon, Peach, or Apple flavors of this vodka are great for your favorite cocktails.