Poland Traditional Polish Vodka
Siwucha - Traditional Polish Vodka (Polska Wódka)The making of traditional home-brewed vodka known as siwucha, or "moonshine," has been a cottage industry in Poland for over a thousand years. Today, distilleries produce the lion's share of the vodka consumed in poland, but there is still a thriving market for boutique vodkas from home-distillers. This statement may anger the Russians, Lithuanians, Finns, French, etc., but hands down, the best vodka in the world comes from Poland - period! All you need to do is look at the market share of Belvedere or Chopin to see that these relative newcomers have given Stolichnaya, Smirnoff and Grey Goose a run for their money. Non Flavored vs Flavored VodkaTraditionally, the Poles like to flavor their vodka with wild grasses, flowers, or various root vegetables that are similar to horseradish. These flavored vodkas represent the taste and smell of the region from which they originate. 
Home-Brewed Polish Vodka - It tastes much better than it looks! Don't mistake the term "flavored vodka" for the vanilla, lemon, or orange flavored "vodkas" that are so popular today. The flavoring agents found in these alcoholic beverages are mere afterthoughts, added as pure marketing gimmicks. Polish flavored vodkas are very subtle, as their flavorings simply reflect the natural environment that created them. Rye Grain vs Potato VodkaAlthough everyone's taste is slightly different, the general consensus is that the smoothest and purest tasting vodka is brewed from potatoes or rye, with those made from wheat being of lower stature. 
Selection of Polish Vodka (Rozne Rodze Polskiej Wodki) Up until the fall of the Soviet Union and the political reforms that followed, all vodka in Poland was produced by a state-run monopoly called Polmos, an acronym for "Polski Monopol Spirytusowy," or "Polish Spirit Monopoly." In 1990, Polmos was divided into several independant companies, most of which were privatized, with a hand full remaining under state ownership. 10 of the best Polish VodkasThere may be no other place on earth that has as many varieties of vodka to choose from. Today, there are literally hundreds of brands of Polish vodka, only a fraction of which are available within the United States. So which of these 'boutique' Polish vodka is the best? After extensive taste testing of dozens of brands and makes, here is a review on my short list of favorites (in order of preference). Best Premium 'Luxury' Polish Vodkas1. Pan Tadeusz 2. Chopin 3. Luksusowa Vodka 4. Siwucha 5. Belvedere Best Flavored Polish Vodkas1. Dziegielówka 2. Debowa Polska Oak Tree Vodka 3. Imbirowa Wódka 4. Klosówka Wódka 5. Zubrówka Polish 'Special Occasion' VodkasKrzeska Wódka Old Krupnik Within poland, vodkas are judged each year by the Wielkopolska Chamber of Handicraft, and Debowa Polska Oak Tree Vodka has been constantly awarded the top Dobre bo Polskie, or "Good because Polish" award. Serving Polish VodkaAlthough the preferred serving temperature for the wester palate is strait from the freezer, in Poland, vodka is consumed at room temperature, or with a slight chill. Polish vodka averages around 40% alcohol, so it can be stored in the freezer without expansion. 
Selection of Flavored Polish Vodkas and Flavored Liqueurs No traditional Polish meal would be complete without a liberal helping of traditional Polish vodka. When sharing vodka with friends in Poland, the traditional Polish toast is "nostrovia," or "good health," "to your health." In addition to clear spirits such as vodka, there is a myriad of flavored liqueurs of varying potency. There are Polish honey liqueurs such as Old Krupnik (38% alcohol), which is traditional sweet vodka that dates back to ancient times. SliwowicaFor something really different, try a Polish liquor called Sliwowica, (pronounced 'shlee-vo-vee-tsah') which is made from plums and plum brandy, and can be as strong as 150 proof (70%) or more! Sliwowica is so strong it is considered to be medicinal by many Poles, curing a host of respiratory ailments and malities. On To: Traditional Polish Cuisine |
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