Keeping Your Spirits Up - with Polish Vodka

Auschwitz might not be everyone’s idea of a top destination for a birthday weekend away but it had been at the top of my list for some time. Whilst the experience was not at all as I expected, I am glad that I went.

That aside, Krakow is the perfect short break destination. Easy to get to, inexpensive, friendly, and easy to get around with lots to see and do, including the opportunity to have a go at making pierogies, my favourite Polish dumplings, and to sample some vodka. Lots of it.

This was my first visit to Poland, and quite honestly, until then I could count the number of times I have drunk vodka on one hand. Let there be no doubt as to my commitment to the task in hand. In the space of 4 days I ploughed my way relentlessly through 53 vodkas. The sacrifices I make, all in the cause of research. Trust me, all vodkas are not equal, and many bear little resemblance to the colourless liquid most often consumed - a 2017 survey shows that in the UK Smirnoff romps home as the favourite brand, with a whopping 62% of market share. Vodka can be made pretty much from anything that can ferment, which is then distilled to increase the alcohol content.

Keen to share my new-found enthusiasm, I managed to bring home what I felt were some of the more interesting ones for a charity tasting. Here’s what we thought.

Soplica Orzech Laskowy	Hazelnut – Soplica has been producing vodkas in Poland since 1891. This flavoured vodka, using hazelnuts gathered from nearby forests, uses the same blend of grain vodka, rye and wheat as the original. Verdict: Liquid Nutella……	30%abv. £15.99 (50cl.)
Krzeska Ziolowa	Herbs - a highly aromatic combination of pure vodka and more than 20 species of herbs. It comes in a beautiful camphor-shaped bottle, with a sunken bunch of sage, thyme and rosemary. Full of character, yet subtle, it is pale amber and redolent of tobacco, plums, vanilla, and the smell of fresh cut meadow herbs. Verdict: Smooth, elegant after dinner drink	40%abv. £52.74
Dwor Sierakow Peiprzem Wodka Smakowa	Pepper – pale translucent green in colour, the aroma of freshly ground pepper, mint, thyme, marjoram, juniper, and bay leaf is complex and intense. On the palate, it is strong, intensely peppery, with a slightly sweet, very spicy finish. This received a bronze medal at the 2015 International Wine and Spirit Competition in London.  Verdict: Aromatic, smooth, peppery	40%abv. £15
Saska Debowa	Czysta (Clear) - a delicate translucent vodka using premium grains. Its gentle flavour comes from using only natural ingredients and crystal-clear water. It owes its unique character to the extract of American oak chip and the slow process of maceration, which emphasises this characteristic oaky note. Verdict: Pure, but lacks aroma	40%abv. £5 (50cl.)
Golden Rose  Waldemar Durakiewicz	Rose - A clear golden amber composition of carefully selected flowers and fruits from the Podlasie region with an extraordinary rose taste and aroma. The base is Chopin vodka and all stages of production are carried out by hand. The rosehip flower, considered a symbol of love and passion, highlights the feminine character of this vodka. Verdict: The rose dominates, with a slight sweetness	38%abv. £52
Zubrowka Bison Grass Smakowa	Bison Grass - Białowieża, the last primeval forest in Europe, lies in a remote corner of Poland, in the North Podlasie Lowland; home to the continent's only herd of bison and the distinctly aromatic bison grass, which resists cultivation and is still carefully harvested by hand. The infusion adds smoothness and freshness to the original spirit. Verdict: Pleasant herbal notes	37.5%abv. £20
Sliwowica Lelowska	Moonshine – this has been struggling to achieve legal status for 20 years. Now, one local fruit producer has made it through the legislative minefield. Śliwowica, the 70+% plum vodka made in the vicinity of Łącko, near Nowy Sącz, is a traditional Polish Highlander’s tipple perfected by a Jew who was killed by Nazis and had his distillery closed by Soviets. It is officially illegal but known and praised across the country and beyond. According to reliable sources, śliwowica is the fourth strongest alcoholic drink in the world. This variety, is the one that wins international awards, despite being technically illegal. Traditionally, it has been distilled in small quantities by hundreds of ‘home producers.’ False śliwowica, made from cheap spirit with added flavouring, is sold in tourist hot spots. National authorities and local producers disagree about its future. If the government agreed to legal production, it would have to be at a single distillery in the region, a big no-no for local farmers as each one has their own secret recipe and they want the government to approve home-made production. Verdict: Paint stripper…..it hurts – powerful, not for the feint-hearted	72%abv. £30
Chopin Potato Vodka	Potato – this is secret of a good Vesper Martini - James Bond's own concoction. Four times distilled from Polish potatoes, it has an alluring nose with subtle notes of vanilla and green apple. It is creamy and well-rounded, with a reassuring earthiness and a long, clean finish. Verdict: Oily on the palate	40%abv. £36.47(50cl.)
Zubrowka Czarna Wodka	Black - the only Polish vodka to undergo a unique filtration process using charcoal from Bialowieża oaks. The water is drawn from the purest springs in the Bialowieża Forest and top-quality wheat is used for producing the neutral spirit that comes exclusively from Polish farms. The nose gives little away. Verdict: A pure, smooth, super premium vodka	40%abv. £35 (50cl.)

Dumplings are the perfect thing to soak up alcohol, and I can thoroughly recommend the Pierogi making activity I went on with Urban Adventures. Wandering around the market buying the ingredients, by ourselves, without being able to speak a word of Polish, was an adventure in itself, and our guide and tutor Sabina Krauze was truly amazing. A real opportunity to experience true Polish hospitality and culture first hand.sabina.krauze@gmail.com