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Żubrówka

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Żubrówka
A 700-millilitre (25 imp fl oz; 24 US fl oz) bottle of Żubrówka vodka
TypeFlavored vodka
ManufacturerPolmos Białystok (Poland)
Country of origin Poland
Proof (US)80
Websitewww.zubrowka.com Edit this on Wikidata

Żubrówka Bison Grass Vodka (Polish pronunciation: [ʐuˈbrufka] ⓘ) is a flavored Polish vodka which contains a blade of bison grass (Hierochloe odorata) in every bottle. The Żubrówka brand name is also used on bottles of conventional vodka, labeled as Żubrówka Biała. The grass is sourced from the Białowieża Forest, hand-picked and dried under natural conditions.

The origins of Żubrówka production in Poland date back to the 16th century.

Żubrówka ranks as the third or fourth best-selling vodka brand in the world (after Smirnoff, Absolut, and occasionally Khortytsia).[1] Żubrówka is available in more than 80 markets worldwide.

Żubrówka is manufactured at the Polmos Białystok distillery. While it is claimed that the recipe dates back as far as the 14th century, commercial production of Bison Grass Vodka first began at the distillery in 1928. The brand is owned by Central European Distribution Corporation International, which was acquired by Roust International in 2013.[2] Since 2022, it has been owned by the Maspex Group.[3][4]

Etymology and brand

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In Polish, the word turówka is officially used for bison grass, while the name żubrówka has been used in folk terminology and colloquially.[5] The name comes from the term zubr (Polish: żubr, pronounced [ʐubr]), the word for the European bison in many Slavic languages and Baltic languages.

The brands Zubrovka and Żubrówka are registered by Sojuzplodoimport in Russia and Roust International in Poland.[6][1]

Types

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Żubrówka Biała
Żubrówka Fresh Żu

In Poland, the Żubrówka brand is also used to label other vodkas that are not żubrówka. Thirteen different varieties have appeared on the market under this brand:

  • Żubrówka Bison Grass – Classic Żubrówka, produced according to traditional methods from oak barrel maturing bison grass macerate. Its characteristic feature is the blade placed in the bottle.
  • Żubrówka Biała – pure, distilled six times and filtered using platinum, the variety is characterised by its mild taste.
  • Żubrówka Czarna – vodka with a mild flavour that is due to charcoal and oak filtration and selected wheat.
  • Linia Fresh Żu – Light, refreshing. A combination of juicy fruit and bison grass. Available in 4 flavours: Sour Apple, Refreshing Mint, Sour Lemon, Invigorating Sea Buckthorn.

United States variant

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Before 2010 Żubrówka was illegal in the United States because the grass it is made from contains coumarin which the FDA classifies as a "substances generally prohibited from direct addition or use as human food".[6][7] Since 2011 the manufacturers have made a version of Żubrówka from rye grain which aims to have a flavor similar to the original.[6][8]

Methods of consumption

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Żubrówka is sometimes mixed with apple juice,[9]. This drink is called Apple ŻU and was on Independent magazine's list of the Top 50 drinks in the world (other names for this drink are Tatanka, Bison Fire, Apple Pie itd.). Known in the UK as a Frisky Bison,[10] and in the US as a Polish Kiss. It is sometimes served over vanilla ice cream,[11] and another common mixer is ginger ale.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Pawlak-Żalikowska, Maryla (14 May 2019). "Polmos Białystok zatrudnia na etaty. I wzmacnia markę Żubrówka (wideo, zdjęcia)". Kurier Poranny (in Polish). Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  2. ^ "Żubrówka - CEDC". cedc.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-23. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  3. ^ "Polish vodka brands have returned from Russian hands". Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Polská skupina Maspex kupuje od ruské skupiny slavnou značku Żubrówka za téměř miliardu dolarů" (in Czech). Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  5. ^ Janka Werpachowska (15 December 2010). "Żubrówka - kultowa wódka z trawką. Powstawanie, historia, drinki". Kurier Poranny. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  6. ^ a b c Michaels, Daniel (2011-01-18). "Name Your Poison: How a Banned Polish Vodka Buffaloed Its Way Into the U.S." Wall Street Journal.
  7. ^ "CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21". FDA. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  8. ^ Fabricant, Florence (December 2010). ""Polish Vodka Arrives With a Wisp of Grass"". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  9. ^ Gim, Sarah (2006-07-18). "Zubrowka is bison grass vodka". Archived from the original on 2006-07-20. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
  10. ^ "Frisky Bison Cocktail". www.cocktail.uk.com.
  11. ^ a b "Zubrowka Ginger Ale and ice cream". 2018-05-25. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
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