Żubrówka
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| Type | Flavored Vodka |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Polmos Białystok |
| Country of origin | Białystok, Poland |
| Introduced | 16th century |
| Proof | 80 |
| Variants | U.S.-export versions without coumarin |
| Related products | List of vodkas |
Żubrówka [ʐuˈbrufka] (
listen), also known in English as Bison Grass Vodka, is a dry, herb-flavored vodka that is distilled from rye and bottled at 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof). Its flavor is unique and is described as having woodruff, vanilla, coconut, and almond notes.
The rye distillate is flavored with a tincture of buffalo grass (Hierochloe odorata), which also gives the spirit its yellowish color. This grass grows in the Białowieża Forest and elsewhere. A blade of buffalo grass is traditionally placed in each bottle of Żubrówka, though this is largely decorative.
The name Żubrówka comes from żubr, the Polish and Belarusian (as well as Ukrainian and Russian) word for the wisent (European bison), which is particularly fond of eating bison grass.
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History [edit]
Żubrówka has been manufactured in the region of the contemporary Polish-Belarusian (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth) border since the 16th century (Russian Empire), and by 18th century was one of the favorite raw drinks of the nobility (szlachta) and the peasantry alike.
In 1926 the Polmos company in Brest-Litousk (now Belalco company, Brest, Belarus) invented a method to mass produce Żubrówka, which was then copied by numerous companies worldwide, under a variety of brand names. The original distillery company in Brest (Belaco) still produces Brestskaya Zubrowka (Зуброўка), as do Lithuania (Stumbrinė), United States (Bison Vodka), Ukraine (Зубрiвка), Germany (Grasovka), Russia (Зубровка), the Czech Republic (Zubrovka), and many other countries.
Currently the brands "Zubrovka" and "Żubrówka", are registered by Sojuzplodoimport/Russia and the Polmos Białystok company in Białystok, Poland.
Culture [edit]
Żubrówka figures prominently in the movie Suzhou River and is mentioned also in anime series Najica Blitz Tactics.
Żubrówka is featured in W. Somerset Maugham's novel The Razor's Edge.
The bison emblem (Mylvivä härkä, "roaring bull") of Lapland Air Command, Finnish Air Force, originated from the label of Polmos Żubrówka. It was introduced in 1941 as the emblem of PLeLv 46, on its Dornier 17 bombers.
Żubrówka is mentioned by Chris Kyle in his book 'American Sniper' on page 166.[1]
On Food Network's Mother's Day episode of Chopped, Buffalo Grass Vodka was a required dessert ingredient.
Żubrówka in North America [edit]
Żubrówka (bison grass) is prohibited as a food additive by the Food and Drug Administration because it contains coumarin, which showed hepatotoxic effects in rats. Importation of Żubrówka was banned in 1978 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Canada has no similar regulations on coumarin, so the alcoholic drink is legal there.
When produced according to traditional methods (between one and two kilograms of grass per thousand litres of alcohol), Żubrówka contains approximately 12 milligrams of coumarin per litre. In 1999, distilleries that were not connected with the Polish brand introduced lower quality reformulated versions of the product,[2] sometimes using artificial flavors and colors, with the emblematic blade of grass in every bottle but "neutralised" so as to be coumarin-free. In 2011 the American licensee of the Polish company worked with Rémy Cointreau to introduce a new American formulation, which they called "Zu".[2]
Serving suggestions [edit]
Żubrówka is usually served chilled and mixed with apple juice[3] (a drink known in Polish as tatanka or szarlotka; known in the UK as a Frisky Bison;[4] and in the US as a Polish Kiss). It is sometimes served over vanilla ice cream. A Black Bison is Żubrówka mixed with black currant juice. Another common mixer is ginger ale. Żubrówka also goes well with mango juice.
References [edit]
- ^ Kyle, Chris. American Sniper. ISBN 978006208250 Check
|isbn=value (help). - ^ a b Michaels, Daniel (2011-01-18). "Name Your Poison: How a Banned Polish Vodka Buffaloed Its Way Into the U.S.". Wall Street Journal.
- ^ Gim, Sarah (2006-07-18). "Zubrowka is bison grass vodka". Retrieved 2007-09-29.
- ^ JD Wetherspoon's Cocktail and Long Drink list
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Żubrówka |
- Polmos Białystok official site
- Zubrowka.com — The official site for the Authentic Bison Grass Vodka
- Belalco — The official site of the Brest Distillery Company
- Zubrowka: Polish Vodka and Cultural Geographic Indicators
