Best Polish Vodka For 2023 – Top Brands, Comparison Charts And Facts

Did you know that Poles consume the most vodka per capita in the world, right after the Russians? It’s not only a national drink but also a way to meet new people, celebrate successes, and welcome the guests. Polish vodka is loved by everyone including celebrities such as Hugh Laurie or Bruce Willis. This post is all about this liquor- which one is the best vodka in Poland, how to drink it to avoid hungover, and more.

You will also find here some helpful phrases that you may use during your trip to Poland… or when you will be drinking vodka with Poles anywhere else in the world!

How To Drink Vodka In Poland?

If you know any Pole, you have probably noticed that they can drink A LOT and feel good the following day. So what’s the secret? There are some general rules that you need to follow to feel good:

1. Don’t Ever Drink When You Are Hungry

No matter how good Polish vodka you choose to drink, don’t try it on an empty stomach. Always eat something fat and filling before the party. It’s actually scientifically proven that you will not get drunk that fast if you do so.

2. Hydrate While Drinking

The rule is simple- if you want to avoid hangover while drinking Polish vodka, you should have one glass of water after each shot of liquor. That way you will stay hydrated, and feel good the following day.

Speaking of chasers – don’t choose sweet beverages to drink with vodka. The absolute best is always water. 

3. Don’t Mix The Alcohol.

If you started the party with vodka, end it up with vodka. Don’t try to mix it up with beer, wine, or any other liquor, as it may result in puking and hangover.

Best Polish Vodka

 To start with, you need to know that Poles can make vodka out of everything, including candies and milk. However, the most popular ones are made of grain, potato, or corn. Every traditional Polish vodka has 40% ABV (alcohol by volume). The flavored ones are a little bit ‘lighter’ with ABV ranging between 30% to 40%.

The colder vodka is, the better. You can put it in the freezer a day before the party to make sure it will be cool enough. Don’t worry, it won’t freeze because of the alcohol volume.

The average price per bottle of vodka in Poland is 20 PLN ($5).

This article is very detailed, however, if you don’t have time to go through everything, just take a look at the table below. I’ve included here all the Polish vodkas that are worth mentioning. You can see what they are made of, what flavors do they have, and what’s their price.

Name	Photo	Type (distilled from)	Price per bottle	Flavors available
Krupnik		Grain vodka	19PLN ($4.75)	grapefruit, cherry lemon, plum, gean, blueberry, red currant, blackberries, quince, honey, salty caramel, advokat, hazelnut, raspberry
Biała Dama (White Lady)		Grain vodka	23PLN ($5.70)	None- only plain vodka available
Żubrówka (Bison Grass Vodka)		Grain vodka (rye)	19PLN ($4.75) - 30PLN ($7.70) depending on the flavor	bison grass, mint, juniper, oak, pine, maple
Sobieski		Grain vodka	27PLN ($7)	lemon, raspberry, orange, strawberry, vanilla, caramel, other flavors may be available in the specific countries
Soplica		Grain vodka	22PLN ($5.50)	walnut, hazelnut, lemon, blueberry, strawberry, black currant, raspberry, plum, quince, cherry, seasonal
Absolwent		Grain vodka	21PLN ($5.35)	lemon, grapefruit, wild strawberry, mandarin, cherry, lime, cranberry, blackberry, plum
Dębowa Polska (Polish Oak Vodka)		Grain vodka	46PLN ($12)	one flavor, however Dębowa Polska is sold in different decorative bottles
Żołądkowa Gorzka		Grain vodka		fig, black cherry, mint, plain
Wyborowa		Grain vodka	26PLN ($6.70)	watermelon, apple, lime, maracuja, mango, pomegranate, pear
Pan Tadeusz (Mr.Ted)		Grain vodka (wheat and rye)	26PLN ($6.70)	plain, caramelized, chokeberry
Lubelska		Grain vodka	24PLN ($6.20)	mint, blackcurrant, lemon, cherry, cranberry, honey, three grains, grapefruit, pineapple, orange, more
Luksusowa		Potato vodka	30PLN ($7.50)	plain, cinnamon, cherry, cranberry, gorzka (bitter)
Chopin		Potato vodka	99PLN ($25.50)	plain; rye and wheat Chopin vodka are available as well
J.A. Baczewski		Potato vodka	50PLN ($12.80)	gin, apricot, blackberry, whiskey, orange, wormwood, cherry, ovovit (egg flavor), hazelnut
Belvedere		Potato vodka	125PLN ($32)	plain, grapefruit, citrus, bloody mary, black raspberry, orange

All the information about Polish vodkas mentioned in the table is explained and extended further in this article, so keep on reading!

Polish Grain Vodka

It’s the traditional Polish vodka, with a specific sharp taste. In the beginning, all of the vodkas were made from different kinds of grains. Then, when this liquor became popular, people started to produce it from other food products, such as potatoes and corn.

Right now, the most popular grains used to produce traditional Polish vodka are:

• wheat
• rye
• barley

Here is the ultimate list of Polish vodkas made of grain:

Krupnik

Available all over the country, in my opinion, it’s the best vodka in Poland. Krupnik is cheap and really good. The most popular, of course, is the plain white one. However, there are many flavors available as well, including:

• grapefruit
• cherry
• lemon
• plum (so good!)
• gean
• blueberry
• red currant
• blackberries
• quince
• honey
• salty caramel (so good!)
• advokat
• hazelnut
• raspberry

Biała Dama

As a local patriot, it’s my favorite Polish vodka, as it’s produced in my hometown. It was named after the White Lady, a ghost that is supposed to haunt the castle in Lancut.

My mom has been working in Polmos vodka factory for many years and one thing I can tell for sure- the quality of Biala Dama is really high. They use their own water and they care about the distillery process.

There are no flavors of Biala Dama vodka available for now. However, a few years ago, there was a limited edition of Biala Dama available with edible gold.

Sobieski

Named after the Polish king, Jan III Sobieski, this liquor is the most expensive from this list of Polish grain vodkas so far (still it’s relatively cheap, about $7 per bottle). When it comes to taste or quality, it’s pretty similar to others.

Sobieski Polish vodka is high-end yet affordable.

The most popular is plain Sobieski vodka, however, there are different flavors available including:

• lemon
• raspberry
• orange
• strawberry
• vanilla
• caramel
• others (depending on the country)

Soplica

It’s one of the oldest vodkas in Poland. Even though it can be purchased in the plain, white version, Soplica is the most popular Polish flavored vodka. 

Here are some of the flavors available:

• walnut
• hazelnut
• lemon
• blueberry
• strawberry
• black currant
• raspberry
• plum
• quince
• cherry
• seasonal, such as lemon-mint in the summer or lemon-honey in the winter

Żołądkowa Gorzka

Even though you can buy the standard white version called Żołądkowa Gorzka De Luxe, the traditional one was made to help with digestive problems.

It’s sweet with a herbal taste.

Żółądkowa Gorzka has new flavors as well:

• fig
• black cherry
• mint

Absolwent

It’s the most popular Polish vodka made of grain. You can buy a standard or a flavored one. Right now there are the following flavors of Absolwent Polish vodka available:

• lemon
• grapefruit
• wild strawberry
• mandarin
• cherry
• lime
• cranberry
• blackberry
• plum

Zubrowka
(Bison Vodka / Bison Grass Vodka)

It’s probably the most famous vodka from Poland in the world. Żubrówka is made of rye, it’s cheap and tasty. The most popular types of Żubrówka are either a traditional white one or the upgraded version with a bison grass blade.

If you go for the second option, be sure to try it with apple juice and ice. It’s one of the best Polish drinks!

What’s fascinating about Żubrówka is that this Polish vodka comes in different flavors. In contrary to other brands, these are not fruit variations. Every flavor of Żubrówka is inspired by the forest and nature. Currently, you can buy the following types of Żubrówka:

• plain
• bison grass
• oak
• mint
• juniper
• pine
• maple

Dębowa Polska (Polish Oak Vodka)

It’s a high-end Polish vodka that has a specific oak-herbal taste. It usually comes with a stylish bottle or even a small wooden barrel.

Polish oak vodka is perfect for the gift. You can try a shot or two, however, I wouldn’t recommend drinking more – it’s simply too heavy.

Wyborowa

Made of rye, it’s one of the most famous Polish vodkas abroad.

Wyborowa is a classic that will never disappoint. There are many unique flavors available including:

• watermelon
• apple
• lime
• maracuja
• mango
• pomegranate
• pear

Easy to notice, Wyborowa is more focused on the foreign market, as most of these fruits are not typical to Poland.

Pan Tadeusz

One of the newest vodka made in Poland. It’s popular among middle-aged people. The taste of Pan Tadeusz vodka is pretty unique as it is made of wheat and rye.

There are many jokes in Poland associated with this wódka, as its name literally means “Mr. Ted”. When Poles say that they were spending time with Pan Tadeusz, it probably means they were getting drunk.

There are 3 types of Pan Tadeusz vodka available, including:

• plain
• “przypalanka” (caramelized)
• chokeberry flavor

Lubelska

The last one on our grain Polish vodka brands list is Lubelska. It’s a cheap vodka that is mostly famous because of the variety of tastes it offers. Here are some of them:

• mint
• blackcurrant
• lemon (it’s actually the most famous Polish lemon vodka)
• cherry
• cranberry
• honey
• three grains
• grapefruit
• pineapple
• orange
• and more

Polish Potato Vodka

Potato vodka brands in Poland are less popular than the grain ones, which make them a bit more expensive. The selection is smaller, however, Polish potato vodka market is growing every year, so the new brands may appear soon.

When it comes to taste, they are a bit sweeter and more delicate than the wheat ones.

Here is the ultimate list of Polish vodkas made of potatoes:

Luksusowa

One of the oldest and most famous of all Polish potato vodka brands. It’s affordable for everyone, the bottle cost about 30 PLN ($7.50)

So far, there are five main flavors of Luksusowa:

• the basic, white one
• cinnamon
• cherry
• cranberry
• gorzka (the bitter one with a fruity-herbal taste)

Chopin

Named after the most famous Polish musician, Fryderyk Szopen, this Polish potato vodka is quite popular abroad. Experts say that it has a specific apple flavor which makes it easy to drink.

Chopin is one of the most expensive Polish vodkas. It’s great to bring from Poland as a souvenir.

Original Chopin vodka is made of potato spirit, however, there are also rye and wheat versions available. All of them are plain, there are no flavors available for Chopin.

J.A. Baczewski

My favorite Polish potato vodka. I first tried it in Lviv, Ukraine in Baczewski restaurant and I fell in love instantly. The history of this vodka is quite turbulent and it dates back to the 18th century. During that time Lviv still belonged to Poland. Later, because of the wars and border changes, vodka was not available in the country. Thankfully, it is today.

Here are the flavors available:

• apricot
• gin
• whiskey
• orange
• blackberry
• wormwood
• cherry 
• ovovit (egg flavor)
• hazelnut

Honestly, if you want to try Polish flavored vodka, that is the best one.

Belvedere

It’s arguably the best Polish vodka in the world. Surprisingly, it’s way more popular abroad than in the country. The quality of Belvedere vodka Poland really is outstanding. Why?

First of all, it was made of different kinds of ingredients, including potatoes and grains. Secondly, it was distilled four times which is more than the others (usually it’s 2-3 times).

The rule is simple: the more distillation processes, the purer is the vodka. Of course, the price of Belvedere vodka Poland is much higher than in others but at least you know what you pay for.

The Dark Side Of Polish Vodka

You need to know that Polish vodka is not only the bed of roses. It has been causing problems for the Poles throughout the ages. The traditional model of the family where the father is coming back from work, getting drunk, and then goes to sleep or causes fights is still very popular in the country. 

Being a native Pole, I personally know many families that have been destroyed by alcohol. As with any strong substance, you need to use it wisely.

The truth is, Polish people, drink A LOT. A party without vodka is not really a party. Did you know how many bottles of vodka have we bought for our wedding? 150 bottles because that’s how many guests were invited. That’s how you count it in Poland- one bottle per guest. Some of them drank more, some of them less but on average, that’s how much you will need. Men usually drink more than women.

My Personal Vodka Story

My great grandfather was a drunk. He was addicted and abusive, my grandpa told me many stories about his difficult childhood. I am not going to tell you how many times did he feel ashamed or scared. I will tell you something funny instead.

Thanks to Polish vodka, I am writing this text. My great grandfather would probably have died in the Warsaw Uprising if he hasn’t got drunk and fall asleep. He and his friends were too late to help in fighting, so he just came back home.

Best Vodka Tours in Poland

If you are already in Poland, be sure to join one of the vodka tours to try different flavors and get to know more about this famous alcohol! Check out the recommended tours below:

Useful Polish Vodka Phrases

When you are traveling to Poland, it’s good to know some basic phrases associated with vodka and drinking culture. Here are the most helpful ones:

So Which One Is The Best Vodka In Poland?

If you are looking for cheap Polish vodka brands, choose Krupnik.

Those who care about quality should buy Belvedere.

If you want to try different flavors, such as Polish cherry vodka or Polish lemon vodka, go for Soplica or J.A.Baczewski if you want higher quality.

Have a question? Join our Poland Travel Support Facebook group, we will be happy to help you!

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Let us know what you think! Which one of the list is the best vodka in Poland?