Sobieski Herb de Pologne Premium Vodka 100% Pure Rye Polish Vodka 40%

A single blade lies across the inside of the bottle. It is not decoration added afterwards — it is the whole reason the liquid shifts colour in the light and smells of something between new-mown hay and baked apple.

Expert description

Sobieski Herb de Pologne is a Polish Vodka made from pure Dankowskie rye, flavoured with bison grass and herbs and bottled at 40%.

The name translates literally as herb of Poland. The base is the same rye the house uses across its range: Dankowskie, grown in Poland and run once through the column at Starogard Gdański. On top of that sits an infusion of bison grass together with other natural herbs, and every bottle gets a blade of its own.

Bison grass is Hierochloe odorata in Latin and grows on damp meadows and forest clearings in eastern Poland. The scent comes from coumarin, the same compound that makes new-mown hay and woodruff smell the way they do. That is why the vodka does not taste floral but green, dry and lightly baked.

The herbs carry it further than a plain grass vodka. Creamy vanilla sits under the grassy note, with rosemary, lavender and a clear knock of black pepper above it. The rye holds the whole thing together from below, so the bottle turns neither perfumed nor sweet.

Tasting notes

Nose

New-mown hay and woodruff, with a breath of baked apple and dried flowers behind.

Palate

Soft and grassy with creamy vanilla through the middle. Rosemary and lavender appear at the edges before black pepper cuts across.

Finish

Dry and long. The grass lingers, and at the end the rye is left standing as flour and pepper.

Specifications

Name: Sobieski Herb de Pologne
Distillery: Destylarnia Sobieski
Region/Country: Starogard Gdański, Poland
Type: Polish Vodka
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Single distilled in the tallest column in Poland and flavoured with bison grass
Serving suggestion: With cold clear apple juice and a squeeze of lime, or ice cold and neat in a small glass with smoked cheese.

Flavour profile

Grassy · Herbal · Vanilla soft · Peppery

Did you know?

Bison grass takes its name from the European bison that graze on it in the Polish forests. The plant is also called sweetgrass and has been used for incense and basket weaving in several cultures, long before anyone thought of putting it in a bottle.

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Frequently asked questions about Sobieski Herb de Pologne

What is bison grass?

A wild grass with the Latin name Hierochloe odorata that grows on damp meadows and forest clearings in eastern Poland. It is strongly scented thanks to coumarin and is used dried rather than fresh. A single blade sits in the bottle as both signature and flavouring.

How does it taste next to a clear vodka?

Markedly different. Where a clear rye vodka runs dry and peppery all the way through, here a layer of hay, vanilla and dried herbs lies over the grain. It still closes dry, but the middle is softer and far more aromatic.

What do you drink it with?

The classic is cold clear apple juice at roughly one part to two or three, ideally with a squeeze of lime. The combination is so common in Poland that it has its own name. Neat and ice cold it also works well with smoked cheese, herring or rich sausage.

Is it sweet?

No, though it reads that way on the nose. The coumarin gives an aroma of hay and vanilla that the brain interprets as sweetness, while the palate is in fact dry. There is no noticeable sugar, and the rye pulls the finish in a dry direction.

Is the blade in the bottle good for anything?

It stays put and keeps giving off flavour for as long as there is vodka in the bottle. Some people move it to a new container or use it as a garnish in a glass, but there is no need. As the bottle empties, the flavour grows slightly more concentrated.

How does it differ from the house clear rye vodka?

Only in the flavouring. The base is the same Dankowskie rye distilled once, but here bison grass and natural herbs are added after distillation. If you want the rye on its own, pick the clear one. See other options among our Vodka brands.

Why is the liquid slightly green?

The colour comes from the grass infusion and the blade in the bottle. It is faint and shows most clearly against white light or a pale background. Left in bright light for a long time the colour can fade a little, so store it in the dark.

Can it be used in cocktails beyond apple juice?

Yes. It works in a mule with ginger beer, in a spritz with tonic and cucumber, and in a Gimlet variation where the grass and the lime play off each other. Avoid coffee and chocolate, where the herbal notes clash.