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Andrew has posted before about cocktails made with Bison Grass Vodka - a potato vodka from Poland that is infused with an herb known as bison grass. Bison grass vodka is also called "zubrowka."
Since the 13th century, the vokka has been heralded for its supposed aphrodisiac and virility-inducing qualities. Until the 1970s, bison grass vodka was banned from the US because of its reputation as a medicinal drink. Hey, I didn't say it, but I know you're thinking it - hallucinatory? mind-altering?
I tried zubrowka for the first time at a Polish restaurant in Santa Monica, Warszawa. The server poured the clear, though slightly ivory-tinted lquid into a shot glass and said I should try it straight to really taste the difference from regular vodka. It had a very distinctive taste - something like a slightly sweet vanilla mixed with herb - though the flavor wasn't overpowering. It was pretty tasty, and certainly much nicer to drink straight vodka that had a little bit of flavor to it than say, straight Belvedere.
More recently, I tried zubrowka in a cocktail at a vodka lounge. The bartender mixed the bison grass vodka with apple juice, which seems to be a fairly common mixer for the stuff. I didn't like it at all - it tasted like alcoholic herbal apple juice. I'd rather have bison grass vodka straight.
Both occcasions, I did not notice either the aphrodisiac or virility properties of the vodka. Oh well.
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7-18-2006 @5:00PM John Graham said... I remember reading about how buffalo grass vodka was once banned in the US because it had an anti-coagulant property. The story went that hardcore drinkers were bleeding out from minor injuries. Supposedly, that's distilled out these days. The taste reminds me a bit of butterscotch. I agree that it's best served unadulterated.
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7-18-2006 @5:23PM cybele said... I used to work in an herb shop when I was a teen and we had a large jar of "buffalo grass" that I thought was the best stuff on earth. The light vanilla scent was wonderful for infusing even table sugar ... but I guess vodka is a good idea too!
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7-18-2006 @6:07PM reb said... I had some called "grassovka" at a vodka tasting party (!) and thought it was very smooth, and really picked up the vanilla flavor. I've been looking for it here in SF, but I guess I'll have to order it online...
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7-18-2006 @7:03PM Carl said... I absolutely love Zubrowka when I was in Poland and it is commonly mixed with apple juice (sometimes even warmed a little).
You have to be careful with respect to your mixing quantities juice to zubrowka. Obviously too much apple juice and you'd just as well use your common variety of 'paint stripper' vodka.
Experiment and repeat often :)
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7-19-2006 @5:35AM fewba said... the apple juice mix is awesome
but it only works with zubrowka, making it with any other vodka is just yuck
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7-19-2006 @6:31PM btdown said... I concur about Zubrowka being an excellent vodka. When I lived in Poland (props to my Lodz possee!) we drank it a lot. The post above is dead on about the apple juice. If you mix it right, it tastes exactly like one of those green jolly rancher candies.
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7-19-2006 @6:33PM btdown said... Hey I forgot..Anywhere you can buy this in the states or could reasonably (safetly) order from abroad?
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9-11-2006 @1:14PM Erja H. said... Zubrowka is the best thing in liquid form You can possibly imagine! Mixed with apple juice is the traditional way, but please be very careful with the proportions because it can easily alienate You from its fabulous affects later on as well if mixed in a wrong way. Instead of that I would highly recommend trying it also in a bit more modern way: with CocaCola or Pepsi. It takes You to Heaven with each and every gulp You take. It is pure genuine pleasure. Enjoy!
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