Product details
Siwucha is a Polish vodka at 40% ABV in a 50cl bottle, based on grain rectified spirit and a distillate, with blackthorn fruit extract added for aroma. The word siwucha was historically used for raw, not fully rectified vodka, named after its greyish (siwy) tinge. This bottling nods to that tradition with packaging based on a 1940s design and a recipe rooted in Polish distilling customs, while the blackthorn, or sloe, adds a subtle fruity depth. It is a traditional Polish vodka with blackthorn for drinkers who want more character than a neutral vodka offers.
Siwucha tasting notes
- Nose: Fresh cereal, bread crust and a faint dark-fruit note from the blackthorn.
- Palate: Rounder and more characterful than a neutral vodka, with grain sweetness and a light, tart sloe touch.
- Finish: Dry, slightly earthy and clean.
How to drink Siwucha
Serve it ice-cold at 2–4°C in small glasses, with traditional zakąski: pickled cucumbers, herring, steak tartare and rye bread with smalec, seasoned lard. That spread is the classic table for a Polish name-day party or a long Saturday dinner with friends. Sip it slowly between bites rather than on its own.
Siwucha cocktails
- Siwucha Sour: shake 50 ml Siwucha, 25 ml lemon juice and 15 ml blackcurrant syrup with ice, then strain into a chilled coupe.
- Blackthorn Highball: 40 ml Siwucha over ice in a tall glass, topped with 120 ml tonic water, a slice of lemon and two blackberries.
How it compares
Siwucha has more grain character than the oak-accented Dębowa Polska Oak, and it shares a rustic spirit with the Na Przełęczy moonshine-style bottlings while being drier and less sweet than both. Unlike the 95% rectified spirits in this range, it is a finished vodka made for drinking, not an ingredient.
Good to know
The vintage-style 50cl bottle stands out on a shelf and makes a good present for anyone interested in Polish drinking history. Wodka Company sends Siwucha Vodka 50cl to UK addresses from its London shop, and it is best kept in the freezer so it is ready to pour.
Po polsku
Dawniej słowem siwucha określano surową, nie w pełni oczyszczoną wódkę o siwawym odcieniu. Dzisiejsza Siwucha to polska wódka o mocy 40% w butelce 0,5 l, ze zbożowego spirytusu rektyfikowanego, destylatu i wody, wzbogacona ekstraktem z owoców tarniny. Opakowanie nawiązuje do projektu z lat 40. W smaku jest pełniejsza od neutralnej wódki, ze zbożową słodyczą i lekko cierpką nutą tarniny. Najlepiej podawać ją lodowato zimną, do śledzia, tatara i chleba ze smalcem.
Frequently asked questions
Is Siwucha a flavoured vodka?
No. Siwucha is a grain vodka, and its blackthorn extract is there to round out the aroma rather than to give a fruit flavour. It tastes of cereal and bread crust, not of sloes.
Why does the Siwucha bottle look old-fashioned?
Siwucha Vodka is packaged in a bottle based on a 1940s design, a deliberate nod to traditional Polish distilling. The retro look matches the vodka's name, an old term for raw, characterful vodka.
What is the difference between Siwucha and Na Przełęczy bimber?
Siwucha is a dry, unsweetened grain vodka with rustic character, while Na Przełęczy Bimber Lis Gruszkowy is a sweeter, pear-flavoured vodka made in the style of Polish moonshine. Choose Siwucha for classic zakąski and the bimber for a fruity sip.
