Help me enjoy my Zubrowka!

December 23, 2015 6:06 AM

I was gifted a bottle of Zubrowka (also known as Bison Grass vodka) by a coworker today. I'm not a big straight-vodka person, so what kind of drink can I make with this? A quick Google shows apple juice is the traditional mixer. Do the cocktail experts of Mefi have any other suggestions?
posted by Fig to Food & Drink (14 answers total)

I always enjoyed it with Coke.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 6:49 AM on December 23, 2015

Please try at least a little sip of it straight before you add anything to it (other than ice). Zubrowka has a lot more flavour than other vodkas, and that's its main attraction. It's herby, grassy and lacks the almost medicinal starkness that many vodkas have.
posted by Too-Ticky at 7:05 AM on December 23, 2015 [2 favorites]

Polish person here - apple juice is indeed the standard mixer but it is nice on its own as well, quite herby.
posted by coffee_monster at 7:09 AM on December 23, 2015 [1 favorite]

Zubrowka is one of my staples at home, and as much of it as I have drunk, both in the US and in Poland, I've never mixed it with anything besides apple juice.

In Poland it's kind of a women's drink - small cups of it with apple juice (not cider).

I don't see any reason to drink it in any matter other than very cold and straight or with apple juice, but if you insist on using it to make cocktails I'd try the thyme one from Food and Wine.
posted by littlewater at 7:13 AM on December 23, 2015 [1 favorite]

I love Zubrowka and everyone is right that it is pretty good straight if it's nice and cold. Apple juice can make it pretty sickly sweet for me, but a splash of apple juice plus sparking water of choice (something citrusy like lime or lemon) is a nice balance that cuts the syrupy-ness of the apple juice.
posted by misskaz at 7:23 AM on December 23, 2015

It will go very quickly if you get a few bottles of apple soda, like sidral mundet. Also, maybe a cinnamon stick swizzler if you're feeling really fancy.
posted by Cold Lurkey at 7:26 AM on December 23, 2015 [1 favorite]

Apple juice is traditional for a reason but it would also be good in a Bloody Mary or maybe a Gibson?
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 8:03 AM on December 23, 2015

Try it straight first. It has a really nice flavor on its own. (Most vodkas are just ethanol delivery mechanisms. This is not.)
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 8:13 AM on December 23, 2015 [1 favorite]

I also like it with black currant juice.
posted by capsizing at 8:17 AM on December 23, 2015 [3 favorites]

I have to third (or fourth, or whatever) drinking it with apple juice.
I loved it straight, but apple juice pairs amazingly well with the sweet grass flavors.
posted by Seamus at 8:33 AM on December 23, 2015

A bar in my neighbourhood does a Krakow Mule - Zubrowka, apple juice, and strong ginger ale. Delicious.
posted by northernish at 8:43 AM on December 23, 2015 [3 favorites]

I've had an excellent mojito made with Zubrowka:

1 measure Zubrowka
1 measure Havana Club
8-10 mint leaves
Several lime wedges
Demerara sugar
Apple juice
Crushed ice

Basically make like a normal mojito - muddle the mint, lime and sugar in the glass. Half-fill with ice, add the spirits and apple juice and shake well. Fill the rest of the glass with ice, garnish with mint. Delicious.
posted by parm at 8:54 AM on December 23, 2015

Northernish's mules were called Apple Pies when I drank them, and they were tasty. Definitely try it neat, straight out of the freezer, though.
posted by Kreiger at 11:28 AM on December 23, 2015

Nthing the recommendation to try it straight.
posted by kenko at 1:41 PM on December 23, 2015