Mellow Liquor: Zubrowka

Brewed in various forms in Poland since the 16th century, Zubrowka has a distinctively butterscotch-like taste due to its flavoring by a tincture of an aromatic herb called Hierochloe odorata, somewhat more commonly known as bison grass—a favorite repast of the wisent herds that populate the primeval forest of Białowieża, Poland. Recent years have seen the vodka brand go global, winning a series of medals at Brussels’s Monde Selection food and drink awards in 2006 and 2007. At this year’s Port Eliot Festival in Cornwall, England—a suitably literary venue for the liquor that features in Somerset Maugham’s 1944 novel The Razor’s Edge—Zubrowka’s “Frisky Bison” bar was constantly mobbed, with festival-goers clamoring for cocktails created especially for the event. For those keen on recreating the experience, Zubrowka shares some recipes.

Perry's Passionate Punch

1 1/3 oz Zubrowka vodka
2/3 oz cloudy apple juice
1/3 oz passion fruit syrup
1/6 oz peach liquor
Champagne

Shake and strain first four ingredients and top up with champagne. Serve in a martini or coupe glass.

Eliot's Ginger Zinger

1 - 2 oz Zubrowka vodka
6 1/2 oz ginger ale
3 dashes Angostura bitters

Build in the glass over cubed ice, and garnish with a lemon twist or wedge. Serve in a Collins or highball glass.