Żubrówka, one of Poland’s best-known vodka brands, has been relaunched in the United States with a new recipe, bottle and name. Importer Rémy Cointreau USA has created a US-government-approved recipe and renamed the bison grass-flavored vodka “Żu Vodka” to ease pronunciation.
“Due to US regulations, the traditional recipe of Żubrówka that has been used for more than six centuries had to be slightly modified,” said Katarzyna Płońska from Central European Distribution Corporation (CEDC), producer of Żubrówka.
The US government banned imports of Żubrówka in 1978 because it contained coumarin, a substance which, in large amounts, acts as a blood thinner and damages the kidneys and liver.
Coumarin is a natural substance found in certain plants and vegetables and in the bison grass used in the vodka’s manufacturing process. An iconic single blade of this grass is also found in every bottle for sale on Polish shelves.
“Żu is created by the same distillery, Polmos Białystok, in Poland, which makes the official Żubrówka Vodka. They are the only distillery that has permission to create this bison grass vodka and officially call it Żubrówka [within Europe],” said Christina Clum of Rémy Cointreau USA.
As a result, the new Żu Vodka uses the same rye from northeastern Poland and water from Białystok as the original vodka. It still contains the single blade of bison grass from the Białowieża Forest, where bison live, but the offending coumarin has been eliminated.
Żubrówka first entered the US market in 1999 under the name Żubrówka Bison Brand Vodka via Adamba Imports. Flavoring agents to create an authentic taste and a coumarin-free “neutralized” blade of bison grass were added.
Żu Vodka debuted last month in six states and a 750ml bottle retails for $25.