Secret of polish ‘Apple Pie’ revealed!

Our polish friends and fans have brought something special to the Kulturtag this year, called ‘Apple Pie’ (polish ‘jabłecznik‘ or ‘szarlotka‘):

However, it is not something eatable (as one could guess), but a cocktail.

And it would not be a real polish cocktail, if one of the important ingredients wouldn’t be vodka.

So here’s the original recipe for all those, who already experienced or still want to experience the intriguing gustatory similarity with real apple pie:

-1 volume unit Grasovka Vodka (Żubrówka)

-1 volume unit unfiltered apple juice

Hierochloe Odorata

For weaker people, one can use less vodka, but it’s easy to drink as it is.

If you like to make your own Żubrówka, you need of course the authentic Bison Grass, which is also known as Sweet Grass or Holy Grass (Hierochloe Odorata) in the UK, or Vanilla Grass in the United States.

One takes 5-10 dried blades of sweet grass and insert them into a bottle of pure vodka, put it in a dark place and let it stay for 2 weeks. You may need to adjust the amount of grass, just make one and try!

According to W. Somerset Maugham in The Razor’s Edge, Żubrówka “smells of freshly mown hay and spring flowers, of thyme and lavender, and it’s soft on the palate and so comfortable, it’s like listening to music by the moonlight.”

Our special thanks to Michał Nowacki for providing the original recipe!