Żywiecki

Żywiecki is bright, herbal, and gently warming, balancing clean vodka with aromatic bitters, fresh lemon, and mellow honey. Served ice-cold, it has a lively sweet-tart finish and a pleasantly bittersweet backbone.

Safety Warning

This recipe contains alcohol. Serve only to adults of legal drinking age, avoid during pregnancy, and do not drive or operate machinery after drinking.

Nutrition · per serving

146kcal

0.1gProtein

8.5gCarbs

0gFat

0.1gFiber

2 servings

Ingredients

6 items

Cocktail base

vodka100 ml

herbal bitters30 ml

fresh lemon juice40 ml

runny honey20 g

To serve

ice cubes200 g

lemon slices2 slices

Tips

•Use a Polish-style herbal bitter if available; a sweet-bitter herbal liqueur gives the most authentic profile.
•Taste before straining: if your lemon is especially sharp, add 5 g more honey; if your bitters are very sweet, add a small squeeze more lemon.
•For the cleanest texture, fine-strain through a small sieve to catch lemon pulp and tiny ice shards.
•Serve as an aperitif or alongside smoked meats, pickles, or hearty Polish snacks.

Steps

1
Chill 2 small tumblers or cocktail glasses if possible. Juice the lemon so you have 40 ml fresh lemon juice, and make sure the honey is fluid; if it is thick, stir it briefly with a teaspoon of the lemon juice until loosened so it blends smoothly.
40 ml fresh lemon juice20 g runny honey
2
Fill a cocktail shaker with the ice cubes. Add the vodka, herbal bitters, fresh lemon juice, and honey.
200 g ice cubes100 ml vodka30 ml herbal bitters40 ml fresh lemon juice20 g runny honey
3
Shake hard for 12-15 seconds, until the shaker feels very cold on the outside and the honey is fully dissolved. Proper shaking both chills the drink and slightly aerates it for a smoother texture.
200 g ice cubes100 ml vodka30 ml herbal bitters40 ml fresh lemon juice20 g runny honey
4
Place a few fresh ice cubes into each glass if desired, then strain the cocktail evenly between the 2 glasses. Garnish each with a lemon slice and serve immediately while icy cold.
2 slices lemon slices

Origin & History

Żywiecki is a simple Polish-style vodka cocktail built around the country's long tradition of clear vodkas and herb-infused bitter spirits. Drinks in this family are especially associated with colder climates, where strong spirits, honey, and citrus create a warming yet brisk aperitif.

polish cocktail vodka herbal beginner classic aperitif

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Steps

Chill 2 small tumblers or cocktail glasses if possible. Juice the lemon so you have 40 ml fresh lemon juice, and make sure the honey is fluid; if it is thick, stir it briefly with a teaspoon of the lemon juice until loosened so it blends smoothly.

40 ml fresh lemon juice20 g runny honey

Fill a cocktail shaker with the ice cubes. Add the vodka, herbal bitters, fresh lemon juice, and honey.

200 g ice cubes100 ml vodka30 ml herbal bitters40 ml fresh lemon juice20 g runny honey

Shake hard for 12-15 seconds, until the shaker feels very cold on the outside and the honey is fully dissolved. Proper shaking both chills the drink and slightly aerates it for a smoother texture.

200 g ice cubes100 ml vodka30 ml herbal bitters40 ml fresh lemon juice20 g runny honey

Place a few fresh ice cubes into each glass if desired, then strain the cocktail evenly between the 2 glasses. Garnish each with a lemon slice and serve immediately while icy cold.

2 slices lemon slices