History

Tradition and Family

Podole Wielkie is a family-run distillery in Pomerania with a history that runs deep into agriculture and the Polish distilling tradition. According to the site, the history behind Podole Wielkie goes back to the 15th century, and the estate belonged to German families until 1945. After political changes in 1981, the owners leased and bought the entire estate, and the distillery became an integral part of the family's home and ancestral territory. The distillery is described as one of the few active rural distilleries, characterized by the distinctive red-brick kilns and a close connection between the estate and production.

A True Family

Podole Wielkie is described as a small, family-owned business — not a large multinational. The family runs it and sets the rules themselves, emphasizing that the work is honest, with passion and long experience. According to the site, the family consists of themselves and a team of dedicated employees who contribute to creating unique products.

Location and Culture

The distillery is located in Pomerania, about 20 km from the Baltic coast, surrounded by fields and forests and separated from mass industries. This contributes to a close relationship with the place and to the raw material supply, which, according to the site, comes from its own fields. The brand and the estate thus form a central part of the Podole Wielkie name – from field to bottle.

Production

From Field to Bottle

The production follows the motto from our fields to bottle. All raw materials come exclusively from their own fields, and the distillates are produced slowly in a large copper pot still without unnecessary haste. The distillery's philosophy is simplicity: distillation and water form the total foundation, and the products contain no additives or filtration. The bottles are described as hand-printed and labeled for each vintage; production is limited, and each vintage is unique.

Locality and Raw Materials

The estate is located in Pomerania close to the Baltic Sea coast, where fields and forests surround the production. According to the site, the raw materials are grown and handled locally to ensure a full understanding of what leaves the estate and goes on to customers. Rapeseed oil production is also mentioned as part of the local production.

Products and Vintages

Podole Wielkie produces Okowitas (fruity and grain-based distillates) and Vodka, with a particular emphasis on vintage-based products and different raw materials. The production includes, among others: - Aged Okowita: Rye and Potato that have matured in ex-Tokaj and ex-bourbon casks. - Okowita from the vintages 2021, 2022 and 2023, with different grains such as potato, rye, wheat and barley as the primary raw material, and each vintage accompanied by a Patron and detailed tasting notes. - Okowita from beer (Okowita z piwa): a collaboration with AleBrowar, where the Okowita is finished in beer casks with names such as Crazy Mike, Imperial Smoky Joe, The Pastry Master, Rowing Jack, El Fruto, Salty Barbara and Hard Bride. - Okowita Special Edition and Alter Ego variants in connection with certain vintages. - Podole Wielkie Vodka: a combination of neutral rectified alcohol and distillate from their own grains and potatoes, designed to be delicate and without unnecessary additives.

Manufacturing and Craft

According to the site, everything is made by hand and in small batches. Production takes place in a large copper pot still, and the distillate is not blended with any other ingredients than water. The vintages are marked and bottled as unique, and the entire process is described as a chain from the fields to the bottle.

Future / New Path

On the Future page, an initiative called New Path is described: in 2020, parts of the distillate were placed in their own wooden casks for aging in cooler cellars, with the expectation that the first amber-colored spirit will be ready in the coming years.

Aged Okowita and Year-by-Year Details

• Aged Okowita Rye in ex-Tokaj cask (4 years), 2019 vintage. Tasting notes mention honey, flowers, hazelnut and pear on the nose, with raisins and chocolate in the finish.
• Aged Okowita Potato in ex-bourbon cask (3 years), 2019 vintage. The aroma and taste are described as mineral, creamy, milky, and grated potato with nuts and wild apple.
• Okowita 2021: Potato ‘Gala’ (potato), Wheat, Barley and Rye. Patron for 2021: Agnieszka Wejer.
• Okowita 2022: Rye, Wheat, Barley and Potato (Taurus + Alter Ego). Patron for 2022: Kazimierz Wejer.
• Okowita 2023: VR808 Potato (and Alter Ego), Rye, Keramik Wheat, Concerto Barley. Patron for 2023: Mrs. Ewa Jaroszewicz.

Collaboration with AleBrowar

Podole Wielkie collaborates with AleBrowar on Okowita-derived products, where the flavor/finish gets a clear beer character. The products are labeled as Okowita z piwa and described as the first Polish Okowita finisher in beer casks.

Podole Wielkie Vodka

The vodka line combines neutral rectified alcohol with Podole Wielkie distillate, yielding a delicate vodka with terroir from Polish ingredients. The product is described as a new Polish approach to vodka, where the people and the distillery's know-how are at the center.

Visits and Experiences

The history mentions the opening of a flagship tavern in Gdańsk — Podole Wielkie and Friends — as a highlight in 2021. This indicates opportunities to experience the distillery and its products through releases, visits or tastings as part of the company's experiential concept.

Philosophy

Podole Wielkie is described as a place that prioritizes authenticity and a connection to the place: all raw materials come from their own fields, and the production is based on the simplicity of distillate and water without additives. The estate and the distillery are an integral part of the family's life; the production and the stories surrounding each vintage make every product unique and alive.

Products

Okowita

• 2021 vintage: Potato ’Gala’, Wheat, Barley, Rye; Patron: Agnieszka Wejer.
• 2022 vintage: Rye, Wheat, Barley, Potato (Taurus + Alter Ego); Patron: Kazimierz Wejer.
• 2023 vintage: VR808 Potato, VR808 Potato Alter Ego, Rye, Keramik Wheat, Concerto Barley; Patron: Mrs. Ewa Jaroszewicz.
• Aged Okowita: Rye in ex-Tokaj cask (4 years), Potato in ex-Bourbon cask (4 years).
• Okowita from beer (Okowita z piwa): Imperial Smoky Joe, The Pastry Master, Crazy Mike, Rowing Jack, El Fruto, Salty Barbara, Hard Bride, and several others in collaboration with AleBrowar.
• Okowita Special Edition and Alter Ego variants (for example Rye Special Edition, Żyto SE).

Podole Wielkie Vodka

• Neutral base combined with Podole Wielkie distillate for a delicate vodka, produced and balanced in line with Polish traditions.

Vintage years and tasting notes

• The contents and tasting notes for the individual vintages are detailed on each product page with aroma and flavor charts; the vintages highlight terroir from grain varieties and potato types, as well as cask finishes and aromas such as fruit, nuts, toffee, chocolate and notes from each cask.

Future / New Path

• New Path: aging of distillates in their own secluded cask rooms and a cold cellar, with the expectation that new amber-toned hues will appear in the coming years.