Żoła̧dkówka is one of my favourite vodkas. It’s called bitter vodka – gorzka – yet confusingly it’s actually quite sweet and very easy to drink on its own. If you like to drink neat vodka shots, then your vodka should always be kept in the freezer and served very cold and gloopy. Otherwise, this particular vodka is delicious with tonic – again offsetting sweetness with bitterness. {Serves 1}
½ tablespoon fresh thyme
½ tablespoon fresh rosemary
splash of lemon juice
splash of Angostura bitters
50 ml (2 fl oz/scant ¼ cup) Żoła̧dkówka vodka
200 ml (7 fl oz/scant 1 cup) Indian tonic water
rosemary and thyme sprigs, to decorate
Using a pint glass and a pestle (or rolling pin) grind (mull) the thyme, rosemary, lemon juice, Angostura bitters and vodka together. This should take 3–4 minutes.
Strain through a sieve into a glass filled with ice and top up with tonic water. Decorate each glass with a sprig of rosemary and thyme.