Vodka Spirytus, with 96% ABV, is the highest-strength vodka in the world and is made in Poland
Vodka Spirytus is made in Poland from a distilled wheat blend taken to its maximum alcoholic strength. Spirytus means “spirit” in Polish.
Poland is Europe’s largest producer of alcohol obtained through fermentation. The alcohol is rectified twice using state-of-the-art technology that guarantees the highest possible quality. Rectified alcohol is the base of all Polish vodkas, vodkas that have won awards and gained worldwide recognition.
Polish rectified alcohol is completely neutral, with no trace of colour, flavour or aroma, and no remaining natural residues from fermentation.
Polish Rectified Alcohol is therefore, quite literally, “perfect ethyl alcohol for making alcoholic drinks”.
Vodka Spirytus
At 96%, its producers present it not merely as the strongest vodka in the world, but as the strongest alcoholic drink available (in our shop you can find 95% food-grade alcohol).
The secret behind the alcoholic strength of Vodka Spirytus lies in its distillation process, as it is distilled more than 70 times, reaching the practical limit of distillation.
This type of Polish vodka is made by several producers and can be found in 95% and 70% versions. Among all the brands, Spirytus Rektyfikowany, made by the Polmos distillery, stands out.
Although it is recommended for making other alcoholic drinks, it is also widely used in cocktail making, and drinking it neat is strongly discouraged unless its alcoholic strength has been reduced.
The United Kingdom was left in shock when an 18-year-old woman died after drinking shots of Spirytus straight from the bottle, undiluted. According to witnesses, it happened after only “a couple of shots” of the drink.
Vodka Spirytus and the pandemic
The pandemic marked a key moment in the history of Vodka Spirytus and drove a sharp rise in its consumption.
The shortage of alcohol in Poland for hygiene purposes during the pandemic popularised this drink because of its high alcoholic strength, turning it into a highly sought-after product for making homemade disinfectants.
Of Vodka Spirytus, “The Wall Street Journal” stated: “this is a very difficult drink to consume, but people believe that, because of its alcohol level, it will kill any virus or bacteria”.
Andrzej Szumowski, representative of the Polish Vodka Foundation, speaking about the demand for Spirytus and vodkas for hygienic use, said: “There is no other country in the world that makes it to such a high standard as we do. It is a very high-strength vodka, which could be said to have disinfectant properties”.
Szumowski also stated that using vodka as a disinfectant is a well-known custom in the country: “This drink is part of Polish cultural identity and is often used as an antiseptic. In some households, people dilute it with water to clean surfaces”.