Śliwowica Podbeskidzka Sadownicza is a Polish plum spirit bottled at 72% ABV, produced by Toorank Polska (formerly Mundivie) from Jasienica near Bielsko-Biała. Toorank Polska S.A. has been operating on the Polish market since 1996, specialising in the production of high-quality products intended for a narrow circle of connoisseurs, as well as products for small communities in micro-regions.
Everything is based on one specific raw material. Production uses hand-sorted, clean Węgierka plums, which are crushed together with a small amount of stones, and the mash prepared in this way is left to ferment for over a dozen weeks thanks to the yeasts naturally present on the fruit. The inclusion of the stones is no accident – it is they that lend the distillate a subtle, almond-like accent alongside the juiciness of the fruit itself. The fermented mash is distilled in simple alembic stills, after which the product matures in oak casks for several more years. The distillate obtained through alcoholic fermentation and distillation of plums is aged in 225-litre oak barrels.
Plum dominates the sensory profile. Taste and aroma: dry, characteristic of a plum distillate. Contact with wood gives the spirit amber reflections and depth, while the high 72% ABV brings a distinct, warming character and a long, fruity trail on the palate.
Owing to its alcoholic concentration, this eau-de-vie is served in small measures. Śliwowica should be savoured – drunk slowly, in small sips, preferably from tasting glasses. Given the high alcohol content, it can also be enjoyed in a milder form: following the well-known highlander recipe, as an addition to tea. It pairs well with matured cheeses, fatty cured meats and plum-based desserts.