Wódka Żołądkowa Gorzka (Polish pronunciation: [ˈvutka ʒɔˈwɔntkɔva ˈɡɔʃka]) (colloquially shortened to Żołądkowa Gorzka or Żołądkowa) is a herbal vodka from Poland that has been the leading brand of Polmos-Lublin/Stock Polska since 1956. The name is translated as "bitter vodka for the stomach". Production of the vodka has followed the same recipe since 1956, following the traditional Polish practice of producing alcohol infused with fruits and steeped with herbs. The brand is very popular among consumers and has recently been introduced to international markets. In addition to Poland, it is available in the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, Germany and Spain. It has won several awards, including the Oskar FMCG 2006 award, CoolBrands award, the Gold Medal at Poznan International Fair POLAGRA 2000, and the Monde Selection 2009 (Grand Gold medal). In 2009, Polmos changed the bottle design for a more modern one that is still inspired by the original and traditional bottle.
Żołądkowa Gorzka follows in the long Polish tradition of herb and fruit vodkas. The label claims Wódka Żołądkowa Gorzka eases stomach digestion.
Despite its name, Żołądkowa Gorzka is a sweet, amber-coloured vodka with a unique spiced aroma and herbal flavor. Żołądkowa Gorzka is produced in five flavour variations:
The distinctive taste of Żołądkowa Gorzka is the result of combining the herbs and dried fruit (process of maceration of herbs and aging). The secret recipe includes, among others: wormwood, gentian root, pepper, and galangal. The flavour is enriched thanks to cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. Wódka Żołądkowa Gorzka owes its distinctive color to addition of caramel. The vodka contains 40% alcohol.