DETROIT (WWJ) - Bring on Fat Tuesday! Detroit City Distillery (DCD) is ready to release over 13,000 bottle of its wildly popular Pączki Day Vodka to fans that went wild over the sweet spirit last year -- the vodka sold out in less than a half an hour online in 2021.
The local distillery will also release a “Pączki Head Seltzer,” made from the company's Pączki Day Vodka, along with bottled cocktails the Polish Bloody -- DCD's signature Bloody Mary mixture -- and the Polish Daisy, which mixes the company's famous vodka, Cocchi, an Italian aperitif, vanilla and lemon.
DCD's best selling Pączki Day Vodka promises a sweet finish of fresh-baked raspberry pączki made straight from family-owned New Place Bakery in Hamtramck. The distillery said the bakery provided over 3,500 glazed raspberry pączki for their special release liquor, which was distilled in 100 percent potato vodka from Poland and Michigan.
The spirit will come packaged in a beautifully crafted glass bottle all the way from Poland, which co-owner of Detroit City Distillery Michael Forsyth described as a sweet add-on.
"Every year, we try to outdo ourselves and add a surprise or two that gets people fired up for the release,” said Forsyth.
"We are so glad we can offer it this year to our die-hard fans among the Polish community. We know they’ll appreciate this unique touch, just like we do.”
The idea for the Pączki Day Vodka was born after experimenting with family and friends -- 20 bottles were first made by the company over five years ago and word spread within Michigan's Polish community.
It took off in popularity from there, according to the company, and the distillery produced 4,200 bottles last year that almost instantly sold out online -- other liquor stores said the spirit flew off the shelves and sold out immediately.
“It’s an honor to make something we can all be proud of that celebrates our Polish community," said Steve Orzechowski, Distiller at DCD.
Fans of the Pączki Day Vodka describes its taste as smooth with a sweet, tart finish of raspberry and the buttery hint of a freshly baked Pączki. The company said the crystal-clear spirit is best served immediately after eating a Pączki, chilled over ice or mix in with a cocktail of your choice.
“There are only two ingredients: vodka and pączki. There are no artificial ingredients, flavors or sweeteners that you find in mainstream flavored vodka. The goal is to make a true craft spirit that highlights the taste of these perfectly handmade, glazed raspberry pączki from Hamtramck," said Michael Forsyth.
The vodka, seltzers and Blood Mary mixture will be available online for pre-order at www.detroitcitydistillery.com/shop on Friday, February 11 at 8 a.m. One bottle of Pączki Day Vodka retails for $35. The Pączki Head Seltzer sells four in a pack for $14. The Polish Daisy is $9 per bottle or $30 for a 4-pack. The Polish Bloody Mary is $12 per bottle.
The company will have customers pick up their orders at the DCD’s Tasting Room at 2462 Riopelle Street in Detroit’s Eastern Market from Friday, February 18 through Sunday, February 27.
Select liquor stores will also carry the Pączki Day Vodka while supplies last.
DCD will host a 'Paczki Day Party' on Saturday, Feb. 26 from 10 a.m to 11 p.m. that is open to the public with limited capacity. The indoor-outdoor event will cover an entire city block and feature local Polish music, food and of course, libations of Paczki Day Vodka.
More information can be found through the DCD's website.