Paprocky Single Malt Polish Whisky Review (2025)

 

I would dare say that most American whisky aficionados are unfamiliar with Polish Single Malts, and you can include me as part of that population. However, I’m not a stranger to Polish distilling; I’ve had Polish Rye whiskies and found them lovely.

 

Bartex Bartol is a 100% family-owned company founded in 1990 by Maria and Bogdan Bartol in Nowy Tomyśl, Poland. For 30+ years, there are now three generations of Bartols that produce various wines and spirits. Bartex Bartol has been fermenting its products since 1993, and they can be found in 30 countries across five continents.

 

The company is a producer, importer, and proponent of both sustainable and socially responsible practices. It utilizes eco-friendly, renewable energy sources, including its own solar farm. It also helps support the local hospital by providing disinfecting fluids during COVID-19 and continues to fund medical equipment.

 

One of its proprietary whiskies is called Poprocky, named for its location at Paproć 111. Poprocky offers two versions: Single Malt and Single Barrel. Today, we’ll explore the former.

 

Distilled from a mash of 100% malted barley, Poprocky aged in new, American oak casks “for many years,” although it does not specify how many. Given that the American whiskey market has specific legal requirements, “many” would translate to at least four.

 

The company was kind enough to send me a full-sized, 700mL sample of Paprocky labeled for the American market and a shooter in its original Polish. Their request was for my no-strings-attached, honest review. So, let’s #DrinkCurious and do precisely that.

 

 

• Whiskey Type: Polish Single Malt
• Age: NAS (at least four years)
• Mashbill: 100% malted barley
• Cooperage: Virgin American Oak
• Alcohol Content: 40% ABV (80°)
• Price per 700mL: $42.99

 

Appearance: I poured Paprocky into my Glencairn glass to sip neat. Inside, the whisky appeared brassy; a massive rim released syrupy, crowded tears.

 

Nose: The aroma smelled of fresh pineapples, starfruit, crème brulee, cedar, oak, and, of all things, circus peanuts. That’s the first time I’ve encountered that note in any single malt from anywhere in the world! It sounds strange, but for whatever reason, these melded well. I drew the air into my mouth; I found lemon oil.  

 

Palate: Paprocky’s texture was soft, creamy, and slow-moving. The first tastes included honey, apples, and pears. My mid-palate discovered crème brulee and cedar. Cinnamon, dry oak, and leather comprised the back.

 

Finish: Dry oak, old leather, clove, dark chocolate, and Asian pears held for a somewhat arid finish. Pear was the last to leave. It ran 1:28, making for a medium duration.  

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Paprocky Single Malt is a solid, well-balanced, uncomplicated whisky. The nose was an eye-opener. The palate featured classic single malt notes while also producing unique characteristics.

 

You won’t find hints of peat, earth, smoke, or astringent qualities with Paprocky Single Malt. While there is a dash of mild warmth, there is no alcohol burn, thanks to the lower ABV.

 

Speaking of that, sometimes 80° works well for whiskies. I can’t help but wonder what this whisky tastes like uncut or at least 15-20 proof points higher; I’m assuming some flavors have been silenced. That’s neither here nor there; it is just my thinking aloud.

 

Paprocky is reasonably priced, especially considering how unusual Polish Single Malts are in the United States. It is an adventure worth taking and deserves every bit of my Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.