How hemp is recasting the flavour of luxury spirits
As vodka enters a new era of terroir and innovation, hemp is emerging as a defining note in the pursuit of provenance and prestige, with luxury vodka Krol IV leading the way.
For decades, vodka has been viewed as an almost blank canvas for the spirits world. Recently, vodka has been attracted renewed interest, as brands have effectively communicated the spirit’s complexity, provenance, innovation and, increasingly, luxury.
From Mayfair bars to Michelin-starred restaurants, vodka is being spoken about in the same breath as whisky or wine. Krol IV is ready to lead this charge, but also define a rising category – Polish vodka infused with organic hemp – to set a new precedent of innovation for modern drinkers exploring this category.
Founded by Suk Dhillon and his son, Król IV (Polish for ‘king’) is an answer to a challenge set in a Mayfair cocktail bar: could anyone make a vodka that truly felt like luxury?
The founders’ response was to look east – to the rye fields of western Poland and the 19th-century Old Distillery (one of the country’s oldest), where craftsmanship still thrives.
“We were frustrated by the sameness of the vodka shelf,” explains Dhillon. “We wanted to create something with character, something that celebrated both tradition and innovation. Król IV is our statement: vodka can be terroir-driven, and it can be luxurious.”
The rise of vodka terroir
The word ‘terroir’ is increasingly being applied to vodka. Earlier this year, we asked: “Does terroir matter to vodka drinkers?” The answer was, increasingly, yes. Brands such as Belvedere and Chopin have begun to highlight soil, grain and climate, while experts like Matt Pomeroy argue provenance has a direct impact on character, no matter the spirit. Król IV takes this philosophy to heart. Its base is single-estate organic rye, grown by artisanal farmers who prioritise sustainability and ecological balance. The grain is harvested under the long Polish summers, yielding a crispness and purity that anchors the spirit.
This is a marked departure from the anonymous bulk spirits that dominated the market. Instead of hiding behind neutrality, Król IV puts its origin front and centre, elevating vodka to a product of place. As Dhillon puts it: “For us, terroir isn’t a marketing gimmick – it’s the soul of the liquid. Every bottle of Król IV contains not just rye and water, but the story of the lands of western Poland.”
Hemp: a bold new note
What truly distinguishes Król IV, however, is its use of organic hemp extract. After trialling dozens of infusions, the team discovered hemp added exactly the kind of subtle savoury complexity they were looking for. The result is a vodka that is clean and elegant on the nose, yet layered with biscuit, citrus, peppercorn and fresh herb notes. On the palate it is round and creamy, with a green, nutty quality that lingers – perfect for a decadent Martini or simply neat over ice.
The decision to use hemp is as much cultural as it is culinary. Hemp is one of Eastern Europe’s oldest crops, but it also speaks to modern consumers’ fascination with wellness, natural ingredients and plant-based living. “Hemp allows us to connect the past to the future,” says Dhillon. “It’s rooted in tradition, but it also signals progress, sustainability and innovation – all qualities we believe luxury spirits must embody today.”
A new luxury vodka aesthetic
Luxury in vodka is no longer defined by frosted glass and celebrity endorsements. It is about craft, quality and the ability to surprise a jaded audience. Król IV embodies this shift with a five-times distillation, charcoal refinement, and a 45-day resting period that rounds the spirit’s smoothness. The bottle itself is designed as a collectible decanter, embossed and gold-plated.
The market is responding. Król IV has already taken home a gold medal at the Global Spirits Masters Luxury Awards and the International Wine & Spirit Competition, with judges noting the overall impression is “one of elegance and approachability — creamy, polished and very appealing” with a “delicate, creamy vanilla nose, unfolding into a smooth, gently textured palate with a hint of sweetness and a lively citrus brightness that adds definition at the front, before tapering into a clean, refined finish of impressive length.”
These credentials and taste profile lend weight to the Król IV ambition of changing how vodka is perceived. The brand is also vegan and kosher-certified, a nod to inclusivity in an increasingly diverse luxury market.
Eastern Europe’s moment
Król IV is not just a story about one brand. It is part of a broader shift in how the world views Eastern Europe’s distilling potential. Once considered the workhorse of the spirits industry, the region is now being reappraised as a source of premium, terroir-driven drinks – much as we’ve seen with Tequila in Mexico or rum in Latin America. With rising global interest in authenticity and craft, Poland’s centuries-old vodka heritage feels ripe for rediscovery.
“Eastern Europe has always been the cradle of vodka, but for too long it has been treated as a commodity,” muses Dhillon. “We believe the world is finally ready to appreciate it as a source of true luxury.”
Setting a precedent
The timing could not be more apt. As consumers trade up across categories — from agave spirits to Japanese whisky — vodka is undergoing its own renaissance. The difference now is that modern drinkers demand more: provenance, sustainability and a story worth telling.
By marrying organic rye with hemp, tradition with innovation, and terroir with luxury, Król IV is not just launching a vodka – it is setting a benchmark for what vodka can be in the 21st century.
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