WELL TALK: Michał Płucisz, founder of the Wolf & Oak distillery, on his love for craftsmanship, respect for tradition, and the desire to create unique things

Michał Płucisz, its founder, has been pursuing his dream of producing artisanal spirits since 2011. Starting with samples not for sale, he gradually transformed his business into a professional project, which in 2018 was named Wolf & Oak. Today, it stands for quality and the pursuit of unique flavor combinations inspired by both tradition and innovation.

Wolf & Oak - beginnings and philosophy of operation

Karolina Magiera-Wróbel: Where did the idea to establish a distillery come from?

Michał Płucisz - Wolf & Oak: Born from a fascination with traditional distillation techniques, which, combined with a modern approach, create unique, high-quality products. We decided to create a place that would pay tribute to tradition while simultaneously introducing a fresh perspective to the world of spirits production. The name "Wolf & Oak" is not accidental—it symbolizes two values ​​essential to the distillery's philosophy. "Wolf" refers to strength, wildness, and independence—qualities that characterize the process of creating spirits. "Oak" symbolizes durability, wisdom, and patience, which alludes to the traditional oak barrels in which the finest spirits mature, gaining depth of flavor and character. We place great emphasis on the quality of raw materials, collaborating with local suppliers and attending to every detail of the production process—from the selection of the finest grains, through the careful fermentation and distillation process, to aging in oak barrels. In short: we exist thanks to our love of craftsmanship, respect for tradition and the desire to create unique things that go beyond mass production, that evoke emotions and tell their own story.

What do you know about the historic building that houses the distillery? Do you plan to use it in other ways, such as making it open to the public?

We tried to reconstruct the history of this building, but the Polish archives available to us didn't make our search any easier. We're not sure if it originally served as a distillery or perhaps a brewery. It's known that in 1945, the Russians removed all the distilling equipment. After the war, the building served as a pickling facility, and residents of Stanica also remember it as a slaughterhouse. We have now completed renovations to the production area, basement, shop, restaurant, and two terraces. In the restaurant area, we installed the longest wooden counter in Poland, almost ten meters long, made from a single piece of oak. We are slowly approaching completion. Our guests will be able to tour the distillery, see the craft spirits production process, sample our products, and enjoy delicious meals in the restaurant. We are happy to present the facility to both those who come here on purpose and those who stumble upon it by chance. We also regularly share our progress on our social media.

What characterizes the Wolf & Oak distillery's business model?

It is based on an artisanal approach to alcohol production, with quality, uniqueness, and tradition as priorities. We don't own our own fields or plantations, but as a company committed to local communities, we support regional producers. We happily source raw materials for our spirits from friendly farmers and local producers, such as beekeepers who supply us with honey. This allows us to build lasting relationships and jointly promote high-quality products from our region. We use only natural ingredients, which contribute to the exceptional flavor and aroma. We also strive for our products to be more than just alcohol—it's history, passion, and the art of distillation captured in every bottle. We create spirits in small batches and offer direct sales through our website. Wolf & Oak spirits are also available in selected specialist retailers, both in-store and online. Furthermore, they can be found regularly at trade fairs and industry festivals, where customers have the opportunity to sample our products and learn more about the production process.

What alcohols do you offer, what do you specialize in, and how did you start?

There are over 50 products to choose from. We produce not only whiskey, but also vodka, brandy, gin, liqueurs, liqueurs, and wine. All of these spirits are crafted with passion and precision, using traditional methods. We began in 2011, initially as a hobby as Wolf Distillery, a producer of "sample not for sale" spirits. Since 2018, we have specialized in the production of high-quality craft spirits under the Wolf & Oak brand.

Do you have your own philosophy that guides the alcohol production process?

These are, above all, values ​​based on authenticity, passion, and respect for craftsmanship. We adhere to the principle of "quality over quantity," which is why we carefully select raw materials and approach each stage of production with the utmost precision. Maintaining tradition is also a key element of our philosophy, but this is combined with innovation – we use classic methods while experimenting with new techniques to create unique flavors. To be fair, consider our Carrot Spirit, made entirely from organic, young carrots. Months of fermentation, combined with quadruple distillation in our copper alembic, have produced an incredible result. The aroma is reminiscent of carrots freshly pulled from the ground. The first sensation on the tongue is a carrot sweetness, countered by aromas of parsley and a subtle minerality. Another excellent example is our Potato Vodka with Sweet Potato – an exceptionally delicate and creamy drink. On the nose, we detect baked, peeled sweet potato and slightly ripe apricot. On the tongue, it's sweet, like cooked new potatoes, with a delicate herbal note at the end. It leaves a pleasantly warming and custardy finish. I am convinced that it is an outstanding spirit for potato vodka connoisseurs. Transparency is also at the heart of our work – we want customers to understand the process our products go through and be assured that they are receiving spirits created with love and attention to the smallest detail.

Polish whisky culture – a new look

I'm particularly interested in your whisky – what do you think about it?

This is somewhat of a paradox, because currently, whisky is the only product group whose production is based on distillates we select from the USA, Scotland, and Ireland. Initially, we planned to open a whisky distillery, but production requires at least three years of maturation, and we don't like to get bored. The first and every subsequent whisky under the Wolf & Oak brand will be created from start to finish in Stanica. Although we worked for several years at a friendly tax warehouse in Grodków and were able to implement our plans, we decided that the history of Wolf & Oak whisky must be connected to our destination – Stanica. Therefore, the whisky we currently offer is sold under a different brand: Veles Distillery. We select distillates and have tasted hundreds of them. We prepare the barrels ourselves, a very labor-intensive process requiring extensive experience. We mature the whisky and test it during aging, searching for the optimal moment for bottling. Thanks to this, we are gaining essential experience that will be invaluable when filling barrels with distillates that will soon be produced in Stanica.

Who is the target audience, and what kind of whisky do Poles drink? What do the statistics say about this – do you see a niche for your product?

Our target group is primarily those who value quality, authenticity, and unique taste experiences. These are conscious consumers who seek more than mass-market, global brands – they are open to new flavors, interested in local products, and eager to experiment, discovering different types of whisky. Statistics show that the whisky market in Poland is growing rapidly, and Poles are increasingly reaching for both premium and more affordable whiskies. We see this as a significant opportunity for our whisky. More and more Poles are beginning to appreciate local, artisanal spirits, creating a niche for producers offering whiskies with unique character and provenance. Our product fits this trend perfectly – it responds to the growing demand for authenticity, locality, and quality in the bottle.

What challenges do you see with whisky distilling in Poland and how do you cope with some of the unique conditions in your home market?

In Poland, whisky culture is still developing, especially when compared to the rich traditions of countries like Scotland and Ireland. Our goal is to educate consumers, build awareness, and encourage them to discover local products. Therefore, we eagerly participate in various events and festivals that allow us to connect with our audiences. Through these events, we can tell them our story, explain our production processes, and thus show them the journey our products take before reaching their hands. Direct contact and the opportunity to learn about our passion and history create a bond based on trust and unique experiences that are hard to find in the mass offerings of international competitors. Despite numerous challenges, Poland has the potential to become a major player in the whisky market.

Polish whisky - an increasingly interesting topic on the European market

Are there any industry events, competitions, or festivals that hold particular significance for you? Have you won any awards yet?

Such events are important to us because they not only bring together whisky enthusiasts but also allow us to reach a wider audience of informed consumers and industry experts. We also frequently participate in events not directly related to alcohol, allowing consumers to focus on the uniqueness of our products. We are proud of the numerous achievements we have achieved over the years. For us, as creators of craft spirits, the Warsaw Spirits Competition is what conquering eight-thousanders is for mountaineers. It is an annual celebration of the industry, a place for meetings, tasting new recipes, and discussing innovations. Since 2017, we have consistently returned from this event with awards, confirming our position in the world of craft spirits. Over the past five years, our products have won two Grand Prix awards, eight "Double Gold" medals, 24 "Gold" medals, one "Silver" medal, and two distinctions for our alcohol debut. These achievements are proof of our passion, quality, and constant pursuit of excellence.

What are your plans for the future?

Our priority is to launch production at our distillery in Stanica. We are also finalizing the finishing touches to the restaurant, which will soon welcome its first guests. We also plan to renovate the hotel, which will allow us to offer a comprehensive range of services to visitors. We strive to create a place where customers can not only sample our exceptional spirits but also enjoy excellent meals in a friendly atmosphere. We want every visit to our facility to be a complete experience – from taste to relaxation and comfort. We also want to actively promote our products within the local community, which is why we plan to regularly participate in smaller festivals and regional events. Our goal is not only to increase brand recognition but, above all, to build lasting relationships with customers from various corners of Poland. This will allow us to better understand the needs and expectations of local customers and adapt our activities to their specific needs. We also export whisky to Denmark and are working on exporting to other countries.

Through this text we do not want to encourage you to drink alcohol, but only to show the creativity, passion and determination of the people who create a unique place on the map of Poland.