A Polish distillery whose story reaches back to the 15th century is searching for its next owner. According to thedrinksbusiness.com, the Starka SFW site in Szczecin is heading to auction this year, with intellectual property, working production facilities, ageing cellars and broader development rights all wrapped into a single package.
The product sits somewhere between vodka, whisky and the old European flavoured-spirit tradition, and the cellars are full of old rye waiting for the right buyer.
At a glance
- Starka is the signature spirit of SFW Starka, a distillery established in Szczecin in 1863.
- The brand traces back at least to the 15th century, with traditions such as birth-year barrels opened at weddings.
- Today Starka is the sole producer of this particular style of spirit.
- Cellars hold well over 50,000 litres of aged Starka, with the youngest stock at 33 years old.
- One vintage barrel, filled between 1947 and 1956, has been appraised at around Polish złoty 123,841,433, roughly £24 million or US$23.2 million.
A brand that has lived several lives
Spokesperson David Lesperance divides Starka's history into clear chapters. The first ran for centuries. The second unfolded during the Communist period, when aged amber vodka kept the distillery relevant across the region. The third, post-Communist chapter was marked by weak management. The fourth arrived when Lesperance's group came in and refocused on aged vodka. The fifth, under a different local owner, tried to pull too much cash out too quickly.
Now Lesperance is looking for someone who will treat Starka as a heritage project rather than a quick-turnaround asset.
Why the category matters
Vodka is one of the few spirits categories forecast to beat the wider market over the next 12 months, according to SipSource data cited by thedrinksbusiness.com. Within that, aged and heritage-positioned vodkas carry a built-in narrative edge over mass-produced white brands.
The reserves make this more than a brand buy. Aged stock is increasingly scarce globally, and origin stories matter to collectors, premium on-trade lists and the high-end gifting market that has lifted other aged spirits categories in recent years.
What it means for you
For readers working with premium spirits or designing a high-end bar program, a heritage Polish rye with decades of stock already in the cellar is the kind of asset that can anchor a list. Even if the new owner sits in Warsaw or New York, the international on-trade will be watching this auction closely.
Say you are the head buyer for a luxury hotel bar chasing a one-off pour to anchor a tasting flight. If the new owner decides to release those rare old barrels through controlled allocations, your program could be among the first in line.
Our analysis
Distillery auctions usually fall into two camps: brand acquisitions by big spirits groups, or opportunistic buys by investors chasing real estate. Starka is unusual because all three layers matter, the IP, the liquid, and the site, and because the sole-producer status gives it built-in scarcity.
The biggest risk for any buyer is underestimating how long it takes to rebuild distribution after years of no bottling. Watch for any announcement about a new master distiller and whether the next owner keeps the aged-vodka positioning or pivots toward a broader flavoured-spirit play.
What to watch next
Bottom line: Starka offers a rare combination of old stock, heritage IP and a developable site, but it needs a patient owner rather than a quick flip. Keep an eye on auction dates and any rumoured bids from large European spirits groups.
Key takeaways
- Starka's distillery, brand and aged reserves are being sold as a single package.
- The site in Szczecin dates to 1863, while the brand itself reaches back to at least the 15th century.
- Cellars hold more than 50,000 litres of stock aged at least 33 years.
- One barrel from 1947 to 1956 has been valued at around £24 million.
- The sale also includes development rights across portions of the site.
Frequently asked questions
What is Starka?
An aged rye spirit flavoured with select botanicals, sitting between vodka, whisky and traditional European flavoured spirits.
Where is the distillery?
In Szczecin, Poland, a historic port city founded in the Hanseatic era.
How much aged stock is included in the sale?
Cellars hold more than 50,000 litres of aged Starka, with the youngest stock at 33 years old, plus heritage barrels dating back to 1947.
Why is this sale significant?
Starka is now the sole producer of this style of spirit, and the aged reserves give any new owner instant premium positioning.
Who is selling it?
A group represented by spokesperson David Lesperance, which invested in Starka and is now seeking a new owner.
Source: thedrinksbusiness.com
