Review: Sobieski Cytron Vodka
Sobieski Cytron Vodka was released in the US in 2009. Sobieski is the number one selling vodka in Poland. The brand is named for King Jan III Sobieski. At one time Sobieski produced eleven flavored vodka’s for the US market. They now have four, including Orange, Vanilla, and Raspberry. Each flavored vodka is crafted with Dankowski rye and crystalline water from Oligocene springs. The vodka is distilled in a continuous column still. Natural flavors are then infused before bottling at 70 proof. Read more 
Review: Belvedere Ginger Zest Vodka
Belvedere Ginger Zest Vodka is set for release in April. I was luck enough to pick up a bottle a little early. Belvedere Ginger Zest starts with a vodka base made from Dankowski rye and pure water. The water is sourced from their own wells and undergoes an 11 step purification process that includes reverse osmosis. The spirit is distilled four times and is filtered twice. Once through carbon followed by a finer mechanical filtration process. The flavors and aromas of fresh ginger, lemon, and grapefruit are extracted in a proprietary maceration process. These extracted oils are blended with the vodka. No sugar is added before bottling at 80 proof. Read more
Review: Chopin Rye Vodka
Chopin Rye Vodka was launched March 2011. Rye joins the Original Chopin Potato, and Chopin Wheat Vodka. It is produced at a distillery located in the picturesque village of Krzesk Poland with a history dating back to the 1900th century. The Dorda family acquired the distillery in 2003, restoring its traditional operations to their former splendor as well as modernizing it’s bottling and packaging facilities. Chopin Rye Vodka is cultivated from farm to bottle with the finest naturally grown golden rye grown within 25 miles of the distillery. The vodka is distilled in the distillery’s original four column copper still. It is then filtered five times. Purified artesian well water is blended before bottling at 80 proof. Read more
Review: Chopin Wheat Vodka
Chopin Wheat Vodka was introduced March 2011 along with Chopin Rye Vodka. Both join their original Chopin Potato Vodka, that was launched in the US in 1997. All three are produced at a distillery that dates back to the 19th century. This distillery was acquired by the Dorda family in 2003. It sits on 17 acres in the countryside village of Krzesk in the Eastern Podlasie Region of Poland. 100% of Chopin’s alcohol is produced from raw hand selected materials. Most companies purchase bulk alcohol from large commercial distilleries. Chopin Wheat vodka is crafted from winter wheat naturally grown within 25 miles of the distillery and purified artesian well water. It is distilled four times in a copper column still in the spring, and filtered 5 times before bottling on site. When I think of Poland I think of Polish Vodka. When I think of Polish Vodka I think of rye or potato based vodkas. I am interested in seeing how a Polish wheat vodka compares. For the record Belvedere, Sobieski, Potocki, Wyborowa, and Zubrowka, produce rye vodka in Poland. Luksusowa, Lyna, Vesica, and Chopin distill their potato vodka in Poland. Read more
Review: Potocki Wodka
Potocki Wodka, pronounce Po-toht-ski Vood-ka, is created from the highest quality rye sourced from fields around their distillery in Central Poland. It is produced in small batches from a family recipe. Fresh from the harvest each August the grain is milled and cooked under pressure. Yeast is then added to start fermentation. The mash goes through two slow distillations in a column still. Pure distilled water is blended to reduce to 80 proof. The unfiltered vodka is left to rest for a few days before bottling. Potocki Wodka was first produced by Alfred Potocki who inherited the Lancut Castle Estate in 1816. The estate included Polands second oldest distillery. Production was stopped in 1944 due to World War 2 and then brought back in 2002 by the Potocki family. Today Jan-Roman Potocki tastes every batch of Potocki Wodka to ensure maximum quality. The Pilawa, a two and a half cross is the Potocki coat of arms, and is prominently featured on each bottle of Potocki Vodka. Read more
Review: Vesica Vodka
Vesica Vodka was launched in 2010. It is made from premium grade potatoes grown in Poland. The vodka is triple column distilled and triple filtered through activated carbon at the Polmos Poznan Distillery. Artesian well water is blended for balance and to reduce to proof. A state of the art ceramic candle process follows to give clarity to the vodka. Vesica is named for a vesica piscis. The vesica piscis is a geometric image formed when two circles of equal radius intersect in such a way that the center of each circle lies on the circumference of each other. This is the case when a 750ml bottle of Vesica is placed next to a 1 liter bottle. While I still see Vesica Vodka at several liquor stores I frequent, the Vesica vodka website is no longer available, and their Facebook page has not been updated in some time. This is never a good sign. Read more
Review: Chopin Potato Vodka
Chopin Potato vodka was introduced to the US market in 1997. Chopin is produced Mid-September into early December with potatoes grown in the Podlasie countryside of Poland. The potatoes are harvested late in the season because of the higher starch content, 22% compared to 12%. Seven pounds of potatoes are needed to make one 750ml bottle. The potatoes are cleaned and pressure cooked and then fermented for three days. It is distilled four times in a traditional copper column still. Pure Artesian well water is blended with the vodka before it is filtered five times and then bottled at 80 proof. Read more