WODKA

Polish Wodka
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• Originated in Poland.

• First made in the 8th Century with grapes, therefore

ended up being a crude version of brandy.

• In the 11th & 12th it was called Gorzalka, low in

alcoholic content and used for medicinal purpose in
Russia and Poland. It was a closely guarded secret
and a privilege of few i.e nobles and monks.
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• In the 15th century it gained popularity and in 16th

century the raw ingredient changed from grapes to
rye and other grains - and the distill was now termed
Okowita ( Polish term for acqua vitae or water of
life.)

• In 1546 it became the official drink of Poland by

King Jan Olbracht when he passed a bill that all
citizens of Poland are allowed to manufacture and
sell Okowita.
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• In 18th century Okowita came to be known as

Wodka, derived from Woda which means ‘little
water.’

• After the first world war production became the

state monopoly. With complete control in hands of
the governing body called Pabstwowy Monopol
Spirytusowy also called POLMOS.
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• The 3 main distilling centres that emerged in Poland

were:
Poznan, Krakow and Gdansk.

• Even Smirnoff, the brand that pioneered vodka

drinking in the west, originally came from L’vov in
Poland - and not from Russia as many believe.
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• Wodka is a distilled beverage with Rye being the

principal grain for its manufacture.

• Maize, barley and wheat used as substitutes.

• Wodka’s are also made from Potatoes and

Molasses.
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• The fermented mash is distilled in pot stills at least

twice for Polish Vodka in order to give a pure
spirit

• The distilled liquid is passed through vegetable

charcoal and at times, fine quartz to cleanse it, and
then alcoholic percentage is brought down by
addition of distilled water.
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Character of Polish Wodka vis-à-vis western

Wodka:

• More aroma and bouquet.

• Spirity.
•Oily.
•Denser and thicker.
•Does not hangover as it has less congeners.
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• The best known clear Polish Wodka’s made
with Rye are :
Wodka Wybrowa Red Label 32.75 GL
Wodka Wybrowa Blue Label 36.5 GL
Krakus 35 GL

• The best known clear Polish Wodka’s made

with Potato are :
Luksusowa 39.5 GL
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FLAVOURED
• Flavoured vodka in Poland is called Nalevka.

• In olden days the best known flavoured Wodka was

Zytnia -35 GL. Had a yellowish hint due to addition
of cherry or apple brandies.

• Traditionally best known flavoured Wodka is

Zubrowka, flavoured with Bison Grass also known
as Hierochloe Odorata.
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WODKA
• The grass gives the drink a translucent green colour
and a delicate flavour.
• It is said that Bison grass gave the strength of Bison
to the consumer of Zubrowka.

• A blade of this grass is put in every bottle.

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WODKA
• The only aged Vodka in Poland is Starka, made
from Rye spirit, aged for atleast 10 years, and
flavoured with Spanish Malaga wine which brings
out the Rye taste of Wodka.

• Vodka is also flavoured with fruit and herbs done by

steeping.

• Only fruit flavoured vodkas are called Slivovite -

plums,limes and cherries are used.
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WODKA

• Some flavoured Vodka’s :

– Soplica - Apple
– Jarzebiak - Rowanberries
– Orzechowha - Walnuts
– Wodka Myliwska - Juniper berries

• ‘Polish Pure Spirit’ is the strongest pure spirit in

the world. Bottled at 168 sikes. Production is
controlled by POLMOS
Russian Vodka
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•Came to Russia in 12th-13th century from Poland.

•National drink of Russia.

•Essentially all Russian Vodka’s are produced from

grain, hence its historic mane is ‘bread wine’
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•Vodka is also produced with other ingredients,

depending on the regions that it comes from.

Byelorussia - Potatoes
Ukraine and other European USSR - Grains

•In 1925 all Russian Vodka production came under the

control of a state monopoly called Prodingtorg.
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PRODUCTION:

•Within Russia most of the unflavoured vodkas are

labeled as ‘Vodka’ with the regional source
mentioned on label. Example : Donetskaya vodka
from Donetsk.

•Vodka is double distilled in Pot Still, with alcoholic

strength being 40-60 GL
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•Famous brands of unflavoured vodka are:

Moskovskaya
Stolichnaya
Krepkaya

•The export of Vodka is controlled by Sojuzplodo,

established in 1966.
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•Flavoured Russian Vodka is called Nastoika.

•Some of the famous flavoured Russian Vodkas are:

Zubrowka From Byelo Russia
Limonaya Flavoured with lemon peel.
Starka Flavoured with Crimean Apple
& pear leaves of fruit
trees and also has brandy
and Russian port.
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Pertsovka - Spicy vodka, dark brown in

colour cayenne, capsicum &
cubeb are three pepper
flavourings used i.e,
Cayenne,Capsicum, Cubeb.
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Few International Brands
•Absolut : Sweden
•Finlandia : Finland
•Silhouette: Canada
•Smirnoff : America
•Cossack - England
•Romanoff - England
•Karloff - Australia
•The Great Wall - China The Great Wall - China
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Few Indian Brands

•Karmazov

•Romanov

•White Mischief

•Smirnoff