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Monopolowa, originally a Polish brand, is a vodka made in Austria by Gessler. It is distilled from potatoes and is marketed under the brand name of J. A. Baczewski.
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| Type | Vodka |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Gessler |
| Country of origin | Poland (now produced in Austria) |
| Introduced | 1782 |
| Alcohol by volume | 40% |
| Proof (US) | 80 |
| Related products | List of vodkas |
History
edit"Monopolowa" means "under monopoly", in this case referring to a privilege given to the szlachta (nobility) in Poland, giving them exclusive rights to produce and sell vodka in their territories.
Monopolowa was produced by J. A. Baczewski, a distillery founded by Jewish merchant, Lejb Beczeles, from 1782 until World War II.[1] After the war, Gessler, an Austrian company, bought the licence and the rights to production. In 1990, the Starogard Gdański based branch of Polmos, a privatized offshoot of the former state-owned monopoly, started to produce several of J.A. Baczewski's products under license from Altvater Gessler - J.A. Baczewski International (USA) Inc. However, in the late 1990s, that license was terminated and production in Poland was halted.
Awards
edit- Top 10th Percentile Vodka: Proof66.com [2]
- 2010 The Beverage Testing Institute International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal. Rated: 93 points (Exceptional) & Best Buy[3]
- 2009 The International Wine and Spirit Competition: Silver Medal
- 2009 San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Silver Medal
- 2008 The Beverage Testing Institute International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal. Rated: 92 points (Exceptional)