Belvedere Vodka

A mass debate surrounds the birthplace of vodka. Was it Russia? Was it Poland? Who knows? Not us. We weren’t there.

Russians play the etymological card. Vodka comes from the Russian ‘voda’, meaning little water, as in: “No dear, I’m not drinking, I’ve just had a little water”.

Poland, however, boasts the earliest written record, dating back to the 8^th Century. Back then, they made ‘gorzalka’ but some reckon it was distilled from wine – much like brandy.

So, in summary, no-one’s sure but, given the current global political situation, we’re certainly not giving it to Russia.

We’re very much bigging up Polish vodka.

And one of our favourites is, of course, Belvedere Vodka. It’s great gear and a vodka that, every Christmas, we serve up ice cold and neat alongside some Sledzie (Polish Pickled Herring).

If you haven’t experienced this culinary combination, we strongly urge you to do so. It’s incredible.

Anyway, back to Belvedere. Given Poland has been making vodka since the 8^th Century, Belvedere is a fresh-faced whippersnapper, having been founded back in 1993.

But in just three decades, it’s arguably become Poland’s most esteemed and recognised vodka.

Belvedere is an organic Polish vodka distilled from 100% organic rye. All the rye is locally sourced, mostly grown by farmer distillers – known as agricultural distillers.

Previously state owned, these now family-owned farms grow and harvest the rye, then ferment and distil it to produce raw alcohol which is sent to the distillery where it is rectified to the quality required to make Belvedere Vodka.

Produced in one of the world’s longest operating polish distilleries, which has been making vodka since 1910, Belvedere’s Master Rye Distillers draw from a 600-year polish vodka-making history to artfully craft Polska rye into extraordinary spirits of distinct taste and character.

Small and intimate, the Polmos Żyrardów distillery delivers Belvedere’s signature consistent quality and has been recognized by the European Commission for its aggressive sustainability agenda, having reduced energy-related CO2 emissions by 42% since 2012.

Belvedere’s production is regulated by the Polska Vodka legal regulation, one of the strictest in the world. As the appellation dictates, all production must take place on Polish soil, the spirit must be made of either grain or potato, and nothing else can be added.

As the vodka category has become more associated with neutrality, Belvedere has challenged the status quo. Belvedere believes that rye, the heart of the brand, delivers a vodka with both distinctive taste and character.