101 out of 101 people found this review helpful.
Great Bottle Design Matched by its Contents
Date of Review: Jun 17, 2002
The Bottom Line: The "World's First Luxury Vodka" -- quality taste, finish, at a reasonable price. I wish I didn't have to pay extra for the bottle.
Poland is well-known for its vodkas, but many people incorrectly assume that all Polish vodkas are made from distilled potato pressings. The truth is, a variety of starch crops (other than potatoes) are used by different distillers to make vodka in Poland: barley, oats, rye and wheat.
Belvedere Vodka is a premium Polish vodka, and it is packaged in an absolutely sensational looking clear glass bottle with an elegant painting of a pair of (bare branch) willow trees on the front, with a view through the glass to a picture of the Belvedere House (the Presidential Palace in Poland).
Polmos Zyradow, the maker of Belvedere Vodka, uses 100% rye grain. This makes for a completely different taste experience when compared to another premium Polish vodka: Chopin Vodka, which is produced from Stobrawa potatoes.
Belvedere Vodka
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Alcohol: 40% by volume (80 Proof).
Distillation: from 100% rye; distilled four times.
Appearance: Clear as water; sheets the glass and will finish with a minimal of beading.
Aroma: Creamy essence of bread dough, vanilla; slight rye tones touched by flowers... but not perfumey.
Flavor: Smooth, rich entry. Very soft and creamy on the palate. Medium-bodied. Best descriptor: Plush, with a slightly sweet, floral character. Pleasant finish, but not razor sharp. Lingering warmth but never hot or abrasive. This is a high quality spirit that is easy on the tongue and very enjoyable.
Price and Availability: Available in wide distribution and fairly easy to find. Expect to pay about $26-to-30 per 750 bottle. Imported by Millennium Import Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota. I purchased this vodka at Beverages & More in Orange, California (bevmo.com). Half bottles (375 ml) are also available for about $16.
Recommendations: Best enjoyed straight, as an aperitif spirit before your meal. Well, that's the way I like it. Serve chilled.
Verdict: 4-stars. This Vodka was a double Gold Medal award winner at the San Francisco Spirits Competition. If you are interested in trying the Silver Medal award winner, you'd need to pick up a bottle of another Polish premium: Chopin Vodka (also similarly priced and also imported by the Millennium Import Company).
