🥃 Chopin
Polish vodka brand made from potato, rye and wheat; produced since 1997; the Polmos Siedlce distillery, from which the producer grew; owned by the Dorda family; 40% ABV.
Chopin is a Polish vodka brand made from potatoes, rye and wheat. The base Chopin Potato appeared in 1997 and is bottled at 40% ABV. It is produced by Podlaska Wytwórnia Wódek at the plant of the former Polmos Siedlce, and according to the brand itself it is owned by the Dorda family.
History. The Polish state monopoly Polmos was created in 1919, and in 1973 the plants were given the name "Polmos" plus their town. According to Difford's Guide, the government privatised the Polmos plants in 1999. According to the brand, the distillery had been making vodka since 1896, and was later bought by Tadeusz Dorda, the founder of the brand.
How it is made. According to Difford's Guide, Chopin Potato is made from Stobrawa potatoes from Mazovia in a four-column distillation process; about ten pounds of potatoes go into a bottle. There are separate lines, Rye and Wheat, which have a different character from the potato one, which is described as softer and creamier. The raw materials are grown by farmers around the distillery.
The range. Potato, Rye, Wheat, as well as Family Reserve bottlings, which the brand handles separately; the label always states the base.
Why this matters to you. "Polska Wódka" is a protected geographical indication: under Polish law since 2013 the spirit must come from Polish rye, wheat, barley, oats, triticale or potatoes, and all stages of production take place in Poland. Potato, rye and wheat vodkas taste different, so read the base. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | brand — 1997 (Difford's Guide); the distillery made vodka from 1896 according to the brand |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | "vodka" category (Reg. (EU) 2019/787); GI "Polska Wódka / Polish Vodka" |
| EU category | 21 — vodka |
| Raw material | potato (Stobrawa, Mazovia), rye, wheat; water |
| Distillation method | four-column process (Chopin Potato) |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Chopin → kind of → 🌾 Vodka and grain spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Made from
- 🥔 Potato vodka
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🍸 Vodka, 🌾 Vodka and grain spirits
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Starka, 🥃 Starka, 🥃 Everclear, 🥃 Everclear, 🥃 Luksusowa
Frequently asked questions
Is Chopin only a potato vodka?
No. There are Potato, Rye and Wheat, but the brand promotes the potato one as its signature.
Who makes Chopin?
Podlaska Wytwórnia Wódek at the plant of the former Polmos Siedlce; the brand is owned by the Dorda family, according to the brand itself.
How many times is Chopin Potato distilled?
Difford's Guide speaks of a four-column process. The brand does not specify exactly how many passes.
What does "Polska Wódka" mean?
A protected geographical indication: Polish raw materials and production in Poland, with only water allowed among the additions.
What is the strength of Chopin?
40% ABV in the base bottling.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🧪 Water — ~87% of milk.
- 🥔 Potato vodka — Vodka from alcohol obtained by fermenting and distilling potatoes: in the EU 37.5% vol. or more, and the 'produced from…' statement is not required.
- 🥃 Starka — An oak-aged rye spirit from the Polish and Lithuanian tradition; linden, apple or pear leaves go into the barrel; ages range from a few years to half a century.
Similar
🥃 Luksusowa · 🥃 Wyborowa · 🥃 Starka · 🥃 Eristoff · 🥃 Khortytsa · 🥃 Koskenkorva
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: Chopin Potato vodka (launched 1997, Podlaska Wytwórnia Wódek Polmos, Stobrawa potatoes from Mazovia, four-column distillation, 40 % ABV)
- Difford's Guide: Polish vodka (Polska Wódka GI, Polish raw materials since 2013, Polmos history, Chopin made by Polmos Siedlce)
- Chopin Vodka (official): potato, rye and wheat from nearby farmers; family-owned business; distillery making vodka since 1896
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019): categories of spirit drinks (whisky/whiskey, vodka, gin) and geographical indications
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)