Type Vodka Introduced 1782 Proof (US) 80 | Manufacturer Gessler Alcohol by volume 40% | |
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Country of origin Poland (now produced in Austria) | ||
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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History
"Monopolowa" means "monopoly", in this case referring to a privilege given to the Polish nobility class of the szlachta, giving them exclusive rights to produce and sell vodka in their territories.
Monopolowa was produced by J. A. Baczewski until World War II. 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, the license was terminated and production in Poland was halted.
Monopolowa has consistently scored top marks in awards and is marketed to consumers looking for a high quality product with a low price. It scored a 94 at the 2003 International Review of Spirits, the highest score, tying with Stolichnaya. In 2008, the independent Beverage Testing Institute gave Monopolowa a rating of 93/100, calling the vodka "exceptional".