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.

Monopolowa
TypeVodka
ManufacturerGessler
Country of origin Poland (now produced in Austria)
Introduced1782
Alcohol by volume 40%
Proof (US)80
Related productsList of vodkas

History

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"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

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References

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  1. ^ "History in a Vodka Bottle: How Baczewski Ruled European Royal Courts, Invented Marketing & Rose from the Ashes". Culture.pl. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  2. ^ Proof66 Ratings Page for Monopolowa Vodka[dead link]
  3. ^ Tastings.com: Monopolowa Potato Vodka
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