Chopin Vodka 1.75L
Chopin Vodka was founded in 1992 by Tadeusz "Tad" Dorda, who built the brand around a simple idea largely unheard of at the time: a vodka made from a single ingredient rather than a blend of grains. Production takes place at the family-owned Chopin Distillery in Krzesk, in Poland's eastern Podlasie region, an agricultural area long known for its potato cultivation. As the last family-owned vodka producer in Poland, Chopin sources its potatoes almost entirely from farms within roughly 20 miles of the distillery, some of which it cultivates itself.
Chopin Potato Vodka is made exclusively from a high-starch, late-harvest potato variety, cooked whole with their skins before fermentation. It takes around 40 pounds of potatoes to produce a single 750ml bottle, reflecting the labor-intensive nature of potato-based distillation compared to grain. The mash is distilled four times through traditional copper column stills, then blended with local artesian well water and filtered multiple times before bottling at 40% ABV, a process aimed at achieving maximum purity while preserving the potato's natural character.
The nose opens with soft, powdery potato notes and a touch of earthiness, giving way to green apple, vanilla, and hints of toasted nut. On the palate, the vodka is full-bodied and creamy, with an off-dry weight that sets it apart from lighter grain-based styles. The finish is smooth and rounded, closing with a gentle, lingering warmth.