Monopolowa Vodka

To be clear, this is one of my preferred vodkas. However, I can see why someone might have a negative review, so allow me to elaborate. Years ago, I found this vodka and really enjoyed it. It's smooth, with an almost creamy texture and faint sweetness, plus a touch of bitterness in the finish. This is generally true for most bottles. I'm unsure of the cause, but I moved for a time and couldn't find Monopolowa. When I eventually returned to my hometown, I purchased a bottle from a particular store. Upon opening and tasting it, I was bewildered by its distinctly sour and bitter taste, with very few positive attributes. I was truly perplexed; just a year prior, I had been happily preparing vodka martinis with it, and they were delicious, but now? It was almost undrinkable. I ended up using the remainder in a soup. Well, two days ago, I visited the same store and thought... it tasted good before, perhaps I received a flawed bottle that was stored incorrectly or was simply an anomaly. Honestly, I believe I just got a bad bottle, and maybe the previous reviewer did too. It might be a quality control issue, a problem with the supplier, or a problem with the retailer, but the bottle I have now is exactly as I recall it. It lacks that off-putting sour cream flavor that, frankly, clashes with alcohol. This one is creamy, smooth, and has a slight bitterness at the end, just as I remembered. If not for that subpar bottle and the chance of encountering one, this would receive a perfect score.

Just for a change, I decided to try a bottle of Stolichnaya, a highly-regarded grain vodka, to compare it with my long-time favorite, Monopolowa, a potato vodka. I typically only use vodka in Martinis with Garlic Stuffed Olives, but I wanted to compare them neat, chilled to 70 degrees, and served in Glencairn glasses for better aroma and taste than a shot glass. I must say, I'm uncertain what the previous reviewer was experiencing or if they are affiliated with the brand, but I do not find this vodka BITTER & HARSH at all, nor do I rate it a 64. I believe the Stoli is a quality vodka and costs twice as much as this one, but I actually prefer the flavor and overall experience with the MONOPOLOWA. I purchase the 1000ml bottle at Trader Joes here in Southern California for $10.50, compared to the Stoli 750ml for $17, as of 12/29/2019. Make your own judgment... Cheers!

From my time in a liquor store, this is likely among the finest vodkas I've encountered, both for its cost and excellence. I've converted many patrons from Ciroc and Tito's to Monopolowa, and I rarely get complaints when I suggest it. It lacks the corn notes found in Tito's, and while this potato vodka has a slight burn, it's very brief. It disappears in mixers, which is, let's face it, the primary use for vodka, apart from occasional shots. This is a budget vodka, yet it doesn't deserve any of the negative commentary it receives.

Complex scents of citrus, warm cinnamon, and mint are the first impression. The entry is neutral and creamy, followed by tastes of earthy, semi-sweet beet and baking spices. The finish has hot cinnamon and black pepper.

What doesn't this place offer that isn't delicious? It's the smoothest potato vodka available, superior to Chopin. It has less of a metallic bite than Luksusowa Polish, tastes better, and is priced much better than Boyd & Blair artisan.

A very smooth and crisp potato vodka. It holds its own among the best potato vodkas on the market. The price is great too!