Distillery
Polugar
Polugar is a brand that reinterprets the traditional Russian "bread wine" (polugar), i.e. grain distillates produced according to historical recipes. The range includes rye, wheat and barley distillates and a series of flavored bottles and an "Old Russian Gin"; modern production is carried out in facilities in Poland following traditional methods with copper pot stills.
- Poland
- Since 2010
- 12 products
The story
The name and recipe refer to the historic Russian grain distillates known as "polugar" (bread wine). According to sources, the Rodionov family rediscovered historical recipes and techniques and relaunched production in 2010; because traditional production is prohibited in Russia, current production was started in an old distillery in Poland.
Production philosophy
Restore historical methods and flavours of Russian grain distillates: highlight raw materials (rye, wheat, barley), the use of copper pot stills and traditional fining/filtration practices to obtain aromatic distillates characterised by the taste of the grain rather than the neutral aromatics of industrial vodka.
Territory
Production and bottling currently reported in Poland; the product's historical and cultural roots are Russian.
Production method
Declared production in copper pot stills reproduced from historical models; processes with multiple distillation passes (e.g. x2/x3 depending on the product). Some lines use fining with egg white and filtration over birch charcoal; for 'infused' bottles the ingredients are added directly to the full tank according to available technical sheets.
Distillation
Distillation in copper pot stills, with multiple distillation passes (e.g. x2/x3 depending on the label); traditional fining practices (egg white) and filtration over birch charcoal are reported by technical sheets.
Characteristics
- Type
- Distillery
- Categories
- artisanal vodka / bread wine (polugar)
- Old Russian-style gin
- rye-, wheat- and barley-based distillates
- flavored spirits (infused)
- Raw materials
- rye
- wheat
- barley
- Representative products
- Barley - Orzo - 70cl - Boxed
- Dry Cherry - Cherry
- N°1 Rye & Wheat - Rye & Wheat - 70cl
- N°10 Juniper Old Russian Gin - Juniper - 70cl
- N°2 Garlic & Pepper - Garlic & Chili Pepper - 70cl
- N°3 Caraway - Cumin - 70cl
- N°4 Honey & Allspice - Honey & Pimento - 70cl
- N°5 Horseradish - Horseradish - 70cl
- N°6 Pepper - Habanero Chili Pepper - 70cl
- Vodka Classic Rye - 70cl - Boxed
- Wheat - Wheat - 70cl
- Single Malt Rye / Classic Rye
What makes it distinctive
- Modern revival of a historic Russian distillate known as 'bread wine' (polugar).
- Revival initiated by the Rodionov family with activity documented since 2010.
- Contemporary production carried out in Poland in copper pot stills reproduced from historical models.
- Reported processes: multiple distillations, egg white fining and filtration over birch charcoal.
- Range composed of plain grain distillates and numerous flavored versions; typical reported ABV: 38.5%.
