Notes: An interesting distillery with a very interesting series of vodkas in their portfolio. They actually call it bread wine, but for the sake of simplicity in our reviews we are going to classify it as a vodka (never mind the fact no one would search for bread wine as a category of spirit). Bread wine is actually a more accurate description in some ways than vodka to describe the older more traditional form of vodka, much in the same way that Genever /Jenever forms of gin use the distinction of Vieux Systeme (using pot sills and lower proof distillation to retain flavor) to the new column stills distillation methods use more widely today which yields products with less character.

The distillery itself is built along historic lines, using 18th and 19th century drawings to recreate their still – copper pot stills that look more like a cognac charentais or alembic type still or some of the older stills used for other spirits of that period . Here is one of the few pictures of their stills.
The preparation of ingredients uses traditional wash and malting of grains and nothing else. The water is also not some Reverse Osmosis/filtered to death, fear of flavor water but natural spring water.The vodka is clarified using fresh egg whites and then filtered through birch charcoal – something that only the most prestigious forms of vodka do.

The Rodoinov & Sons Distillery boast an extensive portfolio of Vodka/Polugar/Bread Wine Including this Wheat, the Rye & Wheat, Classic Rye, Single Malt Rye, and the flavored varieties Caraway, Honey and Allspice, Garlic and Pepper.

Appearance: Medium heavy coating of the glass on swirling with tears forming then morphing into heavy droplets. Clear splice appearance overall .

First Impression: Luscious bread like aromas with touches of sweetness, and slight sharpness of wheat. Displaying a deft hand at distilling by the absence of the usual heads and spirity notes that wheat vodka can easily display if not for a very careful distillation.

Taste: Liquid bread, with a pleasing sweetness and oiliness on initial entry.The grain like impression continues with a wheat germ like oiliness with touches of moneymaking for a unparrelled smoothness and captures the essence of wheat.

Drinks: While it mixes well and does an amazing job at smoothing off the hard edges and angles of some ingredients (particularly Bloody Mary’s and spicier cocktails, it really should be enjoyed naked on its’ own at room temperature to fully appreciate just how great it is.lmost any vodka can be drunk cold enough,a number of vodkas can be appreciated at room temperature (which can display faults quite rapidly in many others), but this one really stand out among the wheat vodkas to be sipped and savored at room temperature displaying all its charms.

Bottle: Nicely done and distinctive square clear glass bottle with a slightly heavy bottom and rounded shoulders and a distinctive and nicely done rolled lip like an antique bottle.A wheat grain yellow/parchment colored label with antique fonts with a raised copper metallic “P”at the top of the label and a clear label with an explanation go Polugar on the back. A synthetic cork provides a tight seal and is topped by a wood cork heavily printed with a fair bit of information. Very distinctive in a sea of frosted glass cylinders (every other vodka it seems) , makes it easy to stand out at a distance on s shelf.

Other: The bottle recycles easily and makes for a great infusion bottle later on.

Final Thoughts: One of the smoothest and best wheat vodkas we have ever had. A lovely. fatty, and sumptuous expression of a vodka.If this vodka was a moment I would describe it as Rubenesque. I just wish this vodka cost a bit lees, so I could afford to have more of it. While it is expensive in the scale of vodkas, the quality sets a standard for a luscious style of vodka. If you want the best buy this one.

Website: http://www.polugar.ru/eng/legal-age

A well laid out and easy to navigate page with some fascinating history on vodkas and bread wine. A quick but must read page for vodka fans – or anyone who wants more information on the vodka family of spirits