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Swigs of CHEER
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Pub City now has an upmarket vodka brand for those who know their liquor
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Belvedere is one of the few vodkas that is macerated, says Ashwin Deo. - Photo: Kamal Narang
THINK OF Warsaw and you think of those glorious museums and ghastly winters. And the spirit of a doughty populace. And talking of spirit, here's one of a different mettle. You can partake of it in form of Belvedere, the premium vodka of Poland. Belvedere, which literally means beautiful to see, is beautiful to the eye and tongue. It is subtle, clean and superbly warm. It comes from Polmos Zyardow in the Mazovian plains, west of Warsaw. Exotic stuff. Polish plains that have seen historical horrors seeing the finest vodka? Enough reason to go for it. Ashwin Deo, Managing Director, Moet Hennessy India, who launched the Belvedere vodka at the Taika restaurant here, says this is the world's first luxury vodka.
Luxury drink
Belvedere is the first Polish vodka that has made the "luxury status in the American market". Involving craftsmanship arising out of a rich tradition, it is priced high. And it is distilled from the best rye, the Dankowskie Gold from central Poland.
Priced at 30 dollars or euros outside, in India it is pegged at Rs. 2,700. Regular vodkas in India come for anything between Rs. 450 and Rs. 800. And the odd Absolut that comes your way is around Rs. 1,500.
Belvedere, like others that make similar claims, comes with a 500-year-old history. Its name comes from the historic Royal Palace of Poland. The motif embossed on the frosted bottle is the palace, caressed by timeless branches, and it carries the right salutation: na zdrowie, meaning cheers.
Belvedere is single-grain vodka distilled four times "to bring about the subtle feel". Not three because impurities remain and not five because the flavours go away. You have two flavours: Cytrus that has oil extracted from citrus peels and is beautiful lime; the Pomarancza, a lovely Moroccan orange tinge mixed with Spanish mandarin orange and Spanish and Mexican limes. The vodka absorbs the natural oil giving itself an elusive, pleasant flavour. It is one of the few vodkas in the world that is macerated, says Ashwin. Sipped neat, it is a class act because the aroma is anyway there. Sip it on the rocks, if not in Martinis, and you still won't miss anything. But aerated mix will kill the Polish magic. The regular Belvedere too is easy: a vanilla creamy finish.
Vodka's roots
Anyone'll be curious to know where vodka first came from. Poland claims it is the first country to produce vodka in the Mazovian plains. Russia believes it is the first to do so and its vodkas have been popular over years. But point is vodkas seem to be doing well in America. Romanov was recently bought by an American company and the people who produce Belvedere, Polish, are employees of the company headquartered in the U.S. This Polish delight has travelled Australia, Britain, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan. And it's done celebrities through the cocktail route. The Belvedere Presidential Martini and Belvedere Luxury Cosmopolitan have reached George Clooney, Sir Elton John, David and Victoria Beckham, Quentin Tarantino, Bryan Adams, Jude Law, Boy George and the like. Hip-hopper Jay-Z and Rapper Missy Elliott are supposed to have rapped on Belvedere.
Belvedere doesn't seem to have competitors in its league. Starting from its prices. Way ahead of all other regular vodkas. And Belvedere, pricing apart, is not short on class either.
PRASHANTH G.N.
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