Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/26650
Hand-crafted and four-times distilled from potatoes grown in Poland’s Podlasie region, Chopin’s pure potato- ness has won fans on the merits of its gluten- and carb-free character, but it takes more than just a great base ingredient to roll out a symphony of spirited flavors—hard work, and hands-on attention to detail are the real magic behind Chopin’s famed potatoes. The Polish Connection “We’re like a small boutique winery,” opines Chopin’s owner, Tad Dorda, who calls THE TASTING PANEL from Poland. “We make small-batch vodka, and we do it all right here,” continues Dorda, referencing the town of Polmos Siedlce, 60 miles east of Warsaw, where every aspect of Chopin comes to life, from potato to bottle. “We buy the best Podlasie potatoes we can, not normal, edible potatoes,” explains Dorda, who also mentions that the distillery’s proximity to the potato-growing fields aids in ensuring the highest-quality spirit. “The potatoes Potato Pride As vodka became the “it” spirit category of the 1990s, consumers in the U.S. were introduced to one brand that encouraged them to think differently about what they were drinking. Chopin emerged as the first luxury vodka in the world, with a commitment to the highest quality product and taste, and rather than being mindlessly mixed (and masked) in mediocre cocktails, Chopin inspired mixologists and consumers alike to take—and 42 / the tasting panel / march 201 1 taste—vodka seriously. “One way that we like to promote our vodka is straight, whenever possible,” explains Dana Chandler, VP/General Manager of Chopin Vodka, who knows that the best way to experience Chopin’s extreme smoothness and rich- ness of flavor is to encounter the spirit in its purest form. From there, it’s easy to fall in love with Chopin’s creamy, full-bodied green apple and vanilla notes, a complex flavor profile that bursts forth from one single ingredient. Chopin Vodka owner Tad Dorda displays the new Chopin Rye bottle, which, like its potato predecessor, bears the image of Polish composer Frédéric Chopin, the brand’s namesake. Frédéric’s famed piano melodies are smooth and artfully balanced—not unlike the vodka that honors the tradition of Poland’s prodigal son. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHOPIN VODKA PHOTO: MICHELLE JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY