Review: Chopin Vodka
You’re a famous 19th century composer. What are the odds that someone is going to take your good name and turn it into a vodka 150 years later?
Well, someone did: Polmos Siedlce and Millennium Import, of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The connection is Poland, where Chopin lived and vodka was (allegedly) born. Chopin is a traditional potato vodka, from Polish potatoes. Despite the fancy, frosted glass bottle, it has a very traditional flavor for potato vodkas, too. Light up front, a tiny bit sweet as you sip, then medicinal on the finish. Not a lot of nuance, here, but certainly something you could drink in a martini or a cocktail. I don’t recommend it straight, really.
B / $29 / chopinvodka.com
March 27th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
What? I stop in to see what’s up at DrinkHacker, and this is what I’m rewarded with?
You give Level 42 an A-… you give some vodka you describe as “sweet” a B+… and Chopin only rates a B?
Chopin is the smoothest vodka I’ve ever had. It is absolutely excellent chilled with ice. Drop a twist or an olive into it and you’ll miss its exceptionally clean flavor. (And for God’s sake, get OVER the “dirty martini,” already.)
I can forgive you for not knowing that the so-called Millennium Import Company is actually a front operation for Moet-Hennessy, the same group that brought us the woefully overrated Belvedere. But I can’t forgive your bad taste. Why bars keep stocking Belvedere when this gem is available is beyond me.
I can only assume you were hung over.
March 27th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
A B isn’t bad. It’s perfectly palatable. But there’s much better out there, including, yes, Level 42. Try Tito’s.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I, too, actually give Chopin a slight edge over Tito’s, at least for just drinking over ice. Tito’s is better for mixed drinks or for making infusions/flavored vodkas (and it is cheap enough – $18 – that I can experiment without much risk).
Both of those vodkas made 3Luxe’s top three ranking though (link: http://www.3luxe.com/category/Spirits/Vodka). I have yet to try Square One to see how it measures up, however.
January 25th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
I am now curious about polish potato vodkas as I am allergic to wheat and am going to try and stay gluten-free. I love grey goose but it doesn’t love me. I am going to try Chopin but I hear its even more pricey then GG. What’s a potato vodka girl to do??
January 25th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
kathy – If you’re game to try an American potato vodka, Blue Ice is the least expensive potato-based vodka that I’ve tried, at just $18 or so a bottle – http://www.drinkhacker.com/2007/11/16/review-blue-ice-vodka/
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:23 pm
I too need a gluten free diet. I’ve tried Chopin as an alternative to my favorite Grey Goose and I think it’s the closest to GG that I’ve found. Blue Ice reminds me of Chiroc, very much a rubbing alcohol taste, not what I like.
Only reason I don’t drink Chopin more often is the cost, some stores charge 25% more than GG. Most places I used to find it in NYC the prices were similar for both, around $30 for 750ml. Only place I’ve found it where I live now in FL now wants $40 for 750ml, and they sell GG for $28 for 750ml. Strange.