J.A. Baczewski Suweren is a potato vodka bottled at 40% ABV, produced according to a reconstructed pre-war recipe and distinguished by a delicate accent of orange peel. The Suweren recipe dates back many years, and its flavour and aroma hark back to the finest period in the history of the Baczewski company, namely the 1920s.
The brand's history is one of its hallmarks. Production began in 1782 near Lviv, when the Baczewski family founded a small distillery, and in 1810 Leopold Baczewski moved it to Lviv. During the Second World War the factory was destroyed, and it was not until 1956 that the Baczewski family regained the rights to the trademark and, together with Eduard Gessler, resumed production, preserving the pre-war recipe; to this day Suweren potato vodka is created in a small production facility at the Vienna branch.
The spirit is based on a grain-and-potato base subjected to multiple distillation. Baczewski vodka is made from triple-distilled potato spirit, and offers a delicate aroma of orange peel along with a full, subtle flavour. The citrus character here is not the result of flavouring, but of maceration of the raw material – Suweren is a vodka distilled from potatoes and macerated with orange peel, according to a recipe reaching back to the early 20th century, which brought the brand great success in the interwar period.
Softness and dryness dominate the flavour profile. The vodka has a delicate aroma of orange peel and a full, subtle taste, while the pleasant sharpness on the tongue is balanced by the aroma of sweet orange. The profile is dry, surprising with its softness and natural citrus fruit notes. Orange peel and mandarin are crowned by a long, dry finish.
The shape of the bottle is another distinguishing feature. Baczewski Suweren is hand-filled into decanters modelled on those in which the vodka was sold before the war. The suggested serving temperature is –6 to –10°C. At the table it suits a classic, savoury repertoire of appetisers – Suweren pairs well with herring in cream or oil, smoked salmon, beef tartare, cured meats with pickles, and meat-filled pierogi.