Belvedere 10 is a luxury rye vodka from Poland, distinguished by its single estate concept – it is made from a single rye harvest from a single field. Belvedere defines the process by the principle: one rye, one farm, one field, one harvest, and the spirit then rests for exactly ten months to marry the aromas and achieve a velvety texture. The name refers back to the brand's roots – the vodka is a tribute to the way it was made when the distillery was founded in 1910.
The raw material is a prized rye variety originating from a specific terroir. The variety is organic Dankowskie Diamond rye grown on the Bartężek estate in Poland, harvested a year after the August sowing. The field lies on the Bartężek estate in the Masurian Lake District in north-western Poland. The vodka itself stems from a renowned tradition – Belvedere 10 is produced at the Polmos Żyrardów distillery in Poland, a facility with deep roots in the Polish vodka-making tradition.
In the production process, the method of distillation and maturation is noteworthy. Immediately after harvest, the rye undergoes four rounds of distillation in copper columns at the Belvedere distillery in Żyrardów, in order to elevate the character, depth and dimension of the rye. To preserve the clarity and brightness of the spirit, every drop is filtered through cellulose and then rests in stainless steel – rather than in barrels – for 10 months, to develop texture and smoothness. The producer explains this choice by the neutrality of the material – stainless steel is a neutral vessel that does not interfere with organic processes, which allows the vodka to breathe and become fuller in flavour and body. It is bottled at 40% ABV.
On the nose the vodka departs from the category's typical profile. It presents an archetypal clear spirit, yet surprises with an unusual, subtle nose of coconut, cocoa and vanilla with a hint of fresh lemon, and occasionally a touch of white pepper appears, a reminder of the rye base. On the palate it drinks creamily and very generously, with a sweetness evoking honey, caramel and green coffee, while the finish is long and elegant, lingering with notes of nut praline and dark cocoa.
Belvedere positions 10 at the top of its portfolio. The product is described as a spirit distilled from organic rye, certified organic and free from additives, distilled and bottled by Polmos Żyrardów in Poland. It is best enjoyed neat or on the rocks, always lightly chilled. Delicately salted snacks make a good pairing, as does dark chocolate, echoing the notes of cocoa and praline.