Forum Views () 
Forum Replies ()  
 
 
Read more with google mobile :
Professional vodka tasters keep Polish tipple pure  
 
 
 
 
 
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
 
 
 
Asia Pacific
World
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Professional vodka tasters keep Polish tipple pure
 
 
  
 
 AFP - Monday, July 26
 
 
Send
 
IM Story
 
Print
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Professional vodka tasters keep Polish tipple pure
 
 
 
 
 
 
POZNAN, Poland (AFP) - – For Poland's army of vodka tasters, the rules are strict: no smoking, no coffee, and no perfume, not to mention to the 6 am starts.
 
While in France cellar masters ensure the quality of fine wines, in Poland professional vodka tasters keep the potent tipple, first distilled in the region in mediaeval times, smooth and pure.
 
Krystyna Gbiorczyk, in charge of quality and taste control at a distillery in Poznan, western Poland, has for many years used her keen sense of taste and smell to safeguard the reputation of a top-selling brand name.
 
Samples of crystal clear vodka made using rye are heated and poured into covered glasses to capture all their aroma, she says.
 
The vodka is then closely observed, shaken, tasted and then evaluated on the basis of its strength, taste and smell.
 
"The regular tastings allow us to detect any significant differences between different batches of vodka and correct them to the standard we seek," adds Danuta Maranda, a quality control expert.
 
Last year the distillery launched an internal recruitment drive to find talented new tasters. Candidates had to discern between sweet, salty, acid or metallic-tasting vodkas and classify them according to the degree of alcohol content.
 
Among the new recruits was Malgorzata Novak, who landed a spot on the quality control team. Now she samples more than 20 bottles over an eight hour shift with her first sip of vodka at 6 am.
 
"I check for clarity, consistency and taste, of course. I do similar checks about every hour," she explains. If her taste buds give the all clear, bottling goes ahead.
 
When they're not tasting, the distillery's experts concoct the vodkas of tomorrow. Recently, Maranda received an order to create a vodka using red fruit.
 
Just as if she were creating a new perfume, she lines up a dozen vials of various natural fruity syrups and aromas ranging from the sweet flavour of cherry pits to the acidic smell of plums.
 
Pondering caramel-based colouring, like a modern-day alchemist, she seeks perfection over a period of three months.
 
"Its a difficult task to find harmony between the different elements, to get the right amounts and marry them well in the vodka we produce, like making a fine wine," she explains.
 
The unique sensibilities of the distillery's tasters are sometimes also solicited by the police to distinguish between authentic brands and black market counterfeit vodka.
 
"Counterfeit alcohol is often composed of products which give a similar taste to the original vodka, but large doses can be very dangerous," says Katarzyna Gbiorczyk. "The problem is that people who want to save money are risking their health."
 
In 2009, around 250 million litres (66 million US gallons) of vodka were sold in Poland, making the spirit second only in popularity to beer.
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recommend
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Send
 
IM Story
 
Print
 
 
 
 
 
 
Related Articles
 
 
Cloistered French nuns sign record deal AFP - Monday, July 26
 
Court orders 'Bookseller of Kabul' author to pay damages AFP - Sunday, July 25
 
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - Saturday, July 24
 
Black Eyed Peas' E.N.D. tour has staying power Reuters - Saturday, July 24
 
Bret Michaels cited for marijuana on tour bus Reuters - Saturday, July 24
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
News Search
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Top Stories
 
 
 
 
BP chief likely to resign in wake of US oil spill
Profile of BP chief Tony Hayward
BP boss 'set to resign within 24 hours'
China sends pandas into wild to bring up cubs
Spain's Lorenzo takes MotoGP pole
 
 
 
 More Top Stories »
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
Most Popular
 
 
 
 
Most Viewed
 
Most Recommended
 
 
 
 
BP boss 'set to resign within 24 hours'
 
Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor in 'critical condition': publicist
 
China sends pandas into wild to bring up cubs
 
Solar drone lands after record 14 days aloft
 
BP to start drilling off Libya
 
 
 More Most Viewed »
 
 
 
 
 
Parachuting donkey shocks Russian beachgoers
 
Paris Hilton caught with cannabis in handbag
 
Germany's 'Octopus oracle' keeps perfect record
 
 
 More Most Recommended »
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
 
 
 
 
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
 
 
Stars and latest movies
 
 
Best travel destinations
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
More on Yahoo! News
 
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
 
Also on Yahoo!
 
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
 
Site Highlights
 
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
 
 
 
 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help  
  
   
 
 
    
   
 
Other News on Sunday, 25 July 2010 Egypt kills Sudanese migrant near Israel border  
Iran, Brazil, Turkey to discuss nuclear fuel swap  
Fifteen killed in mass panic at German Love Parade
|  
US economy 'gradually' improving: Geithner  
Turkey, Iran, Brazil to discuss nuclear swap deal  
As Cubans wait, Castro to mark revolution's start
|  
Putin pledges bright future to former spies in U.S.
|  
NATO soldiers 'reported missing' in Afghanistan  
Turkish PM proposes amending sensitive army law  
Congo rebels seize Indian pilot in attack on plane
|  
Turkey, Iran, Brazil to discuss nuclear swap deal
|  
AU says must replace Western partners with China
|  
Revolt to force Japan FA boss out of office  
AU says must replace Western partners with China  
Putin pledges bright future to former spies in U.S.  
Khmer Rouge prison chief awaits verdict  
US aircraft carrier ups pressure on NKorea  
NKorea vows nuclear response to US-SKorea drills  
Saudi cleric says Muslim women can respect veil bans  
Stampede at Love Parade in Germany kills 15  
India, EU in new bid to clinch free-trade deal  
Court orders 'Bookseller of Kabul' author to pay damages  
Search on for 2 US soldiers missing in Afghanistan  
19 killed in Love Parade stampede in Germany  
Mexico police find 51 in mass grave near Monterrey
|  
2 US Navy service members missing in Afghanistan  
China sends pandas into wild to bring up cubs  
Britain's royals post family pictures online  
As Cubans wait, Castro to mark revolution's start
|  
Lockerbie bomber release 'wrong' but no BP link: London  
BP boss could resign within days  
Pandora tops 60 million users, mobile growth strong  
Spain's Lorenzo takes MotoGP pole  
French hostage rescue mission in Mali fails: ministry  
Explosives experts in bloody dance with bomb makers
|  
U.S., South Korea start military drills as North protests
|  
Eighteen killed in stampede at German Love Parade
|  
Putin 'sings songs' with deported Russian spies  
US, S.Korea stage naval exercise despite nuclear threats  
Australian opposition promises fewer migrants  
Eastern US cooks in summer heat, temps reach 100s  
Beijing hits out at US comments on South China Sea  
Floods close Chicago interstate, damage Iowa dam  
US aircraft carrier leads drills with South Korea  
China warns of more rain in flood-hit areas  
Bangkok residents vote in Thailand's litmus test poll  
Russian farmers suffer 'catastrophe' in baking heat  
US aircraft carrier ups pressure on North Korea  
Floods and landslides kill 10 in Vietnam: govt  
Row over Cyprus air control poses safety risk  
US aircraft carrier ups pressure on NKorea  
U.S., South Korea start military drills as North protests  
Deep in Colombian jungle, a first in eco gold  
Markets to issue verdict on stress tests  
China sends pandas into forest to bring up cubs in wild  
Toyota expected to report sharp recovery in Q1: report  
Global Weather-Celsius  
Fewer Tibetans fleeing to the Dalai Lama  
Children of prisoners in China given a fresh start  
Quake strikes off Tonga, Samoa; no damage reported  
Chinese miner goes from corporate star to villain  
Iraq parliament to meet Tuesday but impasse lingers  
Basque ETA rebels say region "on brink of change"  
Fees for online news yet to succeed  
Taliban claim to have killed one US soldier  
Taliban say they're holding U.S. soldier and second killed
|  
Turkey, Brazil urge Iran to be flexible on nuclear talks  
BP chief likely to resign in wake of US oil spill  
German police defend safety steps at music fest
|  
Iran will react if ships inspected  
Iran will react if ships inspected: Ahmadinejad
|  
Search on for two US soldiers missing in Afghanistan  
Ten wounded in bombing as Bangkok votes
|  
Taliban: 1 missing US sailor dead, other captured  
Taliban: 1 missing US trooper dead, other captured  
Iran favors talks with EU after Ramadan  
Bangkok explosion wounds at least nine: police  
Japan rescue helicopter crash kills 5: report
|  
Ten wounded in bombing as Bangkok votes  
Iraq parliament to meet Tuesday but impasse lingers
|  
Afghan gov't: Taliban kills 1 US sailor, 1 held  
Australian PM Gillard on top in election debate  
Japan rescue helicopter crash kills 5  
Bettencourt aide denies illegally funding French party
|  
Khmer Rouge victims pray at prison before verdict  
Swimmers seen near China oil spill: Greenpeace  
Australian opposition wins TV debate  
Cloistered French nuns sign record deal  
Pilgrims flock to Spain's Way of St.James  
Professional vodka tasters keep Polish tipple pure  
US aircraft carrier leads drills with South Korea  
Floods and landslide in Indonesia kill 21: official  
Salt can't shake Inception at box office
|  
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro  
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found  
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever  
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production  
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time  
AMD to Start Production of piledriver  
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs  
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia  
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air  
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch  
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent  
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up  
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform  
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis  
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets  
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights