Ancient recipe revived with Polugar Barley

Russian distiller Rodionov & Sons has extended its range of 18th Century Polugar bread wine – the “father of Russian vodka” – to include a barley-based variant.

Polugar Barley is based on Russian grain distillation methods dating back to the 17th and 18th Centuries

Bread wine is a type of grain spirit popular in the early 17th Century that was distilled in copper pot stills, similar to how whisky is created.

The spirit was banned in Russia in 1895 with the government ruling vodka must be made using rectified ethyl alcohol. Rodionov & Sons therefore produces its Polugar range in Poland.

Bottled at 38.5% abv, Polugar Barley is created through the triple distillation of barley grain in a copper alembic.

“The palate has a clean soft barley bread taste, it’s comprehensively sweet with light notes of forest nuts, honey, field herbs and home pastry,” the distillery said.

“A perfect compliment with any traditional Russian dishes and international cuisine also excellent for using in premium cocktails.”

Rodionov & Sons began making Russian grain distillates in 2010 using old recipes and techniques found in historical records.