Starka
Encyclopedia
Starka is a traditional dry
vodka
distilled from rye
grain, produced mostly in Poland
and Lithuania
. Traditional Starka is made from natural (up to 2 distillation
s, no rectification) rye spirit and aged in oak barrels with small addition of lime-tree and apple-tree leaves. The process of production is similar to that used in whisky
. Sold in various varieties, the most notable difference between them is the length of aging period, varying from 5 to over 50 years, and the natural colour which is taken from the long reaction between alcohol and the oak, not from the addings.
at least since 15th century and by 17th century became one of the favourite drinks of the Gentry
and an integral part of Sarmatist culture
. The tradition had it that at child's birth, the father of the house poured large amounts of home-made spirit (approximately 75% strong) into an empty oak
barrel
, previously used to store wine (usually imported from Hungary
at that time and hence called Węgrzyn, or Hungarian). The barrel was then sealed with beeswax
and dug into sandy ground, only to be dug out at the child's wedding
. The name itself stems from this process of aging and in 15th century Polish
meant both the vodka type and an old woman. Alternatively the name is derived from the Lithuanian
word "Starkus", as production of Starka is associated with birth.
In late 19th century various companies (mostly in Imperial Russia and Austria-Hungary
) slightly simplified the production process and adopted it to the needs of mass production by the Lwów-based Baczewski
company. After the end of World War I
, which put an end to foreign rule over former parts of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, starka remained one of the most popular spirits in both countries. After World War II
when Lithuania
was inside the Soviet Union
, starka production there was not stopped and was produced in "Vilniaus degtine" and "Stumbras" (Kaunas) factories. In Poland, all of the spirit producers were nationalized, but the production of starka continued, mostly as a high-priced export good.
Currently, Polmos Szczecin is the only company in Poland to produce Starka, and they offer it in all age classes, from 10 to 50 years old. All Starkas produced by Polmos Szczecin contain 50% alcohol by volume. There is also a 10-year-old Starka that is 80 proof (40%). The oldest Starkas offered by Polmos date back to 1947. There is also a number of other companies (most notably in Lithuania
, Bulgaria
, Kazakhstan
, Russia
and Latvia
) that produce vodkas styled after the starka (produced mostly from a mixture of rectified spirit
and herbal tincture
s).
Dryness
Dryness is a property of alcoholic beverages that describes the lack of a sweet taste. This may be due to a lack of sugars, the presence of some other taste that masks sweetness, or an underabundance of simple carbohydrates that can be converted to sugar by enzymes in the mouth...
vodka
Vodka
Vodka , is a distilled beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits....
distilled from rye
Rye
Rye is a grass grown extensively as a grain and as a forage crop. It is a member of the wheat tribe and is closely related to barley and wheat. Rye grain is used for flour, rye bread, rye beer, some whiskeys, some vodkas, and animal fodder...
grain, produced mostly in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. Traditional Starka is made from natural (up to 2 distillation
Distillation
Distillation is a method of separating mixtures based on differences in volatilities of components in a boiling liquid mixture. Distillation is a unit operation, or a physical separation process, and not a chemical reaction....
s, no rectification) rye spirit and aged in oak barrels with small addition of lime-tree and apple-tree leaves. The process of production is similar to that used in whisky
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
. Sold in various varieties, the most notable difference between them is the length of aging period, varying from 5 to over 50 years, and the natural colour which is taken from the long reaction between alcohol and the oak, not from the addings.
History
Starka was known in Polish-Lithuanian CommonwealthPolish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
at least since 15th century and by 17th century became one of the favourite drinks of the Gentry
Gentry
Gentry denotes "well-born and well-bred people" of high social class, especially in the past....
and an integral part of Sarmatist culture
Sarmatism
"Sarmatism" is a term designating the dominant lifestyle, culture and ideology of the szlachta of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Together with "Golden Liberty," it formed a central aspect of the Commonwealth's culture...
. The tradition had it that at child's birth, the father of the house poured large amounts of home-made spirit (approximately 75% strong) into an empty oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
barrel
Barrel
A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container, traditionally made of vertical wooden staves and bound by wooden or metal hoops. Traditionally, the barrel was a standard size of measure referring to a set capacity or weight of a given commodity. A small barrel is called a keg.For example, a...
, previously used to store wine (usually imported from Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
at that time and hence called Węgrzyn, or Hungarian). The barrel was then sealed with beeswax
Beeswax
Beeswax is a natural wax produced in the bee hive of honey bees of the genus Apis. It is mainly esters of fatty acids and various long chain alcohols...
and dug into sandy ground, only to be dug out at the child's wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
. The name itself stems from this process of aging and in 15th century Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
meant both the vodka type and an old woman. Alternatively the name is derived from the Lithuanian
Lithuanian language
Lithuanian is the official state language of Lithuania and is recognized as one of the official languages of the European Union. There are about 2.96 million native Lithuanian speakers in Lithuania and about 170,000 abroad. Lithuanian is a Baltic language, closely related to Latvian, although they...
word "Starkus", as production of Starka is associated with birth.
In late 19th century various companies (mostly in Imperial Russia and Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
) slightly simplified the production process and adopted it to the needs of mass production by the Lwów-based Baczewski
Baczewski
Baczewski is a name of a Polish szlachta family, founders of the J. A. Baczewski vodka company. The factory, dating back to late 18th century, was based in Lwów and until 1939 was one of two most popular Polish export goods...
company. After the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, which put an end to foreign rule over former parts of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, starka remained one of the most popular spirits in both countries. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
was inside the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, starka production there was not stopped and was produced in "Vilniaus degtine" and "Stumbras" (Kaunas) factories. In Poland, all of the spirit producers were nationalized, but the production of starka continued, mostly as a high-priced export good.
Currently, Polmos Szczecin is the only company in Poland to produce Starka, and they offer it in all age classes, from 10 to 50 years old. All Starkas produced by Polmos Szczecin contain 50% alcohol by volume. There is also a 10-year-old Starka that is 80 proof (40%). The oldest Starkas offered by Polmos date back to 1947. There is also a number of other companies (most notably in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
) that produce vodkas styled after the starka (produced mostly from a mixture of rectified spirit
Rectified spirit
A rectified spirit, rectified alcohol, or neutral spirit is highly concentrated ethanol which has been purified by means of repeated distillation, a process that is called rectification. It typically contains 95% alcohol by volume...
and herbal tincture
Tincture
A tincture is an alcoholic extract or solution of a non-volatile substance . To qualify as a tincture, the alcoholic extract is to have an ethanol percentage of at least 40-60%...
s).
External links
- Polmos Szczecin, one of the most respected manufacturers of Starka
- Stumbras, producer of Starka-styled alcohol in Lithuania