Sobieski Distillery (Destylarnia Sobieski S. A.) in Starogard Gdański (former: Gdańsk Vodka Distillery, former Distillery "Polmos" in Starogard Gdański) dates back to the year 1846 when a merchant from Gdańsk, H.A. Winkelhausen, founded the Manufacturing Plant of Vodkas, Liqueurs and Brandies.
A quarter of a century later, in 1871, the first spirit rectification plant in the Pomeranian region was created.
Between World War I and II the manufacturing plant produced over 60 brands of alcohol.
In 1925 the Treasury purchased a part of the plant which operated within the frameworks of the State Spirit Monopoly.
A wholesale network was functioning before the outbreak of World War II.
During the Nazi occupation the factory produced mainly technical spirit for the army. Three months after the war, the plant resumed production, starting the denatured alcohol bottling section. It was rebuilt as part of one huge state enterprise associating all plants producing alcohol in Poland.
In 1962 the factory incorporated a yeast factory from Tczew: "Pomorska Fabryka Drożdży", and in 1967: a yeast factory in Maszewo. The basic production range were pure and flavored grades of vodka. Since 1984 the assortment has been widened with low-grade alcoholic beverages like aperitifs, creams and cocktails.
In 1991 the large liquor industry factory Polmos was split into 25 independent state production works which started competing independently on the liquor market. Our company started working out its own identity on the market. All produced assortment was decorated with a unique logo placed on labels and caps. In successive years the brand name of Wódki Gdańskie with styled labels and fashion bottles was introduced into the market.
In 1995 our company started the production of anhydrous spirit used in the production of eco fuels. On Nov. 01, 1998, as a result of commercialization of state companies, Distillery Polmos in Starogard Gdański was converted into a sole shareholder company of the Treasury under the name of Fabryka Wódek Gdańskich w Starogardzie Gdańskim.
The factory had a wide range of products: pure and flavored vodkas, milk and egg creams, liqueurs: Krupnik and Goldwasser decorated with gold flakes. Our technological process combines using top quality ingredients, traditional receipts and technologies with the newest technological findings.
Until 1999, trade marks had been a shared property of the whole industry. When the trade marks were divided among individual factories, out company received the exclusive production right of Krupnik vodka and Orange Cream Liqueur and Lemon Cream Liqueur.
In spring 1999 our company was granted a certificate of compliance of the quality management system with the norm ISO 9001 in the scope of design, production and sales of alcoholic products audited by KEMA REGISTERED QUALITY POLSKA.
In August 2001 the Ministry of Treasury signed a sales agreement of 79.99% of the initial capital of Fabryka Wódek Gdańskich to Belvedere Dystrybucja Spółka z o.o. owned by a French spirit corporation Belvedere S.A. On Jan. 17, 2002 Belvedere Dystrybucja Spółka z o.o. took over the first part of 70% of shares and thus, in accordance with the privatization agreement, the transaction was closed.
As of Oct. 01, 2003 by means of a resolution of the Ordinary Shareholder's Meeting, the name of our company was changed from Fabryka Wódek Gdańskich w Starogardzie Gdańskim into Destylarnia Sobieski Spółka Akcyjna. At present, Destylarnia Sobieski S.A. is part of the Sobieski Spółka z o.o. group.
