Though there was a substantial vodka cottage industry in Poland back to the 16th century, the end of the 18th century marked the start of real industrial production of vodka in Poland (Kresy, the eastern part of Poland was controlled by the Russian empire at that time). Vodkas produced by the nobility and clergy became a mass product. The first industrial distillery was opened in 1782 in Lwów by J. A. Baczewski. He was soon followed by Jakub Haberfeld, who in 1804 established a factory at Oświęcim, and by Hartwig Kantorowicz, who started producing Wyborowa in 1823 at Poznań. The implementation of new technologies in the latter half of the 19th century, which allowed the production of clear vodkas, contributed to their success. The first rectification distillery was established in 1871. In 1925, the production of clear vodkas was made a Polish government monopoly.
Though there was a substantial vodka cottage industry in Poland back to the 16th century the end of the 18th century marked the start of real industrial production of vodka in Poland (Kresy the eastern part of Poland was controlled by the Russian empire at that time) Vodkas produced by the nobility and clergy became a mass product The first industrial distillery was opened in 1782 in Lwów by J A Baczewski He was soon followed by Jakub Haberfeld who in 1804 established a factory at Oświęcim and by Hartwig Kantorowicz who started producing Wyborowa in 1823 at Poznań The implementation of new technologies in the latter half of the 19th century which allowed the production of clear vodkas contributed to their success The first rectification distillery was established in 1871 In 1925 the production of clear vodkas was made a Polish government monopoly