These taverns closed early at night to prevent excessive consumption, and vodka was only served with meals. Throughout the mid-1800s, different cities granted exclusive rights to sell vodka to certain groups of tavern keepers. In 1860 home distillation was forbidden in Sweden. The Swedish Temperance Society was founded in 1837. With the invention of the continuous still and other technological advances, potatoes became easier to use as raw material in the early-to-mid 1800s. It would come again later.Īccording to the book The Vodka Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide by Desmond Begg, "Potatoes, a cheaper raw material than wheat at the time, were first used in distillation in the 1790s." In 1775 a law was passed forming a state monopoly on spirits production, but this was abandoned soon after. It became a bit too popular as soon as the price came down. Vodka in Sweden was likely made from grapes, then grain.
In the 16th century spirits became a luxury beverage, and in the 17th century they became a popular recreational drink for all classes. Sweden has a strange relationship with potatoes and vodka.Īccording to Nicholas Faith and Ian Wisniewski in their 1997 book Classic Vodka, distillation had reached Sweden by the 14th century, though this was used to make medicines. But when the country joined the European Union, that all changed. Then the potato took over as did a government monopoly on production (except for a little export product called Absolut). In Sweden, vodka was originally made from grapes and grains. I'm researching potatoes in a project with Karlsson's Vodka.
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