Squadron 303 Reservoir Auxiliaire vodka / 40% / 0.7l

The history of the brand dates back to the beginning of World War II, when after the German invasion of Poland, many Polish pilots joined the RAF to support the fight against the enemy. At that time, the 303 Squadron was the best unit of the RAF, with an impressive number of enemy aircraft shot down. Legend has it that when the pilots were not fighting in the air, they brewed their own vodka from potatoes. The impulse that started this project was the finding of a hip flask of one of the commanders of the 303 Squadron, Walerian Żak. It is produced in the English Spirit Distillery, located near the place where the RAF pilots had their base during the war. It is bottled in very carefully finished bottles.

Produced from the King Edward variety, one of the oldest known in Great Britain, rich in sugar and starch. It undergoes a very slow distillation process, in copper stills and a still, the water used for production is filtered five times. Additionally, it is not cold filtered, which gives it a bit of an oiliness.

The distillation process, modelled on that used during the war, has been recreated by Dr John Walters, former professor of biochemistry at the University of Oxford. Matured for 10 days, the vodka is quite sweet and has a very delicate taste and aroma. It is perfect for drinking neat, on the rocks, or as a delicious base for composing cocktails. The bottle is modelled on the shape of the auxiliary tanks attached to the landing gear of Spitfire aircraft during World War II. Legend has it that pilots transported their distilled vodka in these tanks of their aircraft. You too can have the opportunity to fill an empty Squadron 303 bottle from the auxiliary tank!