Honestly, this is one of my favorite vodkas. However, I understand the poor distiller review, so let me explain. Years back, I discovered this vodka and absolutely loved it. It's smooth, the texture and faint sweetness are almost creamy, and there is a slight bitterness to the aftertaste. In most bottles. I don't know what it is that causes this, but I moved away for a while and wasn't able to find Monopolowa, and when I finally got back to my hometown after a while, I bought a bottle from TJ's. When I cracked it open and started drinking it, I wondered why it tasted downright sour and bitter, with little redeeming qualities. I was genuinely confused, a year before I was happily making vodka martinis with this stuff and they tasted awesome, but now? Nearly undrinkable. I ended up using the rest of the bottle in borscht. Well, two days ago, I was at TJ's and decided... well, it tasted good before, maybe I got a bad bottle which was stored improperly or just was a lemon in general. Honestly I think I just got a bad bottle, and perhaps the taster did too. Maybe it's a QC issue, maybe it's a problem on the distributor's end, maybe it's a problem on the store's end, but the bottle I have now is exactly as I remember it. No foul sour cream taste that frankly, doesn't mix well with alcohol. This is creamy, smooth, and slightly bitter at the end, and just as I remembered. If it wasn't for that bad bottle, and the possibility that you might get one, this would get a five star.