Polmos (an acronym for Polski Monopol Spirytusowy, Polish Spirit Monopoly) was a Polish state-owned monopoly, controlling the Polish market for vodka and other spirits. Founded in the late 1920s, until World War II it was one of the leading vodka producers in Poland. Its distilleries at that time were the most modern in the region, which allowed the company to export its products to many other countries around Europe.
After World War II the company became a true monopoly as all other distilleries were nationalized by the communist authorities of Poland and assumed by Polmos. In 1990 the monopoly was divided onto several independent companies, each owning one of the distilleries and one of the best-selling brands of Polish spirits. Currently the companies are being privatized and only 5 remain state-owned.
In 2001 Pernod Ricard purchased Polmos Poznan, the home of Wyborowa vodka, and in 2008, after the acquisition of V&S, it also integrated Polmos Zielona Gora into the company.
Among the best-known descendants of Polmos are: