Vodka before the revolution. Who Invented Vodka? The history of vodka

18.10.2021

Vodka and Russia in the mass consciousness - the concepts are almost identical. Not a single event, both joyful and sorrowful, can do without this strong alcoholic drink. Traditionally considered an integral part of Russian culture.

Despite this, many interesting facts about the origin of vodka, its connections with the history of our country, the culture of consumption of the drink, remain a secret behind seven seals. Let's take a short excursion into the past and figure out what is true and what is stereotyped, not confirmed by historical sources.

Is Russia the birthplace of vodka?

In fact, it’s not that simple. Russia got acquainted with the predecessor of vodka, a product of the distillation of fermented grape juice called "aqua vitae" (water of life) relatively recently, only in the 14th century. For the first time, he was brought to Moscow by the Genoese ambassador, who was leaving for Lithuania on commercial matters. This strong alcoholic drink did not make much impression on the Russian courtiers of that time. Much more popular were honey and, "aqua vitae" came to be used mainly as a medicine.

According to legend, the first vodka producer in Russia was the monk of the Chudov monastery Isidor. It is he who is credited with the authorship of the creation of a completely new strong alcoholic drink. The originality of the drink was that it was produced only on the basis of grain raw materials. It is grain that is the exclusive drink of the Russian state.

The first patented Russian national vodka was in 1894, containing 40 parts by weight of ethyl alcohol and passed through a charcoal filter. In 1953, vodka of this brand was awarded the Gold Medal at the International Exhibition in Bern.

Vodka is bread wine.

Name "vodka" appeared much later than the alcohol itself.

Vodka is a diminutive form of the word "water", i.e. "little water", "little water". The drink received this name for its crystal purity and transparency, mystery and simplicity at the same time.

For a long time, vodka was called "Wine" adding various epithets to this term:

"boiled wine" and "digest" - one of the first names associated with the production of vodka;

"bread wine" - the common name for vodka in the second half of the 17th century;

"Orzhanoye Vintso", "Zhitnaya Wine" - the designation of vodka until the middle of the 19th century;

"green wine", "intoxicating wine", "harmful potion" - folklore, colloquial terms;

"bitter wine" - vodka with bitter herbs, later - a synonym for a miserable life.

"burning, burnt wine", "hot wine" - Ukrainian "vodka";

"tavern" - vodka of illegal production, that is, moonshine.

Vodka in the history of Russia.

As a Russian national drink, it has played an important role in the history of the country.

In the time of Catherine II, when the highest quality vodka was first obtained, its price was several times higher than the price of the rarest cognacs in France. All the monarchs of the world considered it an honor to receive such a drink as a gift. The great Swedish botanist Karl Linnaeus, having tasted the Russian national strong drink, wrote a whole study on vodka: "Vodka is in the hands of a philosopher, doctor and commoner. An interesting work for everyone," published in 1790. Russian vodka was highly appreciated by Emmanuel Kant, Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Voltaire.

After the Napoleonic Wars, vodka was brought to France, where it had tremendous success as a noble drink of the country's liberators from the tyrant Bonaparte.

Many famous Russian noble families lived on income from vodka production... Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin had the opportunity to get an education at the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum thanks to the distillery in Boldino, owned by his grandfather, Lev Alexandrovich Pushkin.

All over the world it has the status elite high quality drink which is in great demand on the world market.

Isabella Likhareva

The reason for the emergence of this unofficial holiday was the defense of his doctoral dissertation "On the combination of alcohol with water" by Dmitry Mendeleev, which took place on that day back in 1865 in St. Petersburg.

The first vodka recipes appeared in Russia 500 years ago, as evidenced by the exhibits of the Moscow Museum of the History of Russian Vodka. But it was Mendeleev who found the "ideal" proportion and "created" a forty-degree vodka.

Vodka is a special drink, the taste of which is simply impossible to reveal without a hearty and salty snack. Therefore, vodka should be accompanied by the following dishes - caviar, sturgeon, salmon, smoked meats, pickled mushrooms, herring with boiled potatoes, and so on.

"Thief of the mind"

Alcohol has been called the "mind thief" since ancient times. People learned about the intoxicating properties of alcoholic beverages about eight thousand years BC, when they were made from honey, fruit juices and wild grapes.

It is believed that winemaking arose even before the beginning of cultural agriculture. The famous traveler Miklouho-Maclay observed the Papuans of New Guinea, who did not yet know how to make fire, but already knew the techniques of making intoxicated drinks.

The Arabs began to receive pure alcohol in the 6th-7th centuries and called it "al kogol", which means "intoxicating". The first bottle of vodka was made by the Arab Ragez in 860. The distillation of wine to obtain alcohol sharply aggravated drunkenness and it is possible that this was the reason for the prohibition of the use of alcoholic beverages by the founder of Islam, Muhammad (570-632).

This prohibition subsequently entered the code of Muslim laws - the Koran, and since then, for 12 centuries, alcohol has not been consumed in Muslim countries, and the apostates of this law were severely punished. Despite this, the cult of wine still flourished and was sung in poetry in the countries of Asia.

In the Middle Ages in Western Europe, they also learned to obtain strong alcoholic beverages by distilling wine and other fermenting sugary liquids. The first to carry out this operation was the Italian alchemist monk Valentius.

Bottles of Riga vodka produced by A. Wolfschmidt plant

Having tasted the resulting product, which intoxicated him, the alchemist said that he had discovered a miraculous elixir that makes the old man young, tired, cheerful, yearning cheerful.

Since then, spirits have quickly spread throughout the countries of the world, primarily due to the constantly growing industrial production of alcohol from cheap raw materials - potatoes, sugar production waste, and so on.

Alcohol so quickly entered everyday life that practically not one artist, writer or poet did not ignore this topic.

The volatile liquid obtained as a result of the distillation of the fermented wort was perceived as a concentrate - the "spirit" of wine (in Latin spiritus vini), hence the modern name of this substance in many languages, including in Russian - "alcohol".

Russian vodka

In Russia, vodka appeared at the end of the 14th century - grape alcohol (aqua vitae - "living water") was first brought by Genoese merchants in 1386. The drink became famous at the grand ducal court, but did not make an impression.

The next time "living water" was brought to Moscow by foreigners in 1429 - as a universal medicine. At the court of Prince Vasily II, the liquid was apparently appreciated, however, due to its strength, they preferred to dilute it with water. Historians suggest that the idea of brewing alcohol was the impetus for the production of Russian vodka, but from grain.

The method of production of vodka became presumably known in Russia in the second half of the 15th century. According to one version, the vodka recipe was invented by Isidor, a monk of the Chudov Monastery. Having the necessary distilling equipment, as well as experience in making less strong drinks, the monk made a strong drink, which later became known as vodka.

So the beginning of vodka production can be considered the year 1430 - this fact was confirmed by the International Arbitration, which secured the right to use the name "vodka" for Russia.

The production of vodka in Russia in mass quantities began in the middle of the 15th century, and already at the beginning of the 16th century there is information about the export of vodka from Russia to neighboring Sweden, where it first became known from the Russians, and not from the Germans. This was the first experience of Russian vodka export, which was later destined to conquer the world.

The word "vodka" itself appeared in Russia in the 17th-18th centuries and, most likely, is derived from "water". At the same time, in the old days, the terms wine, tavern were also used to denote vodka.

With the development and improvement of vodka production in Russia, remarkable results have been achieved in terms of purification and taste characteristics of the drink.

The dynasties of Russian "vodka kings", breeders, were laid in the Petrine era. In 1716, the first emperor of All Russia offered the noble and merchant classes the exclusive right to engage in distillation on their lands.

In the middle of the 18th century, the production of vodka in Russia, along with state-owned factories, was occupied by noble landowners, owners of estates scattered throughout the country. Russian "home" vodkas produced by the Kurakin princes, the Sheremetevs, the Rumyantsevs and others enjoyed an excellent reputation.

Manufacturers sought to achieve a high degree of vodka purification, using natural animal proteins for this - milk and egg white.

The state standard for vodka was first introduced in Russian history at the end of the 19th century. This was largely facilitated by the research of famous chemists Nikolai Zelinsky and Dmitry Mendeleev, members of the commission on the introduction of the vodka monopoly.

Mendeleev's merit lies in the fact that he developed the composition of vodka, which was supposed to correspond in strength to forty degrees. "Mendeleevsky" version of vodka in 1894 was patented in Russia as "Moscow special" (later - "Special").

Vodka with fruits.

Vodka is perceived as a national symbol of Russia, along with samovar, balalaika, matryoshka, caviar. Remaining until the end of the 20th century one of the most widespread Russian national drinks, vodka served as the basis for a huge number of tinctures, the preparation of which has become a special branch of home production in Russia.

Monopoly

The state (tsarist) monopoly on the production and sale of vodka has been introduced in Russian history several times.

In 1533, the first "tsar's tavern" was opened in Moscow, and the entire vodka trade became the prerogative of the tsarist administration. In 1819, Alexander I re-introduced the state monopoly, which existed until 1828.

In Russia, since 1894, a state monopoly was periodically introduced, which was strictly observed in 1906-1913.

In 1992, by decree of the President of Russia Boris Yeltsin, the monopoly was abolished, which entailed a number of negative consequences (financial, medical, moral, and others).

Already in 1993, a new decree was signed that returned the monopoly, but the state was unable to strictly control its implementation.

No alcohol law

During the Russo-Japanese War, there was a ban on the sale of vodka in some provinces of the empire. The "dry law", which was introduced in Russia at the very beginning of the First World War, continued to operate even after the establishment of Soviet power.

Only in 1923 the sale of liqueurs with a strength of not more than twenty degrees was allowed. In 1924 the allowable fortress was increased to 30, in 1928 the restrictions were lifted.

Mikhail Gorbachev in 1986 launched an unprecedented campaign against drunkenness, and in fact against alcohol consumption. But this company, which led to the massive destruction of vineyards, the production of low-quality "underground" alcoholic beverages, the growth of drug addiction, and so on, was not crowned with success.

Real vodka should be practically tasteless and not taste like fusel oils.

The Medal "For Drunkenness" was established by Peter I in 1714. He decided that she would be a panacea for drunkenness. Probably, the first Russian emperor relied on an incriminating inscription that gave out a drink in a person, and on the weight of a medal. Together with the collar and chains, the medal weighed eight kilograms. They were "awarded" a medal at the police station and fastened in such a way that it was impossible to remove it. It took a week to wear the medal.

The favorite vodka of Peter I was aniseed. This drink was obtained by double distillation of "bread wine", then infused with aniseed and diluted by a third with soft spring water.

Until 1885, take-away vodka was sold only in buckets - 12 liters each. It was from that time that the popular expression "to drink vodka in buckets" remained in Russia. However, it was possible to drink on the spot the standard 50 grams (half a day) or 100 grams (a cup).

A bottle as a container for vodka, familiar to a modern person, began to be used only since 1894.

The bar culture, widely developed today, goes back to the time of Ivan the Terrible. Back in the 16th century, they came up with a format of establishments where it was customary to drink without a snack.

Vodka in tubes "for astronauts"

In January 1940, during the Soviet-Finnish war, the soldiers of the Red Army began to receive vodka rations, which they called "Voroshilov rations" or "People's Commissars 100 grams."

Since May 1942, vodka has been distributed daily to soldiers on the front lines. Moreover, later the rate was increased to 200 grams. On the Transcaucasian front, they did not give out vodka, but 300 grams of dry wine or 200 grams of port.

From 1977 to 1982, Poland and the USSR argued in court over the priority of vodka production as the Russian national drink. This case was won by the Soviet Union by the decision of international arbitration.

Alcoholic beverages distributor website

Vodka "Oil"

The homeland of the strongest vodka is Scotland. The strength of Scottish vodka is 88.8 degrees. It is said to be especially popular with the Chinese, as the number 8 symbolizes infinity.

Today vodka is considered one of the strongest drinks, but initially it was no more than 10-15 degrees.

About 500 years ago, vodka was made in an earthen vessel - a pot, where fermented berries and fruits were placed, poured with boiling water, covered with a lid and sent to a Russian oven. In the process of condensation, alcoholic vapors flowed into the pan - this was what we now call vodka, only weak.

The material was prepared on the basis of open sources.

January 31 marks the 154th anniversary of the "birthday" of vodka. On this day in 1865, Dmitry Mendeleev defended his doctoral dissertation on the topic "On the combination of alcohol with water."

Vodka is a strong alcoholic drink, a mixture of rectified (food) ethyl alcohol with water. To prepare vodka, a mixture of alcohol and water (sorting) is passed through activated carbon, then filtered.

By adding infusions of herbs, seeds, roots and spices to vodka, various infusions are prepared.

Other types of vodka are obtained by distilling fermented sweet liquids.

Types of vodka

Ordinary vodka in Russia is a 40% solution of alcohol purified from fusel oil in water. Cleaning is carried out hot in rectification plants or cold - in vodka. Alcohol here is diluted with water (to a strength of 40-45%) and filtered through a series of vats filled with charcoal (best of all birch), which absorbs fusel oil (traces remain). The best vodka is made from rectified alcohol.

Special vodka is prepared by dissolving various essential oils and aromatic substances in ordinary vodka or alcohol.

To obtain fruit vodka, ripe berries are crushed, the juice is squeezed out, sweetened and forced to ferment (adding yeast). The fermented wort is distilled.

The history of the emergence of vodka

The prototype of vodka was made in the 11th century by the Persian physician Ar-Razi, who was the first to isolate ethanol (ethyl alcohol) by distillation. The Koran prohibits Muslims from drinking any alcoholic beverages, so the Arabs used this liquid (vodka) exclusively for medicinal purposes, as well as for the preparation of perfumes.

In Europe, the first distillation of an alcohol-containing liquid was done by the Italian alchemist monk Valentius. The alchemists of Provence (France) adapted the alembic invented by the Arabs for converting grape must into alcohol.

In Russia, vodka appeared at the end of the XIV century. In 1386, the Genoese embassy brought the first vodka (aqua vitae - "living water") to Moscow and presented it to Prince Dmitry Donskoy. In Europe, all modern spirits were born from "aqua vita": brandy, cognac, whiskey, schnapps and Russian vodka. The volatile liquid obtained as a result of the distillation of the fermented wort was perceived as a concentrate, the "spirit" of wine (in Latin spiritus vini), hence the modern name of this substance in many languages, including in Russian - "alcohol".

In 1429, "Aqua Vita" was again brought to Moscow by foreigners, this time as a universal medicine. At the court of Prince Vasily II Vasilyevich, the liquid was apparently appreciated, however, due to its strength, they preferred to dilute it with water. It is likely that the idea of diluting alcohol, which, in essence, was "aqua vita", was the impetus for the production of Russian vodka, but, of course, from grain.

The method of vodka production became presumably known in Russia in the second half of the 15th century and was probably due to the appearance of grain surpluses that required quick processing.

Already at the beginning of the 16th century, "burning wine" was taken not to Russia, but from it. This was the first experience of Russian vodka export, which was later destined to conquer the world.

The word "vodka" itself appeared in Russia in the 17th-18th centuries and, most likely, is derived from "water". At the same time, in the old days, the terms wine, tavern (as they called vodka made illegally, under the conditions of the state monopoly introduced in the 18th century), inn wine, smoked wine, burning wine, burnt wine, bitter wine, etc. were also used to denote vodka.

With the development and improvement of vodka production in Russia, remarkable results have been achieved in terms of purification and taste characteristics of the drink.

In the middle of the 18th century, the production of vodka in Russia, along with state-owned factories, was occupied by noble landowners, owners of estates scattered throughout the country. Empress Catherine II, who patronized the nobility, who granted him many different benefits, made distilling an exclusive privilege of the nobles. A significant part of the vodka was produced on manor houses, and the quality of the drink was raised to boundless heights. Manufacturers sought to achieve a high degree of vodka purification, using natural animal proteins for this - milk and egg white. In the 18th century, Russian "home" vodkas enjoyed an excellent reputation, produced by the Kurakin princes, the Sheremetev counts, the Rumyantsev counts, and others.

At the end of the 19th century, for the first time in Russian history, a state standard for vodka was introduced. This was largely facilitated by the research of famous chemists Nikolai Zelinsky and Dmitry Mendeleev - members of the commission on the introduction of the vodka monopoly. The merit of the latter lies in the fact that he developed the composition of vodka, which should have corresponded to 40 ° in strength. "Mendeleevsky" version of vodka in 1894 was patented in Russia as "Moscow special" (later - "Special").

In Russian history, the state (tsarist) monopoly on the production and sale of vodka was repeatedly introduced. For example, in 1533 the first "tsar's tavern" was opened in Moscow, and the entire vodka trade became the prerogative of the tsarist administration, in 1819 Alexander I reintroduced the state monopoly, which existed until 1828, from 1894 a state monopoly began to be periodically introduced in Russia, strictly observed in 1906-1913.

The state monopoly on vodka existed throughout the entire period of Soviet power (formally - from 1923), while the technology of production of the drink was improved, and its quality was at an invariably high level. In 1992, by decree of the President of Russia Boris Yeltsin, the monopoly was abolished, which entailed a number of negative consequences (financial, medical, moral, and others). Already in 1993, a new decree was signed that returned the monopoly, but the state was unable to strictly control its implementation.

The history of prohibitive measures against vodka is noteworthy. Thus, during the Russo-Japanese War, there was a ban on the trade of vodka in some provinces of the empire. "Prohibition" was introduced in Russia at the very beginning of the First World War, continuing to operate even after the establishment of Soviet power (it was only in 1923 that the sale of liqueurs with a strength of no more than 20 ° was allowed, in 1924 the permissible strength was increased to 30 °, in 1928 the restrictions were lifted , in 1986, under Mikhail Gorbachev, an unprecedented campaign was launched to combat drunkenness, in fact, the use of alcohol, which was not crowned with success and entailed the massive destruction of vineyards, the production of low-quality "clandestine" alcoholic beverages, the growth of drug addiction, etc.) ...

As an element of everyday culture, vodka took a specific place in the history of Russian life, marked by such verbal symbols - "signs" as "mentikov dime", "katenka", "kerenki", "monopolka", "rykovka", "andropovka", "smirnovka "(by the name of one of the largest domestic producers of vodka), etc., and has also become an invariable solid payment unit (" bottle of vodka "), especially in rural areas. Vodka is often perceived as a national symbol of Russia, on a par with samovar, balalaika, matryoshka, caviar. Remaining until the end of the 20th century one of the most widespread Russian national drinks, vodka served as the basis for a huge number of tinctures, the preparation of which has become a special branch of home production in Russia.

Since January 1, 2010, in order to combat the illegal trade in alcohol in the country, Russia has introduced a minimum price of 89 rubles for a 0.5 liter bottle of vodka. The corresponding order was signed by the Federal Service for the Regulation of the Alcohol Market (Rosalkogolregulirovanie). If the bottle is of a different volume, the minimum price will be calculated in proportion to the capacity.

Thus, now the consumer will be able to make an informed choice between a legal and an illegal manufacturer. According to experts, taking into account the excise tax on alcohol planned for 2010, the cost of a bottle, VAT and minimum markups in retail and wholesale, the price of a bottle of vodka does not really exceed 89 rubles.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources

Many foreigners associate vodka with Russia, is it really a national drink? Who invented vodka? Many people may be interested in this question.

It is known that back in the Middle Ages, conducting various experiments, alcohol was discovered in Europe, which is associated with alchemists. But regarding vodka, many believe that it was invented in Russia.

Indeed, the well-known chemist Dmitry Mendeleev came up with the ideal ratio of water and alcohol - 40% to 60%. Does this mean that he invented vodka?

How mankind discovered alcohol for itself, no one knows. Archaeologists found out that the Papuans of new Guinea could not yet light a fire, but they already knew how to make intoxicating drinks. The earliest graphic mentions of wines were recorded in the 4th millennium BC. NS. Shards of clay vessels with remnants of wine traces on them date back to an even earlier period. But, spirits in those days were not invented yet.

The distillation of liquids was first described by the greatest philosopher of Ancient Greece - Aristotle, born in 384 BC. NS. One must think that similar experiments on the extraction of alcohol were carried out before, there is simply no documentary evidence of this.

The first drink resembling vodka was invented by the Persian physician Ar-Razi. Distillation of alcohol-containing elements made it possible to identify ethyl alcohol. This gave rise to the emergence of alcoholic beverages.

But the Arabs did not take alcohol by mouth, it was used as medical and cosmetic products.

Reference! What year was vodka invented? It is believed that an Arab doctor invented an alcohol-based drink in 860 - then it was used only for medicinal purposes.

In the Middle Ages, alchemists developed and improved various techniques and methods of distilling fermenting raw materials into the “soul of wine”. Who was the first to invent alcohol, probably, will forever remain a mystery to mankind.

The unsolvable controversy of scientists

The Italians invented the distillation apparatus in the 9th century. Around the same time, the secret of obtaining spiritus blame was revealed to scientists in other countries. Doctor, scientist, alchemist - the Frenchman Arnaud de Villger became the founder of the extraction of wine alcohol in Europe, he was able to separate alcohol from fermenting raw materials. The idea was picked up by the monks of France and then Italy. In 1360, a rare church economy did not actively trade in the "water of life".

Vodka in its literal sense was invented by the Poles. Then they called the drink bread wine and used it as a medicinal tincture. It was in the distant Middle Ages. All adult citizens of the country could produce and sell such vodka. The word itself also comes from the Polish language, which means "water", Wikipedia also mentions this.

In the 16th century, Tsar Ivan the Terrible ordered the boyars to secure a monopoly on the production of this drink.

But the myth about the origin of vodka arose during the Soviet Union, when the well-known culinary specialist William Pokhlebkin published the book "The History of Vodka". It says that the alcoholic drink appeared in Moscow when Russia was under the yoke of the Golden Horde. Many researchers argued about who invented vodka. Fierce discussions continue today. Wikipedia, for example, displays the conflict between Pokhlebkin and Pidzhakov. The latter, as evidence of the false theory of the scientist-researcher, refers to the absence of any direct documents confirming this fact. There is no historical evidence that unequivocally gives an answer to who invented vodka and when exactly the discovery was made. Many professors and just amateurs are still trying to find the answer to this question.

There is no reliable data on this fact, therefore the version is classified as false. But in the minds of many people the idea was fixed that vodka appeared precisely on the Russian land.

A little about the product

Vodka has the following components:

Water- the main component;
Ethanol;
Methyl alcohol- a dangerous component, however, it is contained in small doses even in the best grades of alcohol;
Fusel oils- their presence indicates the low quality of the product.

The taste of classic vodka is characterized as pungent and bitter. In some species, various flavors are added to soften the aqueous-alcoholic composition. This can be pepper, cinnamon, chocolate (no sugar), vanilla, etc.

Reference! What is classic vodka made of? The raw materials for it are potatoes or cereals, purified water.

Many Russian poets and writers glorified vodka, for example, Vladimir Mayakovsky wrote: "It's better to die from vodka than from boredom!"

Aureliy Markov is the author of the words: "A bottle of excellent vodka is a good substitute for knowledge of foreign languages."

The emergence of an alcoholic beverage based on alcohol in Russia

A prototype of vodka was brought to Russia in the 14th century, when a merchant from Genoa delivered "Aqua Vitae" or "Living Water". This was back in 1386.

Alchemists from the Provence region had by that time learned how to convert grape must into alcohol, like an Arab alembic.

Reference!"Alcohol" in translation from the Latin language means spirit. In Russia, vodka was called bread wine, since it was made from cereals of wheat, rye, and barley.

Despite the fact that the concept of vodka in Russia already existed, it was precisely as the trade name of this drink that it sounded only in the USSR. This happened in 1936 according to GOST.

The basis was taken alcohol-rectified, made from raw materials based on grain or potatoes. Subsequently, in Russia, vodka began to be produced only on the basis of grain crops.

The massive planting of vodka began during the time of Ivan the Terrible, this was done to replenish the royal treasury. Sometimes people were forcibly forced to buy this drink, and, by the way, it cost a lot.

Before the distribution of vodka, Russian people did not drink strong alcoholic drinks, preferring:

mead,
weak berry wines,
beer.

Ivan IV forbade, on pain of death, the production of alcoholic beverages at home.

As a result, the tsar's treasury was replenished, but people for a long time considered selling vodka shameful, and drunkards were not respected either. But gradually Russian society began to decay. There was such a thing as an alcoholic.

Reference. Many have heard of the concept of "Tsarskaya vodka". But you can't drink it. The composition includes hydrochloric and nitric acid. Their goal is to dissolve gold. The liquid has no color, later the solution turns orange.

There are many interesting facts in history regarding this popular drink in Russia. To learn more about it, you can visit the Vodka History Museum located in Moscow.

It covers the history of this drink for 500 years, presents 600 types of vodka, other related exhibits. Similar museums, but with fewer exhibits, are open to visitors in Uglich (RF), St. Petersburg, Amsterdam, Kharkov.

Truthfulness of the expression "drinking in buckets"

Popular expression "Drink vodka in buckets" has a historical meaning. Since in the time of Catherine II, this drink was sold in buckets of 12.3 liters.

Back in 1533, the first establishment was opened where you could have a couple of glasses of a strong drink, by the way, vodka was sold there as an elite drink. Bottled vodka was sold later in 1894.

Penalty glass

Where did the concept of penalty vodka come from? It turns out in Ancient Greece, and this is back in the 4-5 centuries BC. the inhabitants loved to host feasts.

The number of food and drinks was not limited, but there were certain rules of etiquette, according to which a person who was late for a feast had to pay a fine.

Sale patent

In 1894, the government in Russia opened a patent for the sale a domestic drink called "Moskovskaya Osobennaya", where 40 parts by weight of ethyl alcohol were passed through carbon filtration.

This drink has become Russian national brand.

Toast to health

The concept of "toast to health" appeared in the time of Ivan the Terrible, when various medicinal tinctures were made with alcohol, based on berries and medicinal herbs.

Reference! Such strong drinks were taken only for medicinal purposes.

Medal for drunkenness

The heaviest award in the world was the Medal for Drunkenness, which was established by Peter I. It was in 1714.

So the king came up with a panacea for alcoholism.

The emphasis was on the inscription, which informed everyone around about the status of the drunkard and the weight of the award.
Considering the collar and medals, such an insignia weighed 8 kilograms.
"Rewarding" was carried out by the police. The medal was attached to the neck in such a way that it was impossible to remove it.
A person had to pass a week with a similar label, this was enough to realize his actions.

About Mendeleev

The creation of vodka is associated with the Russian chemist Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev.

Reference! Indeed, he presented to his fellow scientists a thesis entitled "On the combination of alcohol with water." But the work has nothing to do with vodka and the establishment of a strength of 40%.

Until 1886, the standard strength of this alcohol-containing drink was established in Russia as 38.3%. But since it was also envisaged that the vodka would "shrink" so that it had guaranteed 38 degrees, it was decided to round this number to 40%.

DI Mendeleev himself took the concept of metrology as the basis of his work, and not the goal of creating an alcoholic beverage.

Science on guard of health

Allergy to alcohol. A diagnosis that sounds like a curse. If gluten is recognized as an undesirable component for the body, there is hope for salvation. Today, many world vodka producers, knowing the number of people with aversion to cereal grain protein, are releasing alternatives. What is this vodka made of? Alcohol is extracted from potatoes, grapes, fruits.

According to the regulations of the European Union, any vegetable crops are considered acceptable for the production of vodka.

No alcohol law

Even under Mikhail Gorbachev, a dry law was introduced. But it turns out that in Russia this was done several times.

The first stage took place in 1914. With the coming of the Bolsheviks to power, a number of laws were also passed regarding the reduction of vodka production.

The next ban was introduced in 1960. It was from this time that moonshine and other surrogates produced in an underground manner became popular.

Sales ban in regions

Currently, some regions of Russia have their own procedures regarding alcoholic beverages.

So, for example, in the Ulyanovsk region, alcoholic beverages are not sold on Saturday and Sunday, as well as every day after 20:00.
Dagestan has established legislation prohibiting the sale of alcohol on certain holidays.
In Yakutia, they went even further, here alcohol is not sold, starting at 20:00 and until 14:00 the next day.

Culture of consumption and presentation

Slavic peoples most often drink pure vodka, Europeans and Americans usually use strong alcohol to make cocktails. The most delicious, revealing its specific, burning bouquet, will be vodka chilled to 7-10 °. It is poured into glasses containing no more than 50 grams. It is not customary to add water to alcohol, vodka is considered completely ready to drink. For the same reason, ice is not put in it.

Drinking vodka is not a sign of bad taste or a violation of alcohol ethics. Alkaline mineral water is a good option for this. It reduces the concentration of alcohol in the blood, prevents strong intoxication. This is followed by vegetable and fruit juices, pickles, compotes. Because of the carbon dioxide content, sugary carbonated drinks accelerate the absorption of alcohol. The punishment for betrayal of vodka and the use of other drinks after it will be a painful hangover. In extreme cases, they drink it after weaker products: wine, liquor, but not vice versa.

Good vodka is a noble drink. You should not drink it hastily, the varieties differ in aromas, taste, and pungency. If a decent snack is not expected to be consumed, it is advisable to eat a hearty meal the day before. Fatty, hearty dishes weaken the intoxicating effect of vodka and allow you to drink it with pleasure, without fear of suddenly disappearing into oblivion.

What is served with vodka for a snack?

You can talk about it for a long time, but many people like to just drink it. But, everything is good in moderation. And yet, a special snack is needed for vodka. The famous Leopold Staff also jokingly said:

“Vodka should be drunk only in two cases: when there is a snack, and when it is not. But it is better to have a good snack with this strong drink. "

Previously, it was believed that it should be various dishes, such as sausages, caviar, sturgeon, salmon, pickled mushrooms, dumplings or pancakes.

In later times, not so nourishing, people were content with pickles, green onions, and boiled potatoes as a snack.

She is good with first courses: homemade noodles in chicken broth, red borsch, soups, fish soup. It is not customary to put vodka on the table at the same time as:

melon;
sweet dishes, chocolate.
watermelon;

From the point of view of health, fried fatty meats, hot peppers, horseradish, and adjika are poorly combined with alcohol. These products additionally load the digestive system and the liver, "distracting" them from neutralizing alcohol in the blood. Vegetables canned with vinegar (pickled), unlike salted counterparts, create an extra stressful situation for the kidneys.

Watch a video about who actually came up with vodka:

Some want to know who created the vodka in order to thank from the bottom of their hearts, others would hate this person. The history of vodka is still a dark matter, and today it is generally accepted that it officially first appeared in Russia in the XIV century. However, everyone would be interested to know where and which scientist created 40-degree vodka.

Who invented vodka

Despite the fact that vodka is considered the Russian national alcohol, there are many peoples in the world who attribute its origin to their merits. Today it is difficult to say who came up with the vodka formula, even Wikipedia on this matter will not give a clear answer. Therefore, each nation remained unconvinced about why vodka was invented, and where it came from on earth.

So, in Russia the people consider Dmitry Mendeleev to be the creator of the 40-degree strong drink. Although, in fact, he appeared long before the defense of his doctoral dissertation "On the combination of alcohol with water" and even before the birth of himself. By the way, the scientist himself did not drink vodka, preferring dry wine to it. Therefore, it would be unfair to believe that Mendeleev invented Russian vodka. By and large, he did not even determine the optimal strength, but only used the research of the English chemist J. Gilpin in his work. The latter, in his research, came to the conclusion that the ideal vodka should be 38-degree.

Among European chemical scientists, the Italian monk Valentius is mentioned, who also allegedly claims to be the creator of the 40-degree drink. It is not known what year it was, but he was really the first in Europe to receive ethyl alcohol, but he did not try to mix it with water.

There is not a single written evidence that would prove or disprove the involvement of a certain person in the creation of vodka. Therefore, it remains to believe that the first vodka belonged to an unknown scientist, or maybe a drinker.

Where did they come up with vodka?

It is precisely known that long before the appearance of the scientific works of Gilpin, Valentius and Mendeleev, people used vodka. The first relatively pure alcohol was distilled by Arab alchemists in the XIII century, but due to the fact that the Koran does not welcome the use of strong drinks, such vodka was used exclusively for grinding, and later - for making perfumes. Vodka, invented in Stockholm, which was called "fire wine", also did not immediately begin to be used for its intended purpose, until the 17th century it was exclusively a medicine.

The vodka recipe can be deservedly attributed to Asians. But not for 40-degree alcohol, but for your national drink. Everyone knows what kind of vodka was invented in Asia - it is "driven" from cane, molasses, raisins, rice.

History. When vodka appeared in Russia

So, the Russian people came up with the word "vodka" and, in fact, the drink itself, or not, but there is still some explanation for such a "native" attitude towards it. In 1386, Genoese traders arrived in Moscow and presented the so-called "living water" (aqua vitae) to Prince Dmitry Donskoy. It was a highly concentrated wine alcohol that belonged to the Provencal alchemist Arnold Villeneuve. Back in 1334, the scientist managed to rebuild the alembic, invented by the Arabs, to form ethyl alcohol from grape wine. These raw materials became the basis for spirits. When vodka appeared in Russia, European countries began to make cognac, whiskey, armagnac, etc.

In the middle of the 15th century, when the grain yield increased sharply, relations with Byzantium ceased, the Russian people had to rebuild in terms of alcohol addictions, because wine was no longer exported. Then, around 1430, the monk Isidore, who lived in the Chudov Monastery on the territory of the Kremlin, presented the first recipe for Russian vodka. A century later, a state monopoly was introduced in Russia on the production and sale of vodka in the royal taverns.

Returning again to Mendeleev's participation in the creation of vodka, it is fair to say that it was he who made it what it is today. In addition, he supported the alcohol monopoly, sought to establish uniform quality standards for vodka, and, finally, was the first to insist on a patent.

And Russian vodka was patented in 1894 - obtained from rye raw materials, strong by 40 degrees and purified using a charcoal filter. And it was called "Moscow special".

In addition to Mendeleev, William Vasilyevich Pokhlebkin made a huge contribution to the creation of vodka. When Poland filed a lawsuit in the International Arbitration Court in the late 70s, demanding to apply the term "vodka" exclusively to its national drink, his work entitled "The History of Vodka" helped to prove in court the priority of the Russian people in creating a 40-degree drink.