Russian Vodka - History

 In Ancient Russia, vodka wasn't used as a drink for  intoxication but as miracle mixture of medicinal grasses for external  and internal use. It healed wounds. Applied as a narcotic for pain. For  internal use a dose did not exceed half a spoon full.   Myths about curative properties of vodka promoted it's fast distribution  to people and to the transition in the category of ordinary drinks.  By the 15th century essentially new technologies, whose founders were scientific - religious attendants, appeared.  Presumably, the first grain wine was created between 1440 and 1470 in Moscow, in Chudovom, a monastery of the Kremlin. Monasty distillation was in such competition to the state treasury, that Grand duke, Ivan iii  was compelled to take on the church for prohibition of monasty  distillation. In 1474 the first monopoly to manufacture vodka came into  force and stayed until 1605  In 1552 Ivan the Terrible, having returned after a campaign to Kazan, forbade vodka trade in Moscow  and has ordered the construction of a Tavern (oprichnikov), a special  house " on Balchuge " (on a bog). The tavern  soon became popular and  became a place of amusement. Soon the state realised this was an  inexhaustible source of income for the treasury from the sale of vodka   

Since 1555 taverns have appeared and in other Russian  cities replacing old pubs (korchmy). Since 1746 taverns were renamed  into "pubs", but the name "tavern" was kept and became nominal. Within a  few centuries the tavern was not simply a pub but a social phenomenon, a  feature of Russian life and created a new public social layer, "  kabatskih jaryg "  The most significant jump in the use of alcohol in Russia took place during Peter the 1st's noisy, cheerful feasts. Peter the 1st brought tradition to Russian vodka drinking. The Tsar demanded work every day and drinking was allowed only in holidays. Peter the 1st liked  to drink so much, in one day he could drink 36 glasses. The memory of  this mighty person is also remembered in an alcoholic way of Russia. The  empire began to drink extensively. Due to Peter the 1st, vodka  in Russia was considered as an obligatory accessory, not only  celebratory, but also a daily necessity. At one time, vodka even given  out to inhabitants of charitable institutions  Vodka was long considered to be an indispensable part of a soldier's soldiering. Russian regiments almost always carried vodka for encouragement in resolute moments. The army  regulations of 1716. established special rations - distribution of  alcoholic drinks. The soldier received an obligatory issue - 2 circles  of vodka per day (about 1,5 litres)    One circle per day was given to all Petersburg builders, road  workers, shipyard workers and port loaders. For commoners, low-grade  vodka, free-of-charge, under the imperial order, was issued. It was made  at an imperial tavern  In the middle of the 18th century at the distillation plant Ekaterina II,  vodka production became the extreme privilege of nobility. She issued  laws for the state control of  manufacture of vodka by  private(individual) manufacturers  In the 19th century, oustanding Russian chemist Mendeleev D.I.  (1834-1907) had developed a theoretical basis of vodka. He had given the  indistinct concept "vodka", precise scientific and commodity  characteristics. The word "vodka" became the unique name of the main  spirits drink of Russia  Vodka is a product which, as the basic component, has rye grain spirit  dissolved on soft, spring water and is exact up to 40 degrees purity 

Ideal proportions of waterless spirit and water in the vodka standard have helped to define   research by Mendeleev, and the tables made by him have remained as a basis of alcoholimetry    All distilled mixes have similar properties, but biochemical, physical  and physiological qualities of spirits solutions are not so unequivocal,  they can be drunk by the person without unpleasant consequences, others  can be harmful  Calculations have shown, that the litre 40 degree mixes should weigh exactly 953 grammes, no more, no less  In 1894 the structure of vodka was patented by Russia as the main national spirits drink - vodka  At the end of the 19th century, Russia was at 11th place on the use  spirits among the European countries. France was in the lead - on 3  buckets of vodka per person, per year, Italy - 2,87 buckets, Belgium -  2,67 buckets  In the beginning of the 20th century, Russia became the main European  manufacturer and the supplier of spirit, having pushed aside Germany and  Austria-Hungary. Russian spirit was bought widely by wine makers in  Greece, Spain, Italy and France  From the second half of the 19th century, special attention was paid to  the perfection of technology and updating of equipment. The right on  manufacture and selling of alcoholic drinks was reserved for the state.  Quality should meet to prestige of the state. Alcoholic drinks  practically become an equivalent of money. Any change of quality was  perceived as a crime against the state    In 1914 in connection with the beginning of the 1st world war, the Russian government entered the "dry" law (prohibition)   

Prior to the beginning of the 19th century, the basic  raw material for preparation of Russian vodka was considered rye. In  the 1920's, there were lots of different grades of vodka. During  economic ruin and war, potato vodka was also made. But rye always  remained the best ingredient, and now, from rye, the supreme and  traditional grades of vodka are produced    Since 1924 the Soviet  government held a monopoly on vodka production which remained for over  68 years. The monopoly on vodka production by the Russian government,  ended in June, 1993    In 1978 the state vodka industry of Poland declared it's claims for invention of grain vodka    By the decision of the international arbitration of 1982, the USSR were  given priority of creation of vodka as a Russian original drink and the  exclusive right to it's advertising under this name in the world market