Vodka History
Vodka is a drink that accompanies humans in sorrow, joy, and simple relaxation. It's good to know more about vodka... Where was it born? When? From what product is it made? How was it used before, and how is it used today?
Vodka has a mixed reputation! Some consider it Heaven, some Hell! Both sides can be right.
Russians traditionally drink vodka for any significant occasion, like a wedding, the birth of a child, or a new job.
The appearance of the drink is not dangerous... it looks like simple water (in Russian the word vodka means "little water") and some people do not think about danger. Vodka, like any alcohol, can be very addictive, and if abused can lead to illness.
There is much speculation about where vodka was first created. We know that wine and homemade fruit wines have been used by humans for thousands of years.
The history of alcohol in Russia goes back a long way. It is widely believed that Prince Vladimir of Kiev chose Christianity over Islam in the year 987 simply to avoid the Muslim prohibition on alcohol. His words, "drinking is the joy of the Rus", are better remembered in Russia than his other historical achievements.
Real vodka appeared on the scene when Vladimir's countrymen learned the craft of alcohol distillation, probably from Tatar invaders. The Russian historian V.Pokhlebkin maintains that vodka was first produced in a monastery in Moscow in the middle of the 15th century.
Many monasteries, medicine-men, and natural healers used alcohol to create herbal tinctures that were prescribed to treat many disorders. Alcohol was much stronger than water for infusions and has antibacterial properties. Herbal tinctures became popular as new remedies and alcohol was used during surgery as an anesthetic. Today alcohol is still widely used in medicine.
The essences of many herbs were used to treat different diseases. The method of extracting herbal essences is simple: a bottle containing herbs is filled with alcohol. This mixture stands for 2 weeks and is shaken well every few days. It is then strained and the residue is squeezed out. The herbal extract or essence is ready!
Tinctures were sold by healers or in pharmacies and prescribed to use as drops. But the taste of some of them was so pleasant that people used more than was prescribed. Later, alcohol started to be used in cosmetics.
People from many different parts of the world used food leftovers (grain, rice, sugar cane, honey, fruits) for brewing "alcoholic" beverages which were used for traditional ceremonies.
Scandinavian countries, Poland, and Russia have a very special interest in, and commitment, to the development and improvement of the quality of vodka. Each of these countries has their OWN versions of vodka.
Vodka is a Russian word, a diminutive of "water" (likewise "whisky" comes from the Gaelic for "water of life"). The Poles may put "vodka" on their bottles, but among themselves they call it "gorzalka" ("horilka" in Ukrainian) from the root "to burn". Native Americans and Aboriginal peoples think of it as "fire water", which tells you something about the stuff.
The 80-proof Russian Vodka, the standard set by Tsar Alexander III in 1894, is just right for extended abuse. The 100-proof vodka, which is 50 percent alcohol, burns the mouth, but it can be fine-tuned by simply adding water.
It goes without saying that the only way to drink vodka neat is just out of the freezer, followed by a tablespoon of caviar on a toast. If you're out of caviar, use a slightly bent pickle.
Globally, vodka sales are worth $12 billion a year. As George Bernard Shaw observed, alcohol "enables Parliament to do things at eleven at night that no sane person would do at eleven in the morning."
Ironically, it happens that Russians are not the champions of vodka consumption and people in other countries drink more. But RUSSIAN VODKA has more fame and popularity!
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