History of Vodka - Vodka Orings
The history of alcoholic beverages is long and interesting one. They first started appearing around 8 thousand years ago in the ancient cradles of
civilization - Babylon, Armenia and Georgia. However, alcohol brewers from that period could produce their drinks solely by natural fermentation, and
that process could only produce liquid with about 14% alcohol content. As the centuries and millennia went on, evolution of human civilization,
technical innovations and advance in science give brewers new techniques that enabled them to create drink with much higher alcohol content. The most
crucial process that enabled them to do so is distillation.
Although first historical record of distillation comes from at least 200AD Greece (their famous philosopher Alexander of Aphrodisias described how they
distilled sea water into drinking water), the refinement of this process was done almost 700 years later. Around 8th -9th century, innovative Persian
scientists started developing new techniques that they've learned from Egyptians, and managed to produce first stable distillation process in metal
stills. This marked the beginning of the new age of distillation, but for the next few centuries this process was not used for the creation of more
potent alcoholic drinks. Instead of that, Persian scientist used their discovery to distill countless numbers of new floral aromas which started the
modern perfume industry.
While the traveling merchant slowly started to spread the news about Persian distillation across the Europe (giving it to the Catholic Church, which
gave birth to the whisky in the Scotland and Ireland), Eastern European nation found one innovative way to increase alcohol content in their fermented
drinks. The main way of making drink more potent is to eliminate as much water from the drink as possible, leaving it with more alcohol inside. Eastern
Europeans used the harsh winters and cold temperatures to freeze fermented drinks, and because of waters high freezing point they were able to separate
water ice from the remainder of alcohol. This enabled them to create more potent drinks, but the arrival of distillation gave the birth of true vodka
that we know today.
Origin of modern vodka can be traced to the Poland and Russia. These two countries are in a disagreement to this day, trying to determine who was first
to create this iconic drink. Historically speaking, the first record of the production of vodka (its name was derived from the Russian word "voda",
which means "water") comes from the 9th century Russia, and the first distillery was mentioned in the Russian newspaper Vyatka Chronicle two centuries
later in 1174. Polish clam of the discovery of vodka goes back to the 8th century, but many historians are in an agreement that by then they only
produced crude brandy, distilled from the wine.
Popularity of vodka began to rise during 14th century. By then, vodka was used for over 2 centuries as a medical remedy, but according to
legend, monk called Isidore from Chudov Monastery in Kremlin made a first recipe for Russian vodka. Using his knowledge of distillation, he created the
drink that became very popular in the entire country. By 1540 Russian Tsar Ivan 'the Terrible'decided to replenish royal treasury by introducing high
taxes on vodka and establishing network of taverns across the land. These government taverns had the exclusive rights to sell vodka to the people, and
the private manufacture of this drink was punishable by law (this of course was not applicable to the nobility, who still had the permission to make
their own vodka). By 17th century vodka became national drink of Russia, and it became regularly served on the Royal court, used during celebration and
religious ceremonies. During that time, vodka remained made with relatively low alcohol volume (not exceeding 40% by volume) and it was called by
numerous names burning wine, bread wine or simply wine (Russia did not have capability to produce grapes, and very small quantities of expensive
Western European wine were imported). Name vodka however referred to the medicinal type of drinks, often surpassing 75% of alcohol volume.
Between middle of 18th and 19thcentury, Russian state started heavily promoting vodka as a national drink, and its taxation became so lucrative that it
represented 40% of entire annual revenue. In 1863 government monopoly on vodka production was finally repelled, giving ability to common people to
produce and sell their own drinks (this eventually led to the plummeting of the drink's prices and its slow expansion outside Russia). During the 18th
century, distillation received several significant advancements, most notably process of rectification which was used to remove the unpleasant taste of
drink that was caused by distillation. The most used rectification was done with charcoal, created taste of vodka that we know today (and also enabled
brewers to create drinks with over 90% alcohol content in it).
Polish history of vodka was very different than in Russia. There, government did not sanction production and sale of this drink (enabled by the decree
of their King Jan Olbrecht in 1564, who allowed every citizen to produce vodka), and since 16th century this drink remained the most popular drink of
that nation. Even today, one of the biggest centers of vodka production is located in Polish city of Ponzan.
Spreading of the vodka outside the borders of Poland and Russia came during 1930s, when several influential vodka makers emigrated from Russia to the
west. One of those immigrants Piotr Smirnov and his son Vladimir who bought the American rights of the Smirnoff vodka name (one of the biggest and
influential Russian vodka brands). During very hard economic times in American Great Depression, they were forced to sell their company. In the
following years Smirnoff company changed owners several times, before becoming worldwide famous after its appearance in James Bond movies. These
appearances (from movies "Dr. No" and beyond) secured Smirnoff's brand as the most popular in the world.
To this day Russia remains one of the largest consumers of vodka in the world (in 1911 vodka represented 89% of all alcohol consumed, down to 70% in
2001). Popularity of this drink was also contributed for its appearance in many cocktails (thanks to its neutral flavor), and its ability to not be
detectable in the breath of the consumer. Today, vodka holds 20% of the United States market and is considered as one of the most popular alcoholic