Russian Vodka

There are few brands in Russia as widely recognized and held in as high regard as Russian Standard Vodka. It is possibly the most beloved liquor in the country.

RUSSIAN STANDARD VODKA’S ORIGIN

The story of how this brand came to be is a unique one. The company is founded by billionaire oligarch Roustam Tariko. Legend has it that Tariko grew Russian Standard Vodka with a clever marketing scheme designed around a separate banking company.

Tariko named a developing bank of his, “Russkij Standart,” in an effort to get around television broadcast guidelines and advertise vodka legally. Consumers would hear commercials promoting the Russkij Standart Bank and subconsciously be thinking about Russkij Standart Vodka.

However, there is some controversy over whether this account is true. Originally, this tale was brought forth by a marketing instructor named Max Lenderman, who authored the book “Brand new World: How Paupers, Pirates and Oligarchs are Reshaping Business.”

Lenderman claims that Tariko intentionally started the Russian Standard Bank as a way of avoiding Russian censorship laws. This story was cemented into the legacy of the brand once Lenderman was featured on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Radio show, “Under The Influence.”

Regardless of Tariko’s true intentions, one thing is for certain: he created an absolute powerhouse of a vodka brand. As suggested by its name, Russian Standard Vodka has truly become the customary vodka of the country.

This brand and its products have a deep-rooted history that goes back hundreds of years. Today, we’re going to be examining how this brand was able to beat the odds and become the face of vodka in Russia. Continue reading with Saucey to learn more.


WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF RUSSIAN VODKA?

In Russia, drinking vodka is a popular part of the culture. In fact, vodka is generally considered to have been invented in Russia and is designated as the country’s national drink. There’s some contest over whether vodka originated in Poland or Russia, but either way, we know that it’s been around in both countries for a very long time, possibly as early as the eighth or ninth century.

There’s even a myth that this age-long drink was actually invented by the same person who invented the Periodic Table of Elements: Professor Dmitri Mendeleev. When he first created the principles of creating vodka in 1854, Mendeleev was working as a lowly professor at the University of St.Petersburg.

While he didn’t actually invent vodka, his contribution to the world of vodka is unmatched. His work can best be described by this formal statement by Russian Standard Vodka: “Professor Mendeleev’s philosophy on equilibrium and natural order led to the identification of the perfect balance between water and alcohol, which underpinned the original Russian Empire Standard set by Tsar Alexander III in 1894.”


WHERE IS RUSSIAN STANDARD VODKA MADE?

The company headquarters are located in Moscow, but the original distillery can still be found in St. Petersburg.

Over the years, vodka has been modified and modernized extensively. Brands like Russian Standard Vodka have completely revolutionized the industry, creating the highest possible production standards for their vodka.

According to Russian Standard Vodka, the water from their vodka is exclusively sourced from glacial water found in Lake Ladoga. The winter wheat is sourced from Russian Steppes. Then, the vodka is sent through the distillation process over 200 times.


HOW RUSSIAN STANDARD VODKA IS MADE?

The brand claims to employ Professor Dmitri Mendeleev’s original recipe but with a modern spin.

The most profound aspect of their production process is their distillation. All of their vodka passes through the distillation process over 200 times to filter out any impurities. This tedious process ensures the cleanest consistency possible.

The filtering process includes Russian birch charcoal filters, Urals Mountains quartz crystal filters, and silver filters. By using a variety of filters, the final product ends up with a smooth, subtle taste rather than a sour, bitter one.

After the vodka is distilled, every bottle is labeled with a Certificate of Origin. These certificates are issued by the Russian government. This certificate guarantees that the quality of the product is high and that it is an authentic Russian product.

Few other vodka companies go to such lengths to ensure a clean texture in their products. This intense distillation process is one of the many reasons why Russian Standard Vodka is considered the top drink in Russia.  READ MORE...