Vodka Museum. The history of the Russian drink

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Vodka is an original Russian drink, which is part of the culture and traditions of Russia. During the history of its existence, many recipes have been created. Songs and poems have been written about vodka, everyone used it in different quantities: from a serf to royal people. It is not surprising that the first and only vodka museum in the world was opened in Russia.

Unusual Museum

On May 27, 2001, in the very center of the Northern capital, a small museum opened its doors to visitors, in which the entire exposition is dedicated to one single product - vodka. This is actually a commercial project, but it also has historical accuracy.

Where to find

Finding such an unusual museum is easy. It is located in the historical center of the city, on Konnogvardeisky Boulevard, not far from St. Isaac's Cathedral. The premises for the exposition were allocated by the Ryumochnaya No. 1 restaurant. In the museum you can not only learn the history of the creation of the drink, interesting facts related to it, and see historical artifacts, but also make a tastingseveral varieties of vodka with traditional Russian snacks.

The entire exposition of the exhibition is not propaganda. On the contrary, its task is to instill respect for the culture of the people and the traditions of drinking. By the way, persons under the age of 18 are not allowed to enter this establishment. This is not a place for family entertainment.

Exposure

The Russian Vodka Museum has two halls. In the first one, visitors are introduced to the history of the product, various manufacturing methods and famous manufacturers. The exhibits are divided into eras from the 11th century to the present day, to make it easier for visitors to perceive the information.

The guide will tell those who come to the museum of Russian vodka (St. Petersburg) that it was originally used for medicinal purposes. The monks were engaged in its production. And brothers in faith from Constantinople shared the technology of making alcohol. Only their product was obtained as a result of the distillation of grapes, and in Russia it was not cultivated at that time. I had to adjust the recipe to the realities of the northern country and learn how to isolate alcohol from what is - from grain. The product turned out to be no worse than overseas, and even surpassed it in some respects, for which it began to be called "Water of Life".

The new invention was widely used in the manufacture of medicinal tinctures and even perfumes. During an epidemic of plague, doctors came up with the idea to treat patients with alcohol. And although he did not become a panacea for the disease, the disinfectant properties of the liquid were discovered.

Under Ivan III, the first "taverns" were opened,where distillery spirits were sold.

Peter I generally legalized the use of alcohol by imposing a tax on it. The treasury received huge sums. Thanks to them, the ambitious tsar set up the state, carried out reforms and built a new capital, which now houses a vodka museum.

But Catherine II allowed the nobles to produce underground products on their estates, for which they had to pay "farms" to the treasury. Thanks to this step, the collection of recipes was enriched, because everyone brought changes to the recipe according to their taste and abilities.

By the nineteenth century, this branch of the economy has become the most profitable. Russian vodka was even exported abroad. Prominent scientists have contributed to the development of this product. So, Mendeleev found the "golden" ratio of alcohol and water, so that the taste of the product turned out to be special. Vodka with a strength of 40 degrees was patented in 1894 under the name "Moscow Special".

Visitors who look into the vodka museum (Petersburg) are presented with various original documents, one way or another related to the legendary drink. The collection includes original bottles, decanters, shtofs and other measuring containers, as well as drinking utensils. The creators of the museum did not forget about corks and labels, which are also interesting.

Revived history

The exposition is enlivened by two compositions of wax figures, which are the pride of the museum organizers. Each of them clearly illustrates important milestones in the history of the development and distribution of vodkaproducts in Russia.

The guide will also tell you about which alcoholic drinks the first people of the state preferred, because it is known that vodka was on the tables both at royal feasts and in peasant huts. It turns out that Emperor Nicholas II came up with an appetizer for cognac "Guards' wad" - a slice of lemon sandwiched between pieces of cheese.

But the museum is dedicated not only to the culture of drinking. The fight against vodka has been going on since it began to be mass-produced. A number of exhibits are dedicated to this problem.

Hall 2

After an interesting story about vodka, the guide invites everyone to go to the second hall, which is decorated in the style of a wine glass from the beginning of the last century. Exhibits are also exhibited here that tell about the Soviet period of the "life" of vodka, Gorbachev's dry law, the People's Commissar's 100 grams and much more. Here you can also try the drink that the Vodka Museum is dedicated to.

What else will the guide tell about

During the tour, the guide will not only tell the story of the creation and development of the drink, which has become a symbol of Russia, but also tell you how to choose the right bottle in the store so as not to buy "scorched" products. This is how the Vodka Museum intertwines history and modernity, myth and reality, storytelling and tasting.