History of Vodka

Vodka enjoyed a special status among Russians. Russian monarchies popularized vodka by giving it pride of place at the czar’s dinner table.

The real meaning of vodka means nothing other than water. In Russia water is ‘voda’. The name vodka has its origin in the word voda.

The word ‘vodka’ with the meaning of alcoholic liquor appeared no earlier than the fourteenth and no later than the middle of the nineteenth century.

The earliest Polish term for vodka was ‘gorzalka’. The root of the word comes from the Polish verb to ‘burn.’ It means to burn the water.

However vodka was already in existence before a term for it, whether gorzalka or wodka, had been coined in Polish.

The legend told that Genoese merchants brought this vodka to Moscow from Lithuania. While other sources said that vodka originated in Poland and Russia.

In the 16th century, the production and sale of alcohol was permitted by the King of Poland, but such sales were restricted to the gentry, from which a 10% tax was extracted.

With the establishment of a vodka industry of sorts, the concept of vodka as a national drinks was introduced in the 17th century.

By the 1700s, people were infusing vodka with herb and fruit flavors.

Under the leader like Ivan IV and Boris Godunav, Vodka played a major role in the lives of the people and in the system of government.

It was one of the main sources of taxation revenue for the tsar the government.

In 1800s, charcoal was discovered as a means of filtering out impurities. At that time rye was the main grain used.

Although variations were introduced from other countries, including spice and herb combination and vodka made from wheat and potatoes, rye was still considered to produce the best flavor.
History of Vodka