What was vodka in the USSR. Soviet drinks

Wines from all over the world, elite french cognacs, Scottish and irish whiskey, German and Belgian beer - in modern abundance alcoholic products you can get lost. But this was not always the case, and many people remember very well the times when one could see a rather modest selection of drinks on the shelves of domestic stores. What did they drink in the USSR? And let's remember...

Vodka comes first

Known to everyone brands "Stolichnaya" and "Moscow Special", "Russian", and "Pshenichnaya" came to us from Soviet era. Everyone in the USSR used vodka - members of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU, and the Russian liberal intelligentsia, and millions of working people. Not a single celebration was complete without her. She paid off with a builder or plumber. It was considered alcohol No. 1 in the USSR at all times, despite prohibitions and restrictions.

A mixture of water and rectified alcohol - it would seem, what could be interesting in the taste of such a simple drink? In fact, a water-alcohol solution with a strength of 37.5 to 45%, called vodka, is not just a means of intoxication.

Vodka is one of most popular species alcohol, having its own culture of consumption. This is a national brand, overgrown with legends and myths, recognized all over the world and uniting the most diverse segments of society.

5 facts about vodka

Over the years, vodka has acquired its own history and reputation; among the facts about it, it is already difficult to separate the real from the fictional. Here are just a few of them:

• Birthday of vodka celebrated on January 31st. It was on this day that D.I. Mendeleev presented his dissertation "On the combination of alcohol with water." Since then, he has been credited with the role of the "father of Russian vodka", although in fact the topic of the dissertation of the famous Russian chemist has nothing to do with vodka.
• Every day during the Great Patriotic War, soldiers on the front line were given " People's Commissariat 100 g"It's a historical fact.
• Everyone knows the phrase " Let's think for three?"appeared during the years of the Khrushchev thaw. At that time, they stopped selling" "bastards" (125 g) and "chekushki" (250 g), convenient for individual use. three.
• Recipe famous cocktail "Bloody Mary "consisting of vodka and tomato juice, was invented by a French bartender in the 20s of the last century. The drink owes its name to the legendary silent film actress Mary Pickford.
• The strongest vodka produced by no means in Russia, but in Scotland. Pincer supplies Pincer Shanghai Strength vodka with an alcohol content of 88.8%.

About vodka in the language of dry numbers

• 1 liter of vodka contains exactly 953 g.
• Vodka is high in calories: 100 g of the drink contains 235 kcal.
• Half an hour after taking 50 g of vodka, they sharpen the speed of thinking, but at the same time reduce the speed of reaction.
• Guaranteed shelf life of vodka is 1 year.

Most people who were born and raised in the USSR remember very well the later stages of the national "vodka" history: Gorbachev's campaign against drunkenness in 85-87, calls for "voluntary" entry into the sobriety society, non-alcoholic weddings, the sale of vodka by coupons , noisy queues at liquor stores selling from 14 to 19…

The vodka assortment of specialized departments of Soviet grocery stores was much scarcer than it is now. Different distilleries in the country produced the same products with identical labels. The label indicated: the manufacturer, GOST, according to which vodka was produced, and "price without the cost of dishes."

It is curious that a bottle of vodka initially cost 12 kopecks, and after the rise in price in 1981 - 20 kopecks. When buying vodka in some stores, it was possible to exchange an empty bottle for an exchange, paying the price indicated on the label for vodka.

"Moscow special"- the very first Soviet vodka. Her modern recipe was approved in 1940 and contained the addition of a small amount baking soda and ethanoic (acetic) acid.

"Capital"- the legendary vodka created by the extra-class distiller V.G. Svirida, began to be produced a little later, in 1944. Her recipe called for an extra tiny addition. sugar syrup. Stolichnaya is still the most famous brand of Russian vodka abroad. She repeatedly received top honors international competitions.

In 1972, a high-quality "Ambassatory", and "Russian"- mid-range vodka, made with distilled water and distilled with a small amount of cinnamon, which does not improve the taste of the final product. Since 1976, appeared on the shelves "Wheat", produced on pure wheat raw materials and strong (45%), but at the same time quite soft "Siberian".

Fans of high-strength alcohol also had the opportunity to drink "hunting", "Jubilee" with a similar alcohol content, 56-degree "Strong" and even "drinking alcohol" (96%).

In assortment Soviet stores vodkas with flavored and aromatic additives: "Lemon", "Stark", "Peppercorn", "Zubrovka", "Petrovskaya".

Let's remember what alcoholic drinks we have
always stood on holiday tables during the Soviet years.
Many of them have not been
are produced, but their taste is still preserved in memory.

At first I wanted to call this part in the spirit of the previous ones - "What We Drank".
But that's why I thought about it and decided that this is a little not correct :)
First time alcoholic drinks I tried when I was 15
and for the first time got seriously drunk at the age of 16, on New Year. "Port wine 777".
Fortunately, I did not become addicted to the "green serpent" and still consider it evil.
If in excess. And here are the quality vintage wines,
cognacs and viskariki occasionally respect.

I had one hobby as a child. Collected wine (vodka, cognac) labels.
Agree, quite an innocent hobby for a child. And I was just a fan.
You might find a bottle on the street, bring it home, put it in a bowl of hot water,
15 minutes - bang! and a new label in the collection. Friends (mothers) helped
- they looked for treasured bottles of the deep-Soviet period in the cellars / attics and gave them to me.
For several years, an impressive pack has accumulated
. Then the hobby suddenly disappeared, as did the collection itself. But, fortunately, she was later found.
I carefully scanned it and now I want to show you :) Labels for me -
one of the doors to childhood memories.
Soviet drawings, fonts, prices, "I belt, II belt", "Price with the cost of dishes", containers,
kilometer-long queues for wine and vodka, coupons...
Crimea, sea and vine, in the end.

Do not be lazy, take your time, look at each label -
She has a lot to say and remember.

So what was still on our tables and in refrigerators 20-30 years ago?

I'll start with aperitifs.

The lion's share of wine production in the USSR came from the Moldavian SSR. The inscription "MOLDVINPROM"
will be found in almost every third label.

Sherries and vermouths:

And "GOSAGROPROM" - on every second :)

One of the pearls of my small collection is Hungarian vermouth.

Very popular in the 90s, live bottled beer from our native Ulyanovsk plant (R.I.P):

And this is the same Ulyanovsk plant, but still in the 80s:

The pride of our brewery!

Our plant soldered not only Ulyanovsk, but also neighbors :)

Classics of the genre!

Now this is also happening. But it's not like that anymore...

Hello from China. Their beer. This is the crazy 90s.

We are done with aperitifs, let's move on to table wines, of which there were a great many in the USSR.

Table (dry, semi-dry and semi-sweet) wines:

Guys, this is Checheningushvino! Pretty rare label.

Rkatsiteli is a popular light wine made from a highly valuable grape variety.

Greetings from Volgograd!

Azerbaijan:

Black Sea pink, with the inscription on the boat "Abrau-Durso". It looks like it was made in the same factory.

This small bottle was brought by us from my first trip to the Crimea, in 1991:

Such a small bottle of wine for a long time was in our sideboard.
Until the wine turned to vinegar.
I have many childhood memories associated with her:

In particular, the dream of the sea began with her.

Abkhazia. By the way, the label is now reanimated and can be seen on the shelves.
This one is from those Soviet times.

Here is a modern label of Abkhazian wine:

Bulgaria has always been distinguished by expensive printing of labels.

Bulgaria 90s:

Algerian wine. I think at ordinary people this was not on the tables:

Fortified wines:

A pack of the next two "zero" labels, the boys and I found in some basement.
Apparently, someone hid there for an underground workshop.

This one has a very uneven print. Apparently self-made. I will not believe,
that "Abrau-Durso" could afford such a hack.

Did I mention that I had my first drink at 15? I lied.
In church, they poured a whole spoonful of diluted Cahors into us children :)

Well, who does not remember the liqueur Amaretto, popular in the 90s? :)) Sold in every "lump".

Like this fortified Moldovan wine:

Remember that troubled time when alcohol could be bought anywhere,
just not in the store ... In the "lumps", "at the granny" ... Horror.

Here is something else sweet and foreign from those times. More like chocolate.

Odessa Mama!

I like these monsters: "Glavuprpischeprom GOSAGROPROM RSFSR ROSSPIRTPROM"

Probably those who worked there, always gathered for a long time with an answer to the question about the place of work.

Cossack wine:

Flavored wines:

And here even the counter-label with the cocktail recipe has been preserved:

Ports

I have always associated ortwine with something cheap and unworthy
self-respecting person. Like a triple cologne.
"Mom is anarchy, dad is a glass of port." Unfortunately,
the opinion was confirmed with the first experience of intoxication strong degree,
what happened to me after the chiming clock in 1996. Bottle "777"
was destroyed almost in one gulp, for two with a friend
- hurried to friends (Vityok, if you read me, then hello). Hmm...

"Agdam" is still Soviet:

"Agdam" is no longer Soviet. And the price went up. Holiday prices....

3

And another variation:

Moldovan :)

Georgian port bag "Three bananas":

Sparkling wines (Champagne - New Year is coming soon!):

Champagne in the late 80s and early 90s, like everything else, was not easy to buy.
By some tricks they got a box or two for the wedding.
And it was even necessary to show a certificate from the registry office that it was really for the wedding.
For it’s not good to celebrate for no reason when the “dashing” are in the yard
- drink vodyaru on coupons ...
I didn't like champagne. No, not because it's not like that.
It’s just that bottles from under it were very rarely accepted.
We can say that they did not accept at all. From under vodka and beer - without ceremony.
And the champagne bottles were dead weight in the sheds and on the balconies.
Their only use is slingshot shooting. The glass is strong
did not fly apart the first time, prolonging the pleasure for the second and third hit.
And they also mixed carbide with water in them, plugged them with a native cork and ran into the "bunker".
Yes, motorists stored all sorts of liquids in them, such as solariums, oils and electrolytes. Reliable capacity.

Here they are, native to every Soviet citizen, labels.

Made and poured everywhere.

Azerbaijan SSR:

Tolyatti:

What had no right to be called "champagne" was called "sparkling".

Abrau-Durso, the king of Soviet champagnes:

And note, one price - 6 rubles 50 kopecks with the cost of dishes. How simple and clear...

Cheap Moscow "pop" for two pee:

Imported from Bulgaria:

From Hungary:

Friends, I'm sorry, I couldn't resist :)

It is modern, "New World". I haven't tried anything better...

Strong tinctures:

End of 10th grade. We are all very adults now, we can decide for ourselves what to drink and how much :) The choice has always fallen on this:

0.5 for 10 people - cool, walk! :) Why lemon?
Apparently, on a subconscious level, they chose a compromise between childhood (lemonade) and supposedly already adult life (vodka).
The rubbish is still the same, but it was impossible to show it. And don't forget that this is 1996...

For some reason, tinctures were then made similar to lemonade. Have you attracted children? :)

The only inscription "bitter" said that it was not tasty.

Strong tincture "Zubrovka": Made on the basis of bison herb, it has a mild, slightly burning taste and aroma of bison.

And the price is already a whole red gold piece.

Cognacs:

Our parents were lucky - they could still drink normal, "not burned"
cognacs from Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova.
How many kinds there were! But not everyone can afford it. More expensive than vodka by 5 rubles.

Moldavian SSR:

I found this bottle in some old cellar, half full. Naturally, the liquid was immediately drained to the ground :)
But it was someone's stash.

What is not now. Georgian cognacs:

Azerbaijani:

Cognac of the Dagestan ASSR. Produced at the Moscow Inter-Republican Winery.

Disgusting cognac drink"Strugurash": But for lack of a better one, he also went:

Vodka was as it is now - cheap and expensive.

The cheap one was almost always sold in lemonade bottles - "cheburashkas", with a lid made of thick foil, with a "tail":

Darling - in long bottles, with a screw cap:

And this is how vodka was bought in the USSR:

First they handed over the old container, then they took a new one with this money. If enough :)

"Gorbachev's loop":

If there was not enough vodka, then they took port wine. When it ended and he went to a nearby store for this:

Interestingly, the same brand of vodka could be both cheap and expensive at the same time.

I'll start with the cheap ones. This was usually paid with a tractor driver in the spring, for arable work in a summer cottage:

This was usually put on the table on ordinary holidays:

The capital was not available (in any case, with us).
Prepared on the highest purity alcohol with the addition of sugar in the amount of 0.2 g per 100 ml.

And finally, the king of vodka! Siberian:

Fortress - 45%, the price is almost like that of cognac - almost 12 rubles!
This was ordered for weddings.

Kuban tincture, with a sacramental inscription RUSSIAN VODKA.

Gin, whiskey, brandy, rum:

The fact that they usually didn’t drink in the USSR, because. did not produce. But no one canceled business trips to fraternal countries,
so you could find these drinks:
It is likely that in the "Birch" you could buy.

But this, apparently, was brought in barrels from friendly Cuba and bottled with us.

Bulgarian brandy "Sunny Beach":

By the way, it is produced with the same label to this day. Recently a friend brought it, used it :)

Scotch Whiskey!

So what do you think? :) What did they drink from it?

Wines from all over the world, elite French cognacs, Scotch and Irish whiskey, German and Belgian beer - you can get lost in the modern abundance of alcoholic products. But this was not always the case, and many people remember the times when one could see a rather modest selection of drinks on the shelves of domestic stores. What did they drink in the USSR? And let's remember...

Vodka comes first

Known to everyone brands "Stolichnaya" and "Moscow Special", "Russian", and "Pshenichnaya" came to us from the Soviet era. Everyone in the USSR used vodka - members of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU, and the Russian liberal intelligentsia, and millions of working people. Not a single celebration was complete without her. She paid off with a builder or plumber. It was considered alcohol No. 1 in the USSR at all times, despite prohibitions and restrictions.

A mixture of water and rectified alcohol - it would seem, what could be interesting in the taste of such a simple drink? In fact, a water-alcohol solution with a strength of 37.5 to 45%, called vodka, is not just a means of intoxication.

Vodka is one of the most popular types of alcohol, which has its own culture of consumption. This is a national brand, overgrown with legends and myths, recognized all over the world and uniting the most diverse segments of society.

5 facts about vodka

Over the years, vodka has acquired its own history and reputation; among the facts about it, it is already difficult to separate the real from the fictional. Here are just a few of them:

• Birthday of vodka celebrated on January 31st. It was on this day that D.I. Mendeleev presented his dissertation "On the combination of alcohol with water." Since then, he has been credited with the role of the "father of Russian vodka", although in fact the topic of the dissertation of the famous Russian chemist has nothing to do with vodka.
• Every day during the Great Patriotic War, soldiers on the front line were given " People's Commissariat 100 g"It's a historical fact.
• Everyone knows the phrase " Let's think for three?"appeared during the years of the Khrushchev thaw. At that time, they stopped selling" "bastards" (125 g) and "chekushki" (250 g), convenient for individual use. three.
• famous cocktail recipe Bloody Mary", consisting of vodka and tomato juice, was invented by a French bartender in the 20s of the last century. The drink owes its name to the legendary silent film actress Mary Pickford.
• The strongest vodka produced by no means in Russia, but in Scotland. Pincer supplies Pincer Shanghai Strength vodka with an alcohol content of 88.8%.

About vodka in the language of dry numbers

• 1 liter of vodka contains exactly 953 g.
• Vodka is high in calories: 100 g of the drink contains 235 kcal.
• Half an hour after taking 50 g of vodka, they sharpen the speed of thinking, but at the same time reduce the speed of reaction.
• Guaranteed shelf life of vodka is 1 year.

Most people who were born and raised in the USSR remember very well the later stages of the national "vodka" history: Gorbachev's campaign against drunkenness in 85-87, calls for "voluntary" entry into the sobriety society, non-alcoholic weddings, the sale of vodka by coupons , noisy queues at liquor stores selling from 14 to 19…

The vodka assortment of specialized departments of Soviet grocery stores was much scarcer than it is now. Different distilleries in the country produced the same products with identical labels. The label indicated: the manufacturer, GOST, according to which vodka was produced, and "price without the cost of dishes."

It is curious that a bottle of vodka initially cost 12 kopecks, and after the rise in price in 1981 - 20 kopecks. When buying vodka in some stores, it was possible to exchange an empty bottle for an exchange, paying the price indicated on the label for vodka.

"Moscow special"- the very first Soviet vodka. Its modern formulation was approved in 1940 and contained the addition of a small amount of baking soda and ethanoic (acetic) acid.

"Capital"- the legendary vodka created by the extra-class distiller V.G. Svirida, began to be produced a little later, in 1944. Her recipe called for an extra tiny addition of sugar syrup. Stolichnaya is still the most famous brand of Russian vodka abroad. She has repeatedly received the highest awards of international competitions.

In 1972, a high-quality "Ambassatory", and "Russian"- mid-range vodka, made with distilled water and distilled with a small amount of cinnamon, which does not improve the taste of the final product. Since 1976, appeared on the shelves "Wheat", produced on pure wheat raw materials and strong (45%), but at the same time quite soft "Siberian".

Fans of high-strength alcohol also had the opportunity to drink "hunting", "Jubilee" with a similar alcohol content, 56-degree "Strong" and even "Drinking alcohol" (96%).

The assortment of Soviet stores also featured vodkas with flavoring and aromatic additives: "Lemon", "Stark", "Peppercorn", "Zubrovka", "Petrovskaya".

I, as a person who drank deeply in the past, became interested not only in terms of the nostalgic component, but simply in the opportunity to highlight the not-so-gloomy period of our history, our recent past, which was presented by our partners exclusively as a hat with earflaps, vodka and balalaika .

When I was young, I heard that in one New York you can buy about two thousand varieties of whiskey. This surprised me a lot. Well, how can this be, when the still unforgettable Ostap Bender, the one who knew four hundred relatively honest ways of taking money, knew one hundred and fifty ways of making moonshine, even from a stool, and he was, one might say, an expert in this matter. It was he who discovered and sold the secrets of the motherland to two citizens of the city of Chicago, tormented by dry law, or as they are now commonly called, our partners, these recipes, after which the era of home-brewing in the United States acquired truly epic proportions... From several recipes with the help of enterprising Americans, the quality of a simple Russian pervacha tm turned into a quantity, namely two thousand varieties of whiskey in one city......

Not to be unfounded, here are some recipes, here are some recipes, from the lost notebook of the Grand Schemer

Moonshine SUGAR

Take 6 kg of sugar, 200 g of yeast, pour 30 liters warm water and mix well, add a bunch of dry dill and currant leaves for smell.

Insist in a warm place for 6-7 days, then overtake.

Output - 6 liters.

It is widely believed that 1 liter of moonshine is obtained from 1 kg of sugar. If you use efficient devices, 10 liters good moonshine obtained from 7 kg of sugar.

Excess sugar in this case is not required, since it will go to waste anyway.

STUDIO STARCH

Take 10 kg of starch, dilute with 20 liters of water and brew like jelly, add 500 g of yeast and 1 kg of sugar.

Insist 3-5 days. Then overtake.

The output is 11 liters.

No, of course, there were other attempts to take parties of moonshine from Odessa to overseas democracy, but they ended in failure .... and I'm not talking about that .....

The 80s... What nostalgia for this time is experienced by everyone who caught it. Who remembers. Who knows what I will talk about today.
Before turning directly to the subject of our today's memories, I really want to look at least with one eye there ... Into the past, at a time when ... But this is WHEN everyone has their own.

But the city was completely different. And in this other city, everything was different. Although it is certainly ours, modern, but it seems to be from a parallel reality. What are these types worth:

Having inhaled the air of a parallel world, it's time for us to feel its taste... A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then, the taste has always been tried to be faked - but it remains. The same, and forever. And so that our tour does not look too superficial, I am ready to provide tastes with a little "peppercorn" of history. So, let's begin:

In 1938, the recipe and trademark were registered in the USSR vodka "Capital". Vodka began to be produced only a few years later, in 1941, while the first bottle of Stolichnaya was produced in Leningrad.

Since 1971, vodka has been sold in the United States. The rights to distribute vodka received the American PepsiCo(we all know Pepsi-Cola!), in exchange for the right to build a plant for the production of carbonated drinks in Novorossiysk. In America, our "Capital" received the stable name Stoli.
In post-Soviet times, there was, and is happening now, a terrible confusion with the owners of the Stolichnaya brand. At the moment this vodka is boycotted by gays and lesbians in the USA and England (as a Russian product), and vodka is produced in Latvia. There is no official production of this brand of Russian vodka in Russia.

Moscow special vodka or just Moscow vodka
is the national brand of Russian vodka, introduced in 1894 by the Russian State Vodka Monopoly. Its production was stopped (along with other spirits) with the introduction of a ban in Russia after the outbreak of the First World War. The brand was restored in the Soviet Union in 1925. Throughout its history, the Moscow bottle has been characterized by in green labels

In addition to water and alcohol, standard recipe for Moscow includes small quantities baking soda and acetic acid. Moskovskaya is the only sort of Soviet vodka made from grain alcohol.

Vodka "Wheat"
The history of Wheat Vodka dates back to the 1970s. In fact, this is a new brand designed for domestic consumption. It was on this vodka, according to Leonid Parfyonov, that the screw cap was first used, only with this vodka did the understanding begin that the bottle could not be finished drinking, leaving "for later".

The label of this vodka was decorated with a picture, according to the same Leonid Parfyonov, "simply copied from the primer". The same native expanses, the same fields, stacks and village ... Everything is completely in the Russian style.

Siberian vodka
Appeared, like Pshenichnaya, in the 70s. It was distinguished by an increased strength in comparison with the "Wheat" and, like the "Wheat", had a wrapping cork. Originally intended for domestic consumption, it has found excellent overseas markets. The traditional design with a trio of faults, the name associated with the wild Russian region, or something else - now it’s hard to say for sure. However, it was at Sibirskaya that it was first tested and then launched in mass production technology of purification of vodka with activated carbon.

Kuban
Although it was officially called vodka, it has always been a bitter tincture. At first, the label said "Russian vodka", but then, in the process of development, the words about vodka disappeared. And there was "bitters".

Russian
Let's just say it was a mass model. This vodka had a sharp and unpleasant taste and smell, despite all attempts to flavor the product with cinnamon. But it was produced everywhere, each republic had its own "Russian". Interestingly, it was also exported. The brand decayed and dilapidated, deteriorated. but... But the reincarnation of Russian vodka is currently taking place. And it's not the alcohol producers' fault. The Sochi Olympics is the main catalyst. I don’t say anything more, I suggest looking at the photo:

So we remembered the tastes from the old world. The forbidden doors opened for a second, but alas, it's time for us to move on. Where to go?

1. Initially, it was planned to depict knights on the label of "Russian"

2. Double label with a collar from a souvenir bottle

3. The classic label of "Russian" - the so-called "heroic"

4. The second classic option. This label has been produced unchanged for a quarter of a century.

5. "Russian" - "two stripes"

6. A label with a printing defect also went into business

7. Label of the Gaidar times - without medals and indication of the manufacturer of vodka

8. Label for a 0.33 Pepsi bottle

The first vodka in the top row produced by Asfalt JSC!

Post-Soviet "Russian" in all its diversity

1. "Moscow special" - one of the first options

2. First medal: Bern, 1954

3. Classic label "Moscow special"

4. "Moscow special" - rare Central Asian variant 1960s

5–7. Export options

8. When label printing couldn't keep up with prices, they put a stamp

9. Another classic label. Vodka with such labels was produced in all Soviet republics

1. "Moscow Special" from a special series released for the 850th anniversary of Moscow

2. Label of the last year of the existence of the USSR. Due to the lack of normal paper, it was printed almost on a blotting paper

3–8. Post-Soviet Labels. At first the label was recognizable, then new design solutions came

9. "Mordovian special" ... An example of mimicry for a well-known brand

1. Classic label "Wheat"

2. A special "Wheat" was produced for restaurants

3–6. Post-Soviet metamorphoses of "Wheat"

7–9. Vodka on the idea of ​​"Wheat"

1. Initial - strict - version of the "Capital"

2. Classic variant labels.

3. Option with "two stripes" - and even with a quality mark!

4. Special vodka for Aeroflot

5–8. "Capital" for export

9. "Stolichnaya" from a special series released for the 850th anniversary of Moscow

Post-Soviet variations on the theme of "Capital"

1. Classic label "Ambassadorial"

2–7. Post-Soviet labels, including those with "two stripes", which were absent on the Soviet "Posolskaya"

8. Ladies' "Ambassatory"?

9. This, of course, is not "Ambassatory", and yet ...

1–2. " Golden ring"- one of the most successful Soviet labels

Label and back label

3–7. Modern options labels

8. Vodka "Podmoskovnaya" - mimicry under the "Golden Ring"

1–6. Soviet variants"Zubrovki"

7–9. Modern "Zubrovka"

1–3. Starkey labels from the 1960s and 1970s

4–5. Stark in the 1970s and 1980s

6 Stark 1990s

7–9. Post-Soviet vodka "under the" Starka "

1. One of the first variants of "Kubanskaya"

2. Classic label

3–4. Soviet "Cossack" drinks

5–6. post-soviet vodka

7–9. Soviet variants of Lemonnaya. Each republic produced its own

1. All-Union version of "Lemon"

2–8. Post-Soviet "Lemon" - and the classic 40 degrees, and "ladies'" 28 degrees, and 63-degree infusion ...

1–6. Soviet "Pepper"

7–9. Modern varieties"Pepper" with a reinforced fortress. In fact, this is no longer "Pepper" ...

1–2. Soviet "Pepper"

3–4. Post-Soviet "Peppers" in Russian and Moldovan performance

5–9. Modern variants of tinctures of the type "Pepper"

1. Classic label "Hunting"

2. Classic label "Hunting". Export version

3–5. "Hunters" 1960-1970s

6. Post-Soviet Arkhangelsk "Hunting"

7–9. Variations on the theme of hunting

More hunting options...

1–4. 50 degree vodkas

5–9. "Drinking alcohol". Labels 1960-1980s

1–6. "Drinking alcohol" during perestroika

7. Forty-degree "alcohol"

8–9. Variants of alcohol "Royal"

10. American alcohol

1. 56-degree vodka. Thanks to the label, it was popularly called "Cloud"

2. Vodka at 3.62. The legendary "Crankshaft"

3. Andropovka

4–5. Simultaneously with the "Crankshaft" was released new vodka more High Quality- "Extra" on 4.12

6. Label from "Raiska" from a bottle with a capacity of 0.33

7–9. Vodka "Jubilee" and "Strong" trace their history since 1937

1–5. Transformations of the "Moscow special" in the post-Soviet space

6–9. Metamorphoses of "Russian"

1. Ukrainian vodka"Rosiyska" (that is, "Russian") with a knight at a crossroads ...

2–5. "Capital" in post-Soviet Ukraine and Belarus

6–9. "Wheat" in Ukraine and Belarus

1–2. Ukrainian gorilka Soviet times. In the export version, it is designated as "Russian vodka"

3–6. post-soviet gorilka

7–8. Post-Soviet Belarusian vodkas

9. Export version of the "Original Belarusian"

1. Estonian vodka "Viru Valge" of Soviet times

2–4. Soviet-era Lithuanian vodkas

5. "Lietuvishka Kristadine" 1960s

6–7. "Lietuvishka kristadine" 1970-1980s. Label and back label

8. "Lietuvishka Kristadine" ... Crimean production. 1990s

1–2. Latvian vodka "Crystal dzidrais" of Soviet times

3. "Crystal dzidrays" of Kyrgyz production

4. Ukrainian "russian vodka" "Crystal dzidrays"

5–6. Post-Soviet - real, Latvian - "Crystal dzidrais"

7. Post-Soviet transformation of "Crystal Dzidrays" into Uzbek arak

8. "Crystal dzidrays", bottled in Rostov-on-Don

9. Forty degrees wine drink"Crystal Kuban", suspiciously similar to "Crystal dzidrays"

1–6. Bilingual Soviet labels

7–8. Post-Soviet Russian "Capital" without the Russian language in the Baltics

9. Turkmen "Rus aragy"

1–7. Varieties of the modern Kazakh "Russian"

8. Kazakh "Russia"

9. Kazakh "russian vodka" "Rodina"

1–2. Tajik "Capital"

3. "Capital" Kazakh

4–6. Uzbek "Capital" with different labels

7–8. Uzbek "Capital" and its transformation into the "Star of the East"

1–2. Kazakh and Uzbek labels, they are also lottery tickets

3–5. Uzbek number labels on paper with watermarks

6. Uzbek label of Osobaya vodka with Humo bird

7. Tamerlane on the label of Uzbek vodka

8–9. Uzbek labels with Tashkent chimes

1. Tajik vodka "Sim-sim holiday"

2–8. Modern Uzbek vodkas

1. One of the first Gzhelka labels

2. The label "Gzhelka", which has become a classic

3. "Gzhelka" winter. Varieties of "Gzhelka" were released for each season

4. New Year's "Gzhelka"

5. Vodka named after one of the main fighters for the Gzhelka brand

6–8. Mimicry for a successful brand: dessert drink "Fabulous Gzhel" and vodka "Gzheliya"

In those distant times, vodka was made from three types of alcohol: Supreme purification», « Suite" And " Extra". Alcohol " Supreme purification”chased from a mixture of grain, potatoes, sugar beets, molasses, raw sugar and some other bourda in arbitrary proportions. " Suite" And " Extra"- only from grain mixed with potatoes and something else, but with varying degrees cleaning. Cheap varieties of vodka were then made from alcohol. Supreme purification", and more expensive - from" Suite" And " Extras”, hence the difference in vodka prices.

Below are the prices in 1981-1986. in the period between the rise in price of vodka under Brezhnev in September 1981 until the next rise in price of vodka under Gorbachev in August 1986 with the cost of a bottle (the “deposit” price of dishes in 1981 rose from 12 kopecks to 20 kopecks) for a bottle of 0.5 liters . on those Soviet vodkas that I tried.

"Crankshaft", folk vodka from the times of the USSR

Soviet stamp vodka, the most popular in the 1950s and 1960s.

It cost 2 rubles 12 kopecks and was the cheapest vodka in the USSR.

There were still Moscow " And " Stolichnaya ", which cost 2 rubles 82 kopecks, and they were expensive vodkas - for professors and directors.

"Crankshaft- this, of course, was her popular name.

In fact, it was just "vodka", without additions.

This is what the people called it, “crankshaft”: firstly, because the word “vodka” on the label was written precisely by the crankshaft method - well, or like checkers on a taxi: a - a little higher, o - a little lower, d - again a little higher, and so on.

Well, and secondly, if you drink, you will fall on your knees!

An anecdote has been preserved from those times: a husband shouts to his wife standing on the balcony:

Claudia! Throw 12 cents!

So they crumble!

And you wrap them in two rubles!

We will talk about Soviet vodka bitters and sweet tinctures, wines, cognac and beer somehow separately, but about vodka I remember (or it seems to me that I remember) that:

« Russian vodka"- before the rise in price in 1981, it cost 4 rubles. 12 kopecks, after - 5 rubles. 30 kop. The most common, massive and disgusting vodka, with a sharp and bad smell and the same taste (despite all attempts to flavor this product with cinnamon). I drank from hopelessness and lack of money by drunks and students.

« Extra" And " Starorusskaya"- before the rise in price and after they cost the same, they did not differ in taste or smell from" Russian and gradually disappeared from sale.

« Moscow special"- before the rise in price in 1981, it cost 4 rubles. 12 kopecks, after - 5 rubles. 30 kop. The oldest of the Soviet mass vodka brands (the pre-revolutionary brand was restored in the USSR in 1925). " special "It had the addition of baking soda and acetic acid. was better" Russian ”, but not by much, and with all other things being equal, “ Moscow ».

« Stolichnaya"- before the rise in price in 1981, it cost 4 rubles. 42 kopecks, after - 6 rubles. 20 kop. In the 1930s, at the suggestion of Mikoyan, the USSR decided to expand the Soviet vodka assortment, and in 1938 the recipe for a new vodka was registered in the USSR. It was this vodka that was actively imported to the West, and if the bourgeois wanted really Soviet vodka, he took " Capital ”, in connection with which she appeared in many Hollywood films. The quality of the export Capital ”, of course, could not be compared with the internal Soviet one and was several orders of magnitude higher, but the internal one was also good. Fortress - 40% vol., but there were also variations in 37.5% vol., 45.7% vol., and even 57% vol. How this affected the price, I do not remember. I drank mostly at the festive table.

« Wheat"- before the rise in price in 1981, it cost 4 rubles. 42 kopecks, after - 6 rubles. 20 kop. Appeared in the late 70s and became a very common vodka. It was believed that it is based on wheat raw materials and has a special "wheat" softness. At first, they say, she had. But when I started drinking vodka, then " Wheat ' was not much different from ' Russian ", although it was more expensive. I drank when there were no others, better.

« Embassy"- before the rise in price in 1981, it cost 4 rubles. 42 kopecks, after - 6 rubles. 20 kop. Very soft and good vodka, but for some reason it was not appreciated by men. Sometimes it was purchased specifically for ladies, with the aim of their subsequent seduction.

« hunting"- before the rise in price in 1981, it cost 4 rubles. 42 kopecks, after - 6 rubles. 20 kop. I used it a little, but I remember that it was good vodka. The strength of this vodka was in several variations: it was produced with 45% vol., 51% vol., 56% vol. Rarely met, and seldom drank.

« Siberian"- before the rise in price in 1981, it cost 4 rubles. 42 kopecks, after - 6 rubles. 20 kop. At a higher strength (45% vol.) It had a very mild taste, but did not apply to classic vodkas not only for this reason - some kind of mineral water. Very good vodka, and therefore also rare.

« Ukrainian gorilka" (or similar " Ancient Kiev”) - were sold in the original green square bottles of 0.75 liters, and I don’t remember the prices for them. Although they were Ukrainian, they were not much more common here " hunting " or " Siberian ". They were often ordered by visiting business travelers and guests from the fraternal republics, and were taken there as a present. Their fortress was also 45% by volume, and they added some aromatic spirits with honey. good vodka and drank, too, mostly at the festive table.

« Stark"- imitation of the Polish starka. At first it had the inscription " Old Vodka ", which then changed to " Bitters ". Fortress - 43% vol. For an amateur. I was not her fan, so I do not know the price.

« Golden ring" - Very expensive vodka(I don’t know the exact price, but 10-15 rubles) in a cardboard box. They said that she was exported, although she met on sale. I tried it once at a party - it seemed that this was just an export version " Capital "(Which also met on sale in" birches"and special distributors).

Vodka labels of the same brand differed depending on many factors: time of manufacture, place of manufacture, export option, etc. In addition, some regional distilleries of the Union republics produced local vodka, which did not go further than the region into trade. I wanted to post labels of Soviet vodkas, which I have never tried, but there were too many of them.

Well, the latest mass Soviet vodka " andropovka ", which was distinguished by the extreme laconism of the label: the word" Vodka”And a finely-finely line of various GOST numbers there (it resembled the label of the old Soviet “ Vodka » of the 70s, which disappeared in the early 80s). It was introduced by Andropov when he came to power and it cost 4 rubles 20 kopecks (the price decreased from the cheapest by almost 10%, i.e. by 60 kopecks, although before that the prices for vodka only rose in the Union). This decline then had nothing to do with the real economy, and was populism pure water aimed at winning people's love for the new General Secretary.

It went on sale by September 1, 1983 and was first called “first-grader” or “schoolgirl”, and then it was steadily called “andropovka” (although there was another decoding of the name: “ IN from ABOUT n D obry TO what A ndropov"). This vodka did not last long and after two or three years, during the Gorbachev era, it quietly faded away, although it was the Soviet vodka hit of the 1983-1984 season.

And some still drank this too, since the “Triple” cost then 98 kopecks and contained 64% alcohol. I tried to try it once in the army - but when diluted with water, it turned so milky and warmed up so much that I sniffed it, shuddered and changed my mind ...

In the comments, please take into account that in the USSR, in the production of vodka, not distilled water was used, as it is now (which, as they say, “killed” vodka), but water, although purified, but natural. And since the most common Soviet vodkas were produced in each region, then with the same alcohol for everyone, natural water (which greatly affects the taste of vodka) was different everywhere. Therefore, vodka under the same brand in different ends Soviet Union differed from each other, and sometimes quite significantly, and our memories of the quality of the vodkas I have listed may not coincide.

And it also seems to me that no matter what, in the USSR there was very lousy vodka (even the one that I just remembered as good). But unlike the current one, she had taste. Probably this