Old name for vodka. How the myth about Mendeleev's creation of vodka was born

Many foreigners associate vodka with Russia, is it really the national drink? Who invented vodka anyway? Many people may be interested in this question.

It is known that back in the Middle Ages, conducting various experiments, alcohol was discovered in Europe, which is associated with alchemists. But regarding vodka, many believe that it was invented in Russia.

Indeed, the well-known chemist Dmitry Mendeleev came up with the ideal ratio of water and alcohol - 40% to 60%. Does this mean that he invented vodka?

How humanity discovered alcohol, no one knows. Archaeologists have found out that the Papuans of New Guinea could not yet kindle a fire, but they already knew how to make intoxicating drinks. The earliest graphic references to wines were recorded in the 4th millennium BC. e. Sherds of vessels made of clay with traces of wine on them date back to an even earlier period. But, strong drinks in those days had not yet been invented.

The distillation of liquids was first described by the greatest philosopher of ancient Greece - Aristotle, born in 384 BC. e. One must think that similar experiments on the extraction of alcohol were carried out before, there is simply no documentary evidence of this.

The first drink resembling vodka was invented by the Persian physician Ar-Razi. The distillation of alcohol-containing elements made it possible to identify ethyl alcohol. This gave rise to the emergence of alcoholic beverages.

But the Arabs did not take alcohol inside, it was used as a medical and cosmetic means.

Reference! What year was vodka invented? It is believed that an Arab doctor invented an alcohol-based drink in 860 - then it was used only for medical purposes.

In the Middle Ages, alchemists developed and improved various techniques and methods for distilling fermenting raw materials into the “soul of wine”. Who first invented alcohol will probably forever remain a mystery to mankind.

An irresolvable dispute of scientists

The Italians invented the distillation apparatus in the 9th century. Around the same time, the secret of obtaining spiritus vini was revealed to scientists in other countries. A doctor, scientist, alchemist - the Frenchman Arno de Villeger became the founder of the extraction of wine alcohol in Europe, he managed to separate alcohol from fermenting raw materials. The idea was picked up by the monks of France, and then Italy. In 1360, a rare church economy did not actively trade in the "water of life."

Vodka in its truest sense was invented by the Poles. Then they called the drink bread wine and used it as a medicinal tincture. It was in the distant Middle Ages. All adult citizens of the country could produce and sell such vodka. The word itself also came from the Polish language, which means “water”, Wikipedia also mentions this.

In the 16th century, Tsar Ivan the Terrible ordered the boyars to secure a monopoly on the production of this drink.

But the myth regarding the origin of vodka arose during the period of the Soviet Union, when the then-famous culinary specialist William Pokhlebkin published the book “The History of Vodka”. It says that the alcoholic drink appeared in Moscow when Rus' was under the yoke of the Golden Horde. Many researchers argued about who invented vodka. Violent discussions continue today. Wikipedia, for example, displays the conflict between Pokhlebkin and Pidzhakov. The latter, as evidence of the false theory of the scientist-researcher, refers to the absence of any direct documents confirming this fact. There is no historical evidence that unequivocally gives an answer to who invented vodka, and when exactly the discovery was made. Many professors and just amateurs are still trying to find the answer to this question.

There is no authentic data on this fact, so the version is classified as false. But in the minds of many people, the idea was entrenched that vodka appeared precisely on Russian land.

A little about the product

Vodka in its composition has the following components:

1. Water- the main component;
2. Ethanol;
3. Methyl alcohol- a dangerous component, but it is contained in small doses even in the best grades of alcohol;
4. Fusel oils- their presence indicates the low quality of the product.

The taste of classic vodka is characterized as burning and bitter. In some types, various flavors are added to soften the water-alcohol composition. It can be pepper, cinnamon, chocolate (no sugar), vanilla, etc.

Reference! What is classic vodka made from? The raw materials for it are potatoes or cereals, purified water.

Many Russian poets and writers sang of vodka, for example, Vladimir Mayakovsky wrote: "It's better to die from vodka than from boredom!"

Avreliy Markov owns the words: "A bottle of excellent vodka is a good substitute for knowledge of foreign languages."

The emergence of an alcoholic drink based on alcohol in Russia

A prototype vodka was brought to Russia in the 14th century, when a merchant from Genoa delivered "Aqua Vitae" or "Water of Life". It was back in 1386.

Alchemists from the Provence region by that time had learned to turn grape must into alcohol in the manner of an Arab alembic.

Reference!"Alcohol" in Latin means spirit. In Rus', vodka was called bread wine, as it was made from cereals of wheat, rye, and barley.

Despite the fact that the concept of vodka was already in Rus', it was only in the USSR that it sounded like a trade name for this drink. This happened in 1936 according to GOST.

Rectified alcohol made from raw materials based on grain or potatoes was taken as the basis. Subsequently, in Russia, vodka began to be produced only on the basis of grain crops.

The mass planting of vodka began to be carried out during the time of Ivan the Terrible, this was done to replenish the royal treasury. Sometimes people were forcibly forced to buy this drink, and it cost, by the way, not cheap.

Before the spread of vodka, Russian people did not drink strong intoxicating drinks, preferring:

• mead,
• weak berry wines,
• beer.

Ivan IV forbade, under pain of death, the production of alcoholic beverages at home.

As a result, the tsar's treasury was replenished, but for a long time people considered the sale of vodka shameful, and drunkards were not respected. But gradually Russian society began to decompose. There was such a thing as an alcoholic.

Reference. Many have heard about the concept of "Royal vodka". But you can't drink it. The composition includes hydrochloric and nitric acid. Their goal is to dissolve gold. The liquid has no color, later the solution becomes orange.

There are many interesting facts in history regarding this popular drink in Russia. To learn more about him, you can visit the Museum of the History of Vodka, located in Moscow.

It highlights the history of this drink for 500 years, presents 600 types of vodka, and other exhibits related to it. Similar museums, but with fewer exhibits, are open to visitors in Uglich (RF), St. Petersburg, Amsterdam, and Kharkov.

The veracity of the expression "to drink in buckets"

popular expression "drink vodka in buckets" has historical meaning. Since during the time of Catherine II, this drink was sold in buckets of 12.3 liters.

Back in 1533, the first establishment was opened where you could have a couple of glasses of strong drink, by the way, vodka was sold there as an elite drink. Bottled vodka was sold later in 1894.

Penalty glass

Where did the concept of penalty vodka come from? It turns out in Ancient Greece, and this is back in the 4th-5th centuries BC. the inhabitants loved to arrange feasts.

The number of dishes and drinks was not limited, but there were certain rules of etiquette, according to which a person who was late for a feast had to pay a fine.

Patent for sale

In 1894, the Russian government opened a patent for the sale domestic drink called "Moscow Special", where 40 parts by weight of ethyl alcohol were carried out through carbon filtration.

This drink has become Russian national brand.

Toast to health

The concept of “toast for health” appeared during the time of Ivan the Terrible, when various medicinal tinctures were made on alcohol, based on berries and medicinal herbs.

Reference! Such strong drinks were taken only for medicinal purposes.

Drinking medal

The heaviest award in the world was the “Medal for drunkenness”, which was established by Peter I. It was in 1714.

So the king came up with a panacea for alcoholism.

• The emphasis was on the inscription, which informed everyone around about the status of a drunkard and on the weight of the award.
• Given the collar and medals, such an insignia weighed 8 kilograms.
• "Rewarding" was carried out in the police. The medal was attached to the neck in such a way that it was impossible to remove it.
• A person had to go through a week with a similar label, this was enough to realize their actions.

About Mendeleev

The creation of vodka is associated with the Russian chemist Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev.

Reference! Indeed, he submitted to the judgment of his fellow scientists a dissertation entitled "On the combination of alcohol with water." But the work has nothing to do with vodka and the establishment of a fortress of 40%.

Until 1886, the standard strength of this alcohol-containing drink was established in Rus' as 38.3%. But since it was also planned to “shrink” vodka so that it had a guaranteed 38 degrees, it was decided to round this number up to 40%.

D. I. Mendeleev himself took the concepts of metrology as the basis of his work, and not the goal of creating an alcoholic beverage.

Science for health

Allergy to alcohol. A diagnosis that sounds like a curse. If gluten is recognized as an undesirable component for the body, there is hope for salvation. Today, many global vodka producers, knowing about the number of people with aversion to the protein of cereal grains, produce alternative options. What is this vodka made from? Alcohol is extracted from potatoes, grapes, fruits.

According to the regulations of the European Union, any plant crops are considered acceptable for the manufacture of vodka.

No alcohol law

Even under M. S. Gorbachev, a dry law was introduced. But it turns out that this has been done several times in Russia.

The first stage took place in 1914. With the coming of the Bolsheviks to power, a number of laws were also passed to reduce the production of vodka.

The next ban was in 1960. It was from that time that moonshine and other surrogates produced underground became popular.

Prohibition of sale in the regions

Currently, some regions of Russia have their own rules regarding alcoholic beverages.

• So, for example, in the Ulyanovsk region, alcoholic beverages are not sold on Saturday and Sunday, as well as every day after 20:00.
• Dagestan has introduced legislation banning the sale of alcohol on certain public holidays.
• In Yakutia, they went even further, they do not sell alcohol here, starting from 20:00 and until 14:00 the next day.

Culture of consumption and serving

Slavic peoples most often drink pure vodka, Europeans and Americans usually use strong alcohol to make cocktails. The most delicious, opening its specific, burning bouquet, will be vodka chilled to 7-10 °. It is poured into glasses containing no more than 50 grams. It is not customary to add water to alcohol; vodka is considered completely ready for use. For the same reason, ice is not put into it.

Drinking vodka is not a sign of bad taste or a violation of alcohol ethics. A good option for this is alkaline mineral water. It reduces the concentration of alcohol in the blood, prevents severe intoxication. Next come vegetable and fruit juices, pickles, compotes. Sugary carbonated drinks, due to the content of carbon dioxide, accelerate the absorption of alcohol. The punishment for betraying vodka and drinking other drinks after it will be a painful hangover. In extreme cases, they drink it after weaker products: wine, liquor, but not vice versa.

Good vodka is a noble drink. You should not drink it hastily, the varieties differ in aromas, taste, pungency. If a decent snack is not supposed to be eaten, it is advisable to eat a hearty meal the day before. Fatty, hearty dishes weaken the intoxicating effect of vodka and allow you to drink it with pleasure, without fear of suddenly disappearing into oblivion.

What is served with vodka for a snack?

You can talk about it for a long time, but many people like to just drink it. But, everything is good in moderation. And yet, a special snack is needed for vodka. Another famous Leopold Staff jokingly said:

“Vodka should be drunk only in two cases: when there is a snack, and when it is not. But it is better to have a good snack on this strong drink.

Previously, it was believed that these should be various dishes, such as sausages, caviar, sturgeon, salmon, pickled mushrooms, dumplings or pancakes.

In later times, not so satisfying, people were content with pickles, green onions, and boiled potatoes as snacks.

It is good with first courses: homemade noodles in chicken broth, red borscht, soups, fish soup. It is not customary to put vodka on the table at the same time as:

• melon;
• sweets, chocolate.
• watermelon;

From the point of view of health, fried fatty meats, hot peppers, horseradish, adjika do not go well with alcohol. These products additionally burden the digestive system and liver by "distracting" them from neutralizing alcohol in the blood. Vinegar-canned vegetables (pickled), unlike salted counterparts, create an extra stressful situation for the kidneys.

Watch a video about who actually invented vodka:

Hello dear readers of my blog! After the last holiday, I thought: why was vodka invented, and who invented alcohol? It turned out that alcoholic beverages have been known since the Middle Ages.

For the first time, alchemists received them in experiments on the invention of the philosopher's stone, they deduced the formula of a new substance, having tasted it, endowed it with miraculous properties and called it living water.

The ideal percentage of 40% alcohol and 60% water was made by Dmitry Mendeleev, a well-known Russian chemist and inventor. Now let's take a closer look at the history of the creation of the most famous alcoholic drink.

What led to the emergence of alcoholic beverages

It is possible to obtain alcohol from any fermentation products. The body also produces alcohols after eating fermented milk products or fruits.

Of course, the human body cannot be reproduced, but it became possible to obtain alcohol under artificial conditions only after the invention of a device that could ensure the distillation of fermented products. It is based on evaporation with further condensation of vapors into an alcohol solution (distillation process).

Information about the discoverers is contradictory. From some sources it is known that the distillation of mash was discovered in Central Asia by the Arabs. This discovery is dated before the tenth century.

Others believe it is quite reasonable that the alchemists of the Middle Ages, trying to find the philosopher's stone, easily invented the process of distillation, which was later called distillation.

Who came up with the name

The first information about alcohol dates back to the Middle Ages. The name comes from the Latin word spiritus, which means soul in translation. The discovery of alcohol is associated with the distillation of wine, which was used for alchemy. Wine was made long before the production of spirits.

The name "vodka" was first coined in Moscow at the end of the nineteenth century. Prior to this, a drink obtained from wine was called boiled, bitter or bread wine.

Who opened the first tavern in Moscow

In the fifteenth century, the production of bread wine was monopolized by John the Third. And already Ivan the Terrible opened the first drinking establishment - "Tsarev's tavern". The menu included only a few types of vodka. No snacks were sold, leading to very quick intoxication. Since that time, the countdown of the statistics of robberies, injuries and corruption on the basis of drunkenness begins.

Since 1649, the fight against drunkenness began in Russia. A royal decree is being created, which raises the price of vodka many times, and regulates the sale of only one cup (143.5 gr) per person. The law had no force in society.

Catherine's reform

Taking care of the treasury during the Northern War, Peter the Great imposes a tax on the production and sale of vodka. Already Catherine the Second exempts producers of alcoholic beverages from taxes, but vodka had to be made by a special method and only by the upper class. The rest of society could only buy it.

From now on, vodka, after distillation, was purified with coagulants. Proteins, usually milk or egg, were used as cleansers. The essence of the method: the protein, getting into alcohols, begins to coagulate together with the fusel oils contained in it.

The resulting mixture precipitated, which was a significant part of the product. Six liters of purified vodka account for a liter of milk or half a liter of egg whites.

Then they came up with the idea of ​​introducing special flavors into the composition of vodka. At that time, these were natural supplements from anise, lemon, pepper, mint, dill and others.

The name corresponded to the added products: Anise, Lemon, Horseradish, Dill. Rich estates had the entire list of products: from A to Z. Cocktails from various types of vodka came into fashion.

Measure "half a liter" was also invented in Rus'. Its predecessor is damask (1.23 l). There was an exact measure of weight: the mass of a bucket of vodka was 30 pounds. This ruled out adulteration because water is heavier than alcohol, which adds to the overall weight.

The emergence of strong alcohol in Europe

In 1881, vodka became one of the main exported products of Russia. It was first presented in France, where it was to the taste of the most sophisticated society. After 10 years, Nicholas the First abolished the state monopoly of alcoholic beverages in Russia.

This led to the enrichment of a certain circle of people. Since 1851, an excise tax system has been introduced. The state produces alcohol and sells it to tax farmers. Then the excise system was introduced.

The inaccessibility of high-quality goods for the lower strata led to the fact that they came up with the production of low-quality potato raw materials. This caused an increase in alcoholism and hit the health of the nation, which reduced incomes and led to fraud.

Since 1881, the state began to develop measures to combat drunkenness:

1. They allowed to sell vodka in small portions (previously, the drink was poured into buckets “to take away”, because bottles were not produced in Rus').
2. They were obliged to sell alcoholic beverages in establishments where they prepared snack dishes (taverns).

Subsequently, high-quality rye vodka was produced for export, and in Russia they were content with cheap potato surrogate.

Mendeleev "cheated"

In order to improve the quality of the domestic product, in 1894 the production of vodka was transferred to state-owned enterprises. There was a program created for several years, and a commission headed by the famous chemist Mendeleev. Tasks were set:

• Develop technologies for deep purification of the product;
• Promote the culture of proper consumption of vodka;
• Improve conditions in catering places.

In general, the measures were supposed to lead to the elimination of moonshine and reduce the harmful effects.

Special merits in the development of a quality drink belong to Mendeleev. He studied the reactions that occur when vodka is combined with water. It has been proven for the first time that as a result of mixing vodka with water, the volume decreases.

Therefore, the higher the degree, the smaller the volume. For example, when mixing alcohol with an equal amount of water, the volume will be less than usual. Mendeleev invented a formula for mixing vodka with water based on the mass of substances.

He proved that for an ideal ratio, there must be three H2O per molecule of alcohol. The greatest compression is obtained at a ratio of 45.88% alcohol to 54.12% water. This gives a 40 degree drink, which can only be obtained by measuring the ingredients by volume.

The weight of a liter of quality vodka is 953 grams. An increase in weight leads to a decrease in strength and vice versa. The standard of high-quality vodka was patented in Russia in 1894, its name is “Moscow Special”.

The measures taken led to the streamlining of trade (it was strictly regulated in time), filling the budget and reducing drunkenness.

So they produced vodka, which is known in the modern world. The history of its creation is long and tragic, intertwined with immense enrichment and poverty. Use this product for health benefits. Subscribe to my blog, leave reviews, and share recipes for strong, healthy drinks.

All the best!

Vodka has long been considered the national alcoholic drink in Russia. There is no exact information about when and by whom this colorless water-alcohol mixture with a characteristic smell and taste was invented. Vodka is drunk cold with a variety of snacks; it quickly warms you up in cold weather. Most of the stories about the appearance of the drink are based on unreliable facts and myths that need to be debunked. In addition, it is very difficult to determine when vodka appeared.

In 1270, the medieval thinker Albert the Great describes alcohol as a "secondary raw material". Later, Giovanni Fidanza liquefied ammonia in nitric acid. He established in 1271 that this mixture was capable of dissolving the elements of silver, and aqua regia (aqua regia) splits gold.

Some alchemical treatises spread throughout Europe in 1350. On their pages was a description of the formula of aqua regia. Synthesis required sublimate saltpeter, a wide variety of alum, blue vitriol and ammonia in a glass closed basin.

Story

In the 10th century, in Persia, a doctor named Ar-Razion made something that looked like a colorless alcoholic drink. Since in Muslim areas it is forbidden to consume alcohol-containing infusions, the invention was used in medicine or in a session of invoking spirits. In Europe, vodka becomes famous at the beginning of the XIII century, but is also used only in the interests of healing.

The term "vodka" first appeared in the 14th century, but it meant a berry or herbal tincture with a high degree. In 1450, this alcoholic drink was brought to Russia by Italian ambassadors. At this time, it was recommended as an antimicrobial agent and used to disinfect wounds and cuts.

On a note!

In Rus', a drink similar to today's vodka was called bread wine. It was made from wheat or rye. . Legend believes that those who invented vodka, became a priest from the Chudov Monastery. It was he who, having the relevant knowledge, personally compiled the first recipe for an alcoholic drink.

Under Ivan the Terrible, vodka gained great popularity and began to be used orally. Historians tell how the king, seeing the possibility of an easy replenishment of the treasury by selling alcohol, forcibly and cruelly instilled in the people the tradition of drinking. Vodka was bought in taverns, and home-made tinctures were completely banned. Since then, the notorious alcohol addiction has appeared, which is unusual for a Russian person.

Interesting!

In ancient times in Rus', the people consumed only low-alcohol drinks infused with honey, herbs or roots. People also liked to sip berry wine or freshly brewed beer. Drinks were made at home and displayed on a large table during the holidays. Great sobriety was required from the people and nobles, and drunkards who were seen in gluttony were imprisoned for a short time, and if he did not correct himself, they were publicly whipped on the street.

At the end of the 19th century, sobriety societies appeared in the Russian Empire, which sounded the alarm, seeing how alcohol captures not only men, but also women with children. In the USSR, the trade name "vodka" was officially (according to GOST) adopted in 1936. It was based on alcohol rectified, obtained synthetically. During the Second World War, each soldier was entitled to 100 grams before a terrible battle. A little later, the norm increased to 200 grams, but was intended only for front fighters.

On a note!

In contrast to the instructions of Ivan the Terrible, the Bolsheviks, who led the country in 1917, introduced a dry law on drinking alcohol until 1924. A similar decree was issued by the last General Secretary of the Central Committee CPSU M. Gorbachev.

The chemical composition of an alcoholic beverage

The main components are water and alcohol. In the process of their synthesis, other elements are formed that can cause great harm to health with uncontrolled consumption.

On a note!

There is a fairly common misconception that the famous Russian chemist-scientist D. I. Mendeleev invented vodka. In fact, he was just protecting dissertation entitled "On the combination of alcohol with water" and did not aim to identify the ideal elements of an alcoholic beverage. He made a statement about the strength of vodka (38 degrees), which was soon rounded off to simplify the cost documentation.

If you can easily answer the question "who invented vodka", then you do not know the correct answer. Most likely you hear one of three options: Mendeleev, Poles, the great Russian people. None of these answers are correct, but the truth lies somewhere in between.

1 Poles invented vodka

This is a very heated dispute between two Slavic peoples. Russians consider vodka their traditional drink, so they do not want to give the right to be called the inventors of vodka to anyone else. The Poles categorically disagree with this.

The official historical science is on the side of the Poles. In a Polish document as early as 1405, the word "vodka" is found. In Russia, this word occurs 150 years later. But two things should be noted. We are talking about mentioning it in an official written document. How long the word "vodka" was used in oral speech, no one knows.

The second point concerns the etymology of the word. Both in Polish and in Russian, the word "vodka" is a diminutive form of the word "water". Now we use the word "water" in the same meaning. Someone with irony began to call a drink with a strength of 40 degrees water, and this came into use.

Thus, the Poles claim exclusively to invent the name, and their proof is far-fetched.

It is important to know!

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2 Russians invented vodka

In Russia, vodka is not just a drink, it is a national identity and, in a way, national pride. Now there is often information on the Internet that before Peter the Great, vodka was not drunk in Russia, but they drank only kvass, milk and a little bit of mead on major public holidays.

Tsar Peter, although he was famous for his love for strong 40-degree drinks, but, alas, he did not bring them to Russia. Now it is difficult to determine in what year distillation appeared in Russia, but it was even before feudal fragmentation.

True, there is one misfortune: the word "vodka" was used very little and referred more to tinctures and liqueurs. And pure alcoholic distillates with a strength of 20 to 40 degrees were called bread wine until the end of the 19th century.

Note that it was more moonshine than vodka. And such a process for the production of alcohol was known to the Arabs as early as the 10th century. For national identity, it is more suitable for the Irish, who drove whiskey in defiance of the prohibitions of the English crown.

3 Vodka was invented by Mendeleev

The refutation of this myth can be found not only on the Internet and books, but also on the TV screen, you can often hear that Mendeleev did not solder Russia. But it doesn't save. If ten Russians are asked who invented vodka, then eight will confidently name the name of the great chemist.

In 1895, Mendeleev defended his legendary dissertation "On the combination of alcohol with water." Well, it is clear that we are talking about vodka. Alcohol, water, what else do you need?

But the dissertation dealt neither with the production of alcohol, nor with its consumption, nor with excise taxes. Mendeleev devoted many years of his scientific activity to solutions and metrology. What water is better to dilute alcohol and how much water to add to make it tastier - he did not even touch on these issues. His work is devoted to solubility and change in volumes while maintaining mass.

The canonical fortress of 40 degrees is also associated with Dmitry Ivanovich. He really had a hand in this, but also with nuances. The alcohol trade brought the treasury a good profit, and therefore, businessmen and dishonest officials always revolved around it. A request was sent to the Academy of Sciences to develop the simplest possible way to account for the amount of alcohol in a solution. Of course, the task was redirected to the most famous solution specialist of the day.

Mendeleev proposed to set fire to the solution. If at least half of the volume burns out, then the solution contains at least 38.5% alcohol. Such a product was called polugar. It could have been stronger, but the excise tax was paid precisely for 38.5% alcohol. Therefore, merchants tried to dilute the product to the specified value.

But this figure did not last long. There was no universal free education then, not the most literate people of the state worked as clerks and controllers. They could still set fire to vodka in a glass, but they were no longer able to count decimal fractions in a column. Therefore, in 1866, long before Mendeleev's doctoral dissertation, a half-gar fortress of 40 degrees was legally fixed.