Everyone knows the bad stuff about drinking liquor. But few
people really take notice of the history of distilled liquors. Inquiring minds
want to know – so I inquired. That is I did some research. There’s a list of
reference resources at the end of this post.
The liquor I hear the most about is the one I often refer to
as Miss Vodie – or otherwise known as Vodka. It seems like a good place to
start.
Vodka is a distilled beverage composed of water and ethanol
and sometimes flavored other fruits or sugars. It is made by the distillation
from potatoes or rice and very pure water. It can be made from many other kinds
of materials such as grain or molasses. It is used to make cocktails such as
martinis, Cosmopolitans, Screwdriver, Bloody Mary’s and many other drinks.
The name “Vodka” is from a Slavic work “voda” meaning
“little water”. It was recorded for the first time in 1405 in court documents
in Poland.
At that time it was primarily used for medicines, cosmetics and making
gunpowder.
I always thought the homeport of vodka was somewhere in Russia.
However, Poland
claims to have distilled vodka as early as the 8th century. That
version was more of a crude brandy since it was distilled from wine. So maybe
it cannot really be considered a true vodka.
At the end of the 9th century the first
documented production of Russian vodka was reported. During the 14th
century vodka was considered to be the Russian national drink. In the mid 16th
century, Poland and Finland also
laid claims as it being their national drink. The first exports of vodka were
to Sweden
in 1505.
The liquid contained many impurities and many methods were
used to “purify” the drink. It was very expensive to produce palatable vodka so
distilleries became the exclusive right of the nobility because they were the
only ones who could afford the task. By the 18th century a new
system of purifying using charcoal filtration was developed making it less
expensive to produce.
Vodka increased in popularity as Russian soldiers introduced
the liquor to other parts of Europe during the
Napoleonic Wars. The high demand led to the production of lower grade vodka
which was produced from distilling potato mash. The availability of the
cheaper, mass-produced vodkas began an “epidemic of drunkenness”. Attempts were
made to control the situation by enacting a law to make production and
distribution of vodka in a Russia
as a monopoly.
The name “Vodka” was officially adopted after a standard of
technique and a guarantee of quality was attained at the end of the 19th
century.
All private distilleries in Moscow were confiscated after the Russian
Revolution. Many Russian vodka makers emigrated taking their skills with them.
In Paris, a
Russian immigrant named Smirnoff developed a French version of vodka. He
partner with another Russian who had relocated to the USA. In 1934 vodka
began being produced in the USA.
It increased in popularity with Americans by the 1940s. In the 1960s-1970s
vodka reached it’s all-time high popularity in the USA.
The vodka boom was greatly due to the change in lifestyles
at the time. The more affluent younger generation, relaxed lifestyle, and mix-ability
of vodka contributed to its increase in popularity. Martini’s were all the rage
and considered to be the drink of exclusive circles and upper class bars.
In the less sophisticated, back country areas there was
another kind of vodka brewing. Bathtub vodka or, commonly called “Moonshine”.
This can be produced easily and cheaply. It can also be deadly. Severe
poisoning leading to blindness and death can occur as the result of drinking
this homemade concoction.
During Prohibition Bathtub Vodka was being cooked up in big
cities as well as back country. When Prohibition ended, the bathtubs may have
returned to providing a place to bathe, but the country moonshine stills
continued to prosper. To this day there is an abundance of illegal stills
hidden in the countryside.
Vodka can be as much as 40%-50% pure alcohol. It is very
easy to over-consume vodka especially when mixed with other juices or mixers.
Excessive amounts will inhibit your judgment and decrease fine motor control
and coordination. It increases your risk of alcoholism and its associated
diseases such as cirrhosis.
I gathered all this information from internet research of
various sites. All I really need to know is that it is has been a huge factor
in destroying Riley’s life. I don’t blame Miss Vodie or the vodka producing
industry. It isn’t vodka’s fault that Riley chooses that liquor to join him in
his decline. The fault is hard to establish. I think we’d have to take a look
at the entirety of Riley’s life to really determine the fault that led him into
alcoholism.
Reference websites: Ginvodka.org; Wikipedia; Livestrong.com
