Russian cuisine: Vodka

Overview

The production of the purest and seemingly most simple of all alcoholic drinks – vodka – involves the relatively complicated process of distillation. So, it wasn't invented until the 15th century. But vodka’s relative youth (it is about 8,000 years younger than wine) didn’t prevent it from gaining widespread popularity in Eastern Europe and Russia.

The difficulty of growing grapes in a cold climate drove these counties into exploring the alcoholic potential of fermented grain. These explorations led to the discovery of what was called then called ‘bread wine’. It was first distilled at a Muscovite monastery and then, apparently, in the city of Moscow itself in the 1440s. Traditional Russian surnames Vinokur or Vinokurov are derivatives of the Russian word for the distillation process.

Mendeleev's measurements and Pokhlyobkin’s studies

Dmitry Mendeleev Despite beliefs to the contrary, Mendeleev – the legendary Russian inventor known as the ‘Euclid of chemistry’ – didn’t actually invent vodka, which existed about 400 years prior to Mendeleev’s birth. However his thorough and careful studies have greatly contributed to the distilling industry.

The two most notable names in the history of vodka are Dmitry Mendeleev and William Pokhlyobkin.

Mendeleev became a Doctor of Science in 1865 for a dissertation called “On the Combinations of Water with Alcohol”. It’s a unique example of a work on spirits by a scientist of Mendeleev’s caliber, and, unsurprisingly, it has one or two useful ideas.

When appointed Head of the State Bureau of Weights and Measures in 1893, Mendeleev had to come up with vodka production standards. Naturally he didn’t forget his alcohol studies made 30 years earlier, which indicated the ideal volume for vodka to be 38%. But for the purposes of easier marking and taxation, the 40% volume was chosen.

Vodka’s very existence caused an international controversy in the late 1970s (of course its usage has caused infinitely more controversies), when Poland tried to claim that within the borders of the Kingdom of Poland, vodka was known prior to the Russian Empire.

Years of painstaking research by historian William Pokhlyobkin confirmed that vodka was in Muscovy in the 15th century, while Poland was unable to prove the statement that the local vodka (gorzalka) was created prior to the middle of the 16th century.

Russia clearly won the international dispute on the invention of vodka and rightfully keeps it as its national drink.

The importance of ‘zakuska’

Being the national drink of a country as vast as Russia, vodka has created dozens of different traditions. While some prefer to drink it around the table, others see vodka as a universal short-term relaxant that can be consumed virtually anywhere with little preparation.

There are people who enjoy vodka and there are those who suffer from ulcers. So, if you have no desire to pass from the first group to the second follow the advice below. Before a proper vodka session (one that involves more then 200 milliliters of vodka per participant) you have to take precautions.

Several hours before the session, swallow 50 milliliters of vodka. Once inside your system, it will behave similarly to the way process gas in pipelines to smoothe the flow.
Vegetable oil and raw eggs, as well as tea and coffee may also be helpful, as the oily substance will cover the wall of the gut and prevent alcohol from soaking into your stomach and intestine. A perfect way to avoid any negative effect from drinking is to eat porridge an hour before you start drinking.
As far as medicines go, absorbent carbon is good, but antibiotics should be avoided at all costs: when taken with alcohol they damage your heart. And so does excessive smoking while drunk.
Chasing vodka with other drinks such as beer, wine or tonics should be avoided. It makes you drunk too fast.
Food is a different matter. When the drinking starts the choice of accompanying food – a.k.a. ‘zakuska’ – is crucial. Meat is good, but not sausages; most fish is good; raw vegetables and herbs should be abandoned for saline ones, while any kind of fruit is welcome, especially citrus ones, as well as berries.
Russian tradition prescribes that vodka be sipped in order to taste it; it is not acceptable to simply swallow it down. So it should be cool, but not ice cold.

Choosing vodka

RT has put together its own list that might come in handy when choosing a vodka:

Glavspirttrest
$4–$10

Putinka
$4–$10

Five Lakes
(Pyat Ozer)
$4–$6

On Birch buds
(Na Beryozovih Brunkah)
$8–$10

Flagship
(Flagman)
$6–$13

Danish
(Special mentioning:
Danzka)
$17–$30

Sturgeon
(Beluga)
$25–$56

Parliament
$6–$16

Cranes
(Zhuravli)
$6–$10

Decanter
(Zelyonaya Marka
Grafinchick™)
$10–$13

Russian Standard
$17–$37

Cocktails with vodka

Most of the world’s cocktails include vodka. They aren’t really popular among Russian drinkers, who en masse prefer to drink vodka neat, but some of the cocktails are actually quite interesting as they reduce the negative side-effects of vodka.

Bloody Mary

3 parts vodka
6 parts tomato juice
1 part lemon juice

Add Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, salt and pepper into highball glass, then pour all ingredients into highball with ice cubes; stir gently

Otvertka (Screwdriver)

1 part vodka
2 parts orange juice
pinch salt

Mix in a highball glass with ice

White Russian

2 parts vodka
1 part cream (milk)
2 parts coffee liqueur

Pour directly into old fashioned glass filled with ice

Cosmopolitan

2-3 parts vodka
2 parts cranberry juice
1 part Cointreau
1 part fresh lime juice

Add all ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice; shake well and strain into large cocktail glass

Vodka-Martini

4 parts vodka
1 part dry vermouth
pinch salt

Large cocktail glass

Long Island Iced Tea

3 parts vodka
1 part tequila
white rum
orange liqueur
gin
lemon juice

Gomme syrup and a dash of cola; mix in a glass over ice

Vodka – a drink for all occasions

Russians often joke, “We eat vodka.” Since its invention, vodka has been used in Russia as a medicine, antiseptic and cosmetic remedy. Vodka used to save lives, especially during World War II, when no other antiseptic was available. It was also widely used after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant blast to clear a person's body of radioactive nuclides. And nowadays, vodka is widely used in everyday life:

In medicine As a cleaning substance Recipes that include vodka For cosmetic use

At the first symptoms of food poisoning, take one shot of vodka, add a little bit of salt (on the tip of the knife), mix and drink it. This helps to stop the poison from spreading. Vodka with salt is also good if you have diarrhea.
Vodka is well known as a great means of reducing high body temperature (above 38 Celsius). Apply vodka to a sponge and wipe the body with it, then let it dry without covering the body. The sick person will feel cold, but the temperature will drop quickly.
It can also be used as a warm compress to cure a sore throat. Apply a small amount of vodka to a cotton or linen tissue (enough for it to become wet). Make a second layer from polyethylene or cellophane and tie it around your neck, then cover with a warm woolen scarf.
If you have frostbite, then sometimes it is better not to use a warming massage, but instead to make a compress with vodka, apply it to the affected area and then take some internally (no more than 100 grams).
Vodka is a great antiseptic. For instance, if you have a bee sting, apply some vodka to the spot. It will disinfect the skin and prevent the poison from getting into your body.
To cure toothaches, apply a shot of vodka to the aching tooth, or a put a piece of cotton dipped in vodka on the tooth. Your gums will absorb some of the alcohol, which will eventually numb the pain. But don't swallow!
For joints aches, take honey, diced radish and vodka in equal parts – say, half a glass – mix together and add one teaspoon of salt. Rub the concoction onto places where your joints hurt.

As an antiseptic, it is widely used for cleaning purposes. For instance, if you are not sure of the cleanliness of your hotel shower, then fill a spray bottle with vodka and spray it over the bathtub or shower. Leave it for 3-5 minutes, then wash it off with water. The alcohol in the vodka kills the germs.
It can also be used to clean your glasses. Simply apply a small amount of vodka to a soft, clean tissue and wipe your glasses with it.
Vodka is a great dissolver of oil and fat, so it can be used to clean collars and cuffs of woolen jackets. After you've cleaned it with a tissue dipped in vodka, iron the cleaned spots through a clean tissue until it is dry. The alcohol in the vodka will dissolve the fat, and the tissue afterward will help remove the rest of the substance. As a great cleaning solution, vodka is also used to clean the cloth on billiard tables (apply some vodka to a brush and clean it against the grain).

Add a tablespoon of vodka to fish soup just before serving (better yet, to Uha, the traditional Russian soup). Vodka is also good when making salted fish. Sprinkle the fish with vodka; it will require less salt and spices, and will have a better taste.
Add a tablespoon of vodka when making batter; it will become crispier and tastier.
When making yeast-based dough, add a tablespoon of vodka to make it puffier.
Risotto with vodka. Here’s the recipe for one portion. Melt butter (about 30 grams) and cook quorn for 3-5 minutes, then splash in lime juice and vodka (1 table spoon of each), add the rice and stir for a minute. Pour in the stock (about 300 ml), bring to a boil and transfer into a covered oven dish. Place in a hot oven (150 Celsius) and bake for 25 minutes. Add yogurt (about 50 grams) and stir through, before finishing in the oven (10 minutes). Delicious!

If your hair is falling out, mix 200 grams of vodka with 1 hot chilly pepper (chopped). Leave the concoction for at least a week, then apply to the hair roots an hour before washing; make sure to use no more than half a shot in one go. You will feel like your scalp is burning, but this is exactly what helps young hairs grow and long ones stay where they are.
Another recipe for your hair: Add a jigger of vodka to a 12-ounce shampoo bottle, and then shampoo as normal. The alcohol will cleanse your scalp and your hair will become stronger and grow faster.
No other remedy is better than vodka when fighting foot odor. Simply wash your feet with vodka.
Vodka is also great when treating acne. Simply apply vodka directly to the pimples.

These are just a few recipes, but even they are enough to see that vodka is more than just a drink.