It’s called “Smirnoff Experience Shanghai: Hard-Fi,” and it was made in 2008. By the mid-1890s, Smirnov controlled over 60 percent of the spirits market in the country. Vladimir joins the émigré Russian community in Nice and brokers a deal to produce vodka in France. “Smirnoff” is the French spelling of the Russian vodka. (In theory it was to rein in corruption and alcoholism, but it did end up making the country a lot of money…). 1 vodka. Think feudal Russia, vodka for the Tsar, revolution, evacuation, and the birth of a family legacy. Before you go to the liquor store and pick up a bottle of Smirnoff Peach, read up on the stuff. Piotr Arsenieyevich Smirnov founds the Smirnov vodka distillery. In 1886, he even received the Tsar’s special designation as a Purveyor of the Imperial Court, which is a fancy way of saying Official Vodka-Maker of Tsar Type People. Fortunately for Smirnoff drinkers, Pyotr’s son Vladimir Smirnov was able to escape the country and bring his vodka recipe with him. The Smirnovs might have fallen on some hard times at the turn of the 20th Century, but today, over 150 years after the brand was created, Smirnoff vodka is sold in 130 countries. The “Smirnoff” spelling is a direct result of that. Smirnov was then made the sole vodka supplier of the Imperial Court. © 2016-2020 Paneco Pte. When he died he was worth $130 million and was one of the richest men in Russia. $39.80 During this time he changes the name from Smirnov to Smirnoff. $44.00 Fortunately for Smirnoff drinkers, Pyotr’s son Vladimir Smirnov was able to escape the country and bring his vodka recipe with him. Vladimir Smirnov was able to flee to Constantinople and then eventually settle in France where he sold vodka under the name “Smirnoff.” Now safely disguised by a new name and a slightly offensive fake French accent, Vladimir revived the brand. And while it saw sales slump in the 2000s, it saw a mild, and weird, resurgence when frats (and bros generally) started a tradition called “Icing a Bro.”, Fast forward to around 3:30 in this video and you’ll hear someone recite the solemn rules of icing a bro. 21 is the world's No. Before the Smirnovs fled Russia, there was a brief period of state control of the business. Actually, his name is Pyotr Smirnov. After the passing of Piotr Smirnov, his son, Vladimir Smirnov, took over the company. Well, the plain stuff anyway. In 1933, Vladimir Smirnov sold the right to begin producing the vodka in North America to Kunett. Maybe because somebody realized that the title made no sense. Save 10%. 72andSunny. But Smirnoff’s got a pretty interesting and unexpected history. There are many things we do know about Smirnoff, maybe because it’s everywhere (that kind of happens when you’re the best selling vodka brand in the world). Which is the same thing they do to the bourbon that becomes “Tennessee Whiskey.” Charcoal filtration is thought to mellow a spirit by removing further impurities. Smirnoff vodka was registered in Europe in the 1920s. Ltd. All rights reserved. Lots of other interesting stuff happened. But as is probably the case with vodka generally, we don’t know everything there is to know about Smirnoff. Maybe not unsurprisingly, the IMDB page is totally blank. Smyrnov started selling his vodka in 1864, but without any readily available social media outlets, he had to find another way to spread the world about his hooch. 1910 Piotr Smirnov dies. He started out life as a Russian serf (basically at the bottom of a feudal totem pole) and went on to create the best selling vodka in the world. Mostly we just know how to drink it. This was based both on the fact that his vodkas were delicious and that Tsars tend to like to make things official. Heads up, if you don’t drink the Smirnoff Ice, “you’re pretty much not a bro.”, © 2014 - 2020 VinePair Inc. — Made In NYC, Next Round Live: What's Happening in the Drinks Industry Now, Everyone Who Loves Extra-Cold Martinis Needs This Glass, there was a brief period of state control, Why You Should Never Order A Black And Tan In Ireland, The European Age of Exploration Was the Unlikely Impetus for the Birth of the Champagne Bottle, The Nine Best Sweet Vermouths for Your Manhattan, Next Round: James O'Brien, Owner of Brooklyn's Popina, on Pivoting to Fast-Casual During Covid-19, 15 Things You Didn’t Know About Smirnoff | VinePair, https://vinepair.com/wine-blog/15-things-you-didnt-know-about-smirnoff/, wbs_cat Spirit, wbs_type Vodka, wbs_brand Smirnoff, liquor 101, Russia, vodka, Why You Should Never Order A Black And Tan In Ireland | VinePair, https://vinepair.com/wine-blog/why-you-should-never-order-a-black-and-tan-in-ireland/, wbs_cat Beer, wbs_type Stout, beer, Guinness, history. 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