When someone says ‘Russia’, most people immediately remember Russian vodka along with other common stereotypes. Does this drink really originate in Russia or is this just black PR?

Probably they did

No, Russians DIDN’T create vodka! This thing was invented even before Russians as such appeared on the world map! Alcohol is originated in Arab countries in 7-8 centuries AD. It was used for medical purposes only.
And pay attention that the word alcohol is Arabian.

Isn’t that true that Mr. Mendeleev made up some certain mixture which later was called VODKA?

Steffen Hofman - 21 November 2010 07:06 PM

Isn’t that true that Mr. Mendeleev made up some certain mixture which later was called VODKA?

It’s just a legend that has nothing to do with real facts!

Водка = Vodka = Wodka is a Polish words that means “small water”

According to the Gin and Vodka Association (GVA), the first distilled beverage similar to a crude brandy was already being produced in Poland in the 8th century, while the first identifiable vodkas appeared in Poland in the 11th century. It was used often as medicine and called Gorzalka.

(Wikipedia)

yes we did it! and we’re proud of it!
and looks like all the world likes it too ))))))

mr.comrade - 21 November 2010 09:10 PM

Steffen Hofman - 21 November 2010 07:06 PM

Isn’t that true that Mr. Mendeleev made up some certain mixture which later was called VODKA?

It’s just a legend that has nothing to do with real facts!

But why then all the russian people I happened to communicate with claim that he DID?

Arabs created it.
And Russians still believe in two dellusions: that drinking vodka is good for health and that they can do it better than others.

NoName - 16 January 2011 03:49 PM

mr.comrade - 21 November 2010 09:10 PM

Steffen Hofman - 21 November 2010 07:06 PM

Isn’t that true that Mr. Mendeleev made up some certain mixture which later was called VODKA?

It’s just a legend that has nothing to do with real facts!

But why then all the russian people I happened to communicate with claim that he DID?

http://www.rosbalt.ru/piter/2009/02/05/615813.html
http://whitedart.livejournal.com/1936.html
http://www.velikiemarki.ru/a-vodku-to-izobrel-ne-mendeleev/
http://inforotor.ru/visit/11621068?url=http://www.aif.ru/society/news/82363

А водку-то изобрел не Менделеев!
01.03.2009

  Была легенда, да не стало.  Менделеев водку не изобретал.  Дело в том, что стандарт на водку в 40 градусов  появился тогда, когда будущему великому химику было всего 9 лет.

  Как рассказал директор Музея Менделеева при Петербургском университете Игорь Дмитриев, в 1860-ых годах позапрошлого века на Руси частенько водку разбавляли. Потому что налоги платили с градуса. Вот производители и продавцы подливали водички. Но царское правительство ввело уголовную ответственность за водку ниже 40 градусов. Так появился стандарт. А Менделеев здесь ни при чем.

MoLoKo - 24 April 2010 11:33 PM

When someone says ‘Russia’, most people immediately remember Russian vodka along with other common stereotypes. Does this drink really originate in Russia or is this just black PR?

1.  Russians did NOT invent vodka as such. Right are those who say that alcohol has existed from times immemorial.

2.  Therefore, the famous Russian scientist Dmitriy Mendeleev did NOT create vodka as a phenomenon - he created the RUSSIAN VODKA. He studied the way alcohol blends with water and calculated the best grades when these elements turn into vodka. Before Mendeleev’s discovery all Russians made vodka (or “polugar” and “bread wine” as they used to call it) on their own - by their personal recipes and without specific calculations. So what Mendeleev did was creating a strict and unique Russian standard for Russian vodka.

For more info see: http://www.vodkamuseum.ru/calendar/ (in Russian)

Very informative link, thanks!