Vodka - the original Russian drink, which ispart of the culture and traditions of Russia. Over the history of its existence, many recipes have been created. Songs and poems were written about vodka; everybody used it in different quantities: from a serf to royal personages. It is not surprising that the first and only vodka museum in the world opened in Russia.
Unusual Museum
May 27, 2001 in the heart of the northern capitala small museum opened its doors for visitors, in which the entire exposition is dedicated to one single product - vodka. Actually, this is a commercial project, but there is historical accuracy in it.
Where to find
Find such an unusual museum is easy.It is located in the historic center of the city, on Konnogvardeysky Boulevard, not far from St. Isaac's Cathedral. The premises for the exposition were allocated by the restaurant “Ryumochnaya No. 1”. In the museum you can not only learn the history of the drink, interesting facts related to it, and see historical artifacts, but also make a tasting of several varieties of vodka with traditional Russian snacks.
The entire exposition of the exhibition is not agitation.On the contrary, its task is to inculcate respect for the culture of the people and the traditions of drinking. By the way, to persons under the age of 18, the entrance to this institution is closed. This is not a place for family leisure.
Exposition
The Museum of Russian Vodka accommodates two halls.In the first, visitors are introduced to the history of the product, with various manufacturing methods and famous manufacturers. The exhibits are divided by epochs starting from the XI century to the present day to make it easier for visitors to perceive information.
The guide will tell who came to the museum of Russian vodka.(St. Petersburg) that it was originally used for medicinal purposes. Its production involved the monks. And the brothers in faith from Constantinople shared the technology of making alcohol. Only their product was obtained as a result of the distillation of grapes, and in Russia it was not cultivated then. I had to customize the recipe for the realities of the northern country and learn how to extract alcohol from what is - from the grain. The product turned out to be no worse than overseas, and even surpassed in some indicators, for which it became known as the “Water of Life”.
The new invention was widely used whenmaking healing tinctures and even for perfumes. During an epidemic of plague, healers came up with the idea of treating patients with alcohol. And although he did not become a panacea for the disease, the disinfectant properties of the liquid were discovered.
Under Ivan III, the first “taverns” were opened, where alcoholic beverages obtained at distilleries were sold.
Peter I generally legalized the use of alcohol,introducing a tax on it. The treasury received mad sums. Thanks to them, the ambitious king settled the state, carried out reforms and built a new capital, which now has a vodka museum.
But Catherine II allowed the nobles to producein their estates underground products, for which they had to pay "mercy" to the treasury. Thanks to this step, the collection of recipes has been enriched, because everyone brought changes to the recipe in accordance with his own taste and possibilities.
К девятнадцатому веку эта отрасль хозяйства стала the most profitable. Russian vodka was even exported abroad. Prominent scientists have contributed to the development of this product. So, Mendeleev found the "golden" ratio of alcohol and water, so that the taste of the product turned out to be special. Vodka with a strength of 40 degrees was patented in 1894 under the name “Moscow special”.
Gaze at the visitors who visited the vodka museum(Petersburg), various original documents are presented, one way or another relating to the legendary drink. The collection includes original bottles, decanters, bottles and other measuring containers, as well as drinking utensils. The creators of the museum did not forget about traffic jams and labels, which are also interesting.
Living history
Two wax compositions revive the exposure.figures that are the pride of the organizers of the museum. Each of them vividly illustrates important milestones in the history of the development and distribution of vodka products in Russia.
The guide will tell you about what alcoholic drinkspreferred by the first people of the state, because it is known that vodka stood on the tables and on the royal feasts and peasant huts. It turns out that a snack for cognac "Guards Pyzh" - a slice of lemon, laid between the pieces of cheese - was invented by Emperor Nicholas II.
But not only the culture of drinking is devoted to the museum. The fight against vodka has been fought since it began to be mass produced. A number of exhibits are devoted to this particular problem.
Hall two
After an interesting story about vodka guide inviteseveryone to go to the second hall, which is decorated in the style of the glass of the beginning of the last century. There are also exhibits telling about the Soviet period of “life” of vodka, the dry law of Gorbachev, the Commissariat of 100 grams and much more. Here you can try a drink, which is dedicated to the museum of vodka.
What else will tell the guide
During the tour guide will not only tell the storythe creation and development of the drink, which has become a symbol of Russia, but also tells you how to choose the right bottle in the store so as not to buy "burnt" products. So the vodka museum interweaves history and modernity, myths and reality, narration and tasting.
