96-497: Smirnoff ( / ˈ s m ɪər n ɒ f / ; Russian: [smʲɪrˈnof] ) is a brand of vodka owned and produced by the British company Diageo . The Smirnoff brand began with a vodka distillery founded in Moscow by Pyotr Arsenievich Smirnov (1831–1898), but its modern incarnation traces back to the 1930s, by American liquor distributor Heublein . Distributed in 130 countries, it
192-779: A Guinness brewery and tourist attraction in Baltimore County, Maryland . The brewery could potentially host as many as 300,000 visitors per year. In October 2021, Diageo completed a £185m investment in Scotch whisky tourism with the royal opening by Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay , of its centrepiece visitor centre in Edinburgh , Scotland , promoting the Johnnie Walker brand of blended Scotch whisky. In October 2021, Diageo announced plans to invest $ 500m to expand its manufacturing in Mexico for
288-646: A dash of mint and Kaffir lime and Grand Cosmopolitan with cranberry juice. Tuscan Lemonade and Savannah Tea were later added. In 2014, Smirnoff introduced Smirnoff Sours vodkas, available in Fruit Punch, Watermelon, Green Apple, and Berry Lemon. A 2013 study found that Smirnoff malt beverages were the second-most popular brand specific alcohols consumed by underage youths in the United States. In 2016, Smirnoff introduced two new Smirnoff Ice flavors: Electric Mandarin and Electric Berry. Also in 2016, Smirnoff introduced
384-873: A former Guinness brewery which had closed in 2004 after producing beer since 1936. Diageo's previous head office facility had been located in Henrietta Place , in the Marylebone district of the City of Westminster in London, since 1996. In 2009, Diageo announced that it was closing the Henrietta Place facility as part of a cost reduction programme and moved its employees to the Park Royal site. Diageo operates in 180 countries across five regions: Europe , North America , Latin America ,
480-463: A great summe of money. Until the mid-18th century, the drink remained relatively low in alcohol content, not exceeding 40% ABV. Multiple terms for the drink were recorded, sometimes reflecting different levels of quality, alcohol concentration, filtering, and the number of distillations; most commonly, it was referred to as "burning wine", "bread wine", or even in some locations simply "wine". In some locations, grape wine may have been so expensive that it
576-571: A highly toxic chemical—added to the vodka by the illegal traders because of its high alcohol content and low price. Death toll estimates list at least 120 dead and more than 1,000 poisoned . The death toll is expected to rise due to the chronic nature of the cirrhosis that is causing jaundice. Diageo Diageo plc ( / d i ˈ æ dʒ i oʊ / dee- AJ -ee-oh ) is a British multinational alcoholic beverage company, with its headquarters in London , England . It operates from 132 sites around
672-537: A history of the production of vodka in Russia, as part of the Soviet case in a trade dispute; this was later published as A History of Vodka . Pokhlebkin wrote that while there is a wealth of publications about the history of consumption and distribution of vodka, virtually nothing had been written about vodka production. One of his assertions was that the word "vodka" was used in popular speech in Russia considerably earlier than
768-460: A key element of government finances in Tsarist Russia, providing at times up to 40% of state revenue. By 1911, vodka comprised 89% of all alcohol consumed in Russia. This level has fluctuated somewhat during the 20th century but remained quite high at all times. The most recent estimates put it at 70% (2001). Vodka remains a major source of state revenue and therefore of power. Seizing control of
864-742: A lightly carbonated beer-alternative, was released in May 2007. It is citrus-flavoured and made with alcohol (3.5% ABV) and spring water and is sold in 4-packs of 1-quart (947 ml) bottles. A line of 22 flavoured vodkas (based on the No. 21 Red Label) with the "Twist" moniker appended on the end of the name have also been introduced. Flavours include Green Apple, Orange, Cranberry, Raspberry, Citrus (Lemon), Vanilla, Strawberry, Black Cherry, Watermelon, Lime, Blueberry, White Grape, Melon (Honeydew/Cantaloupe), Pomegranate, Passion Fruit, Pear, Peach, Pineapple, Mango, Coconut, and most recently Amaretto. In 2004, Smirnoff trialled
960-775: A major owner of hotels, owning what is now Intercontinental Hotels prior to divestment before merging into Diageo, but the company still owned the Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire , which had hosted events including the Ryder Cup and G8 summit . In 2015 Diageo reached an agreement to sell the hotel to the Ennismore Group, already owners of The Hoxton hotels. In November 2016, Diageo announced its intention of selling at auction Sir Edwin Landseer 's iconic 1851 painting The Monarch of
1056-506: A mass product. The first industrial distillery was opened in 1782 in Lwów by J. A. Baczewski . He was soon followed by Jakub Haberfeld, who in 1804 established a factory at Oświęcim , and by Hartwig Kantorowicz, who started producing Wyborowa in 1823 at Poznań . The implementation of new technologies in the latter half of the 19th century, which allowed the production of clear vodkas, contributed to their success. The first rectification distillery
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#17328547665921152-668: A month ahead of plan after Menezes died on 7 June 2023. In May 2023, it was announced that Diageo has provided funding to establish the British Aluminium Consortium for Advance Alloys (BACALL), a collective of industry experts who will create a circular economy in the UK. In 1998, Diageo sold the John Dewar & Sons, Ltd. company including Aberfeldy , Aultmore , Craigellachie , Royal Brackla distilleries and Bombay Sapphire gin to Bacardi Limited . In 2001, Diageo acquired
1248-493: A new blend of vodka in the UK and Canada called Smirnoff Penka. Marketing and distribution were handled by The Reserve Brands of Diageo plc. As of 2007 Penka is no longer available in the UK. In a 2005 New York Times blind tasting of 21 vodkas, Smirnoff won as the "hands-down favorite". In 2010, Smirnoff introduced the Cocktail Range. Pomegranate Martini with Meyer Lemon -flavoured Liquor and pomegranate juice, Mojito with
1344-523: A new luxury division to combine its luxury spirits and experiences, with brands like Brora , Port Ellen and the company's 15 brand homes and distiller experiences. The company said it would also help to grow Justerini & Brooks . Diageo's head office is in Great Marlborough Street , London after moving from its previous location in Park Royal , London Borough of Brent , on the site of
1440-575: A number of brands, businesses, and assets which were not in the core alcoholic drinks category. The company has gradually disposed of these assets to focus on beverages as its core business. This included the sale of the Pillsbury Company to General Mills in 2000, and the 2002 sale of the Burger King fast food restaurant chain to a consortium led by US firm Texas Pacific for US$ 1.5 billion. The predecessor company Grand Metropolitan had been
1536-689: A number of lawsuits, Smirnoff successfully reclaimed its trademark, while in 2006 Diageo concluded a joint venture deal with the Smirnov company. The Smirnoff company had the naming rights to the Smirnoff Music Centre , a concert amphitheater in Dallas, Texas , from 2000-08. It also sponsored the Smirnoff Underbelly , a major venue at the Edinburgh Fringe . In the late-1990s, Smirnoff introduced
1632-405: A post-distillation infusion of flavors. Through the fermentation process, grain mash is transformed into a neutral alcohol beverage that is unflavored. The process of flavoring vodka so that it tastes like fruits, chocolate, and other foods occurs after fermentation and distillation. Various chemicals that reproduce the flavor profiles of foods are added into vodka to give it a specific taste. Vodka
1728-740: A series of new products onto the UK and later the European and North American market, which quickly became popular among young people, especially within the club scene (see " Alcopops "). There are two different products by the name of Smirnoff Ice: one, sold in France and the United States , is a citrus-flavoured malt beverage (5.0% ABV ) with variants in "Original", and "Triple Black". The other, sold in Europe (excluding France), Latin America, Australia and Canada,
1824-554: A similar etymology, from the Irish and Scottish Gaelic uisce beatha /uisge-beatha. People in the area of vodka's probable origin have names for vodka with roots meaning "to burn": Polish : gorzała ; Ukrainian : горілка , romanized : horilka ; Belarusian : гарэлка , romanized : harelka ; Lithuanian : degtinė ; Samogitian : degtėnė is also in use, colloquially and in proverbs ; Latvian : degvīns ; Finnish : paloviina . In Russian during
1920-785: A solution of crystal sugar and yeast. In the European Union , there are talks about the standardization of vodka, and the Vodka Belt countries insist that only spirits produced from grains, potato, and sugar beet molasses be allowed to be branded as "vodka", following the traditional methods of production. In the United States, many vodkas are made from 95% pure grain alcohol produced in large quantities by agricultural-industrial giants Archer Daniels Midland , Grain Processing Corporation, and Midwest Grain Products (MGP). Bottlers purchase
2016-500: A £1 billion investment in Scotch whisky production over the following five years, with at least one new distillery to be constructed, several existing facilities to be expanded, and overall production capacity to be increased by 30 to 40 per cent. In December 2015, Diageo announced a US$ 10 million investment in Danish whisky brand Stauning , to facilitate expansion of production. In February 2017, Diageo announced plans to open
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#17328547665922112-506: Is a clear distilled alcoholic beverage . Different varieties originated in Poland , Russia , and Sweden . Vodka is composed mainly of water and ethanol but sometimes with traces of impurities and flavourings. Traditionally, it is made by distilling liquid from fermented cereal grains and potatoes since the latter was introduced in Europe in the 18th century. Some modern brands use corn , sugar cane , fruit , honey , and maple sap as
2208-403: Is a premixed vodka drink. It also has variants in "Original" and "Black Ice" (or in some markets, "Triple Black" or "Double Black"), ranging from 4.5% in the UK , to 7% ABV in different markets. The Smirnoff Ice marketed in the United States contains no vodka, according to the official Smirnoff website. It is more similar to beer than to vodka, primarily because it is brewed. However outside of
2304-502: Is also used in cocktails and mixed drinks , such as the vodka martini , Cosmopolitan , vodka tonic , screwdriver , greyhound , Black or White Russian , Moscow mule , Bloody Mary , and Caesar . The name vodka is a diminutive form of the Slavic word voda (water), interpreted as "waterkin": root vod - [water] + - k - (diminutive suffix , among other functions) + - a ( ending of feminine gender ). In English literature,
2400-469: Is also very popular. In Poland and Belarus, the leaves of the local bison grass are added to produce żubrówka (Polish) and zubrovka (Belarusian) vodka, with slightly sweet flavors and light amber colors. In Lithuania and Poland, a famous vodka containing honey is called krupnik . This tradition of flavoring is also prevalent in the Nordic countries , where vodka seasoned with herbs, fruits, and spices
2496-427: Is dated by the decree of Empress Elizabeth of 8 June 1751, which regulated the ownership of vodka distilleries. By the 1860s, a government policy of promoting the consumption of state-manufactured vodka made it the drink of choice for many Russians. In 1863, the government monopoly on vodka production was repealed, causing prices to plummet and making vodka available even to low-income citizens. The taxes on vodka became
2592-461: Is diluted with water before bottling. While most vodkas are unflavored, many flavored vodkas have been produced in traditional vodka-drinking areas, often as home-made recipes to improve vodka's taste or for medicinal purposes. Flavorings include red pepper, ginger, fruit flavors, vanilla, chocolate (without sweetener), and cinnamon. In Russia, vodka flavored with honey and pepper, pertsovka in Russian,
2688-427: Is displayed on the label. Some of these numbers are: The basic Smirnoff vodka – number 21 – has performed well at spirit ratings competitions. It was awarded a double gold medal (the highest award) at the 2009 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. These are numbered Smirnoff vodkas with flavouring added. Some Smirnoff products do not have a number on the label. Smirnov ( Russian : Смирновъ ) can be seen as
2784-436: Is less likely than other spirits to produce the undesirable aftereffects of heavy consumption (though no less likely to intoxicate) because of its low level of fusel oils and congeners , which are impurities that flavor spirits. Since the year 2000, because of evolving consumer tastes and regulatory changes, several 'artisanal vodka' or even 'ultra premium vodka' brands have appeared. The success of grape -based vodka in
2880-611: Is little historical material available. For many centuries, beverages differed significantly compared to the vodka of today, as the spirit at that time had a different flavor, color, and smell, and was originally used as medicine. It contained little alcohol, an estimated maximum of about 14%. Distillation techniques were developed in Roman Egypt by the 3rd century, but the description of aqua ardens ("burning water", i.e., alcohol) made by distilling wine with salt appears in Latin works only by
2976-512: Is manufactured in different countries depending on market, but is not currently produced in Russia or, indeed, anywhere in Eastern Europe. Smirnoff products include vodka, flavoured vodka , and malt beverages . In 2014, Smirnoff was the best selling vodka around the world. The vodka is unaged, made using a traditional filtration method developed by P. A. Smirnov. Recipe No. 21 was created by Smirnov's son Vladimir after escaping Russia during
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3072-407: Is produced from grains such as sorghum , corn , rye , or wheat . Among grain vodkas, rye and wheat vodkas are generally considered superior. Some vodkas are made from potatoes , molasses , soybeans , grapes , rice , sugar beets and sometimes even byproducts of oil refining or wood pulp processing. In some Central European countries, such as Poland, some vodka is produced by just fermenting
3168-441: Is sold in 22 oz. (650 ml) bottles and six-packs of 12 oz. (355 ml) bottles. The next line of Smirnoff's malt beverages to be produced was "Raw Teas", similar to the brand Twisted Tea . It comes in flavors such as Lemon, Peach, Raspberry and Green Tea. This product line has been marketed most notably with the " Tea Partay " music video and website. It is sold in six-packs of 12 oz. (355 ml) bottles. Smirnoff Source ,
3264-708: Is the appropriate strong drink for several seasonal festivities. Sweden has forty-odd common varieties of herb-flavored vodka ( kryddat brännvin ). In Poland and Ukraine, a separate category ( nalyvka in Ukraine and nalewka in Poland) is used for vodka-based spirits with fruit, root, flower, or herb extracts, which are often home-made or produced by small commercial distilleries. Their alcohol contents vary between 15 and 75%. In Estonia , vodkas are available with barberry, blackcurrant, cherry, green apple, lemon, vanilla, and watermelon flavors. In most cases, vodka flavoring comes from
3360-458: Is usually distilled into some variety of pomace brandy , the lower-quality mash is better turned into neutral-flavored spirits instead. Any vodka not made from either grain or potatoes would have to display the products used in its production. This regulation entered into force in 2008. Under Canadian regulations, vodka is a potable alcoholic distillate obtained from potatoes, cereal grain, or any other material of agricultural origin fermented by
3456-466: Is widespread because it can be produced easily and avoids taxation. However, severe poisoning, blindness , or death can occur as a result of dangerous industrial ethanol substitutes being added by black-market producers. In March 2007 in a documentary, BBC News UK sought to find the cause of severe jaundice among imbibers of a "bathtub" vodka in Russia. The cause was suspected to be an industrial disinfectant ( Extrasept )—95% ethanol but also containing
3552-570: The Cîroc vodka brand, and this led to the joint purchase of the DeLeón Tequila brand in 2013. The partnership was terminated in 2024 after a legal dispute, leaving Diageo the sole owner of both brands. In 2007, Diageo sold the inactive Port Charlotte distillery buildings and contents to The Bruichladdich Distillery Co. Ltd. In 2010, Diageo opened Roseisle distillery at cost of £40million. In 2010, Diageo closed Port Dundas grain distillery that
3648-709: The London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index . It has a secondary listing on the New York Stock Exchange . Diageo is an invented name that was created by the branding consultancy Wolff Olins in 1997. The name is composed of the Latin word diēs , meaning "day", and the Greek root geo- , meaning "earth"; and is meant to reference the company slogan "Celebrating Life, Every Day, Everywhere". Diageo
3744-513: The October Revolution . Pyotr Arsenyevitch Smirnov (9 January 1831 – 29 November 1898) founded his vodka distillery in Moscow under the trade name PA Smirnov in 1864, pioneered charcoal filtration in the 1870s, and by 1886 had captured two-thirds of the market in Moscow by virtue of the first use of newspaper advertising while suppressing clerical calls for temperance by generously contributing to
3840-737: The Russian version of Smirnoff vodka. It is made by the Smirnov Trading House, a company that is part of a joint venture by Russia's Alfa Group and Diageo set up in February 2006. The full title of the Smirnov Trading House is The Trading House of the Heirs of P.A. Smirnov . These are not to be confused with Smirnoff's Red-, Gold-, and Black-label vodkas. Vodka Vodka ( Polish : wódka [ˈvutka] ; Russian : водка [ˈvotkə] ; Swedish : vodka [vɔdkɑː] )
3936-424: The Russian invasion of Ukraine , some North American liquor stores and bars expressed symbolic solidarity with Ukraine, and opposition to Russia, by boycotting Russian vodka brands. One critic argued that boycotts of Russian-branded vodka may inadvertently affect U.S. vodka manufacturers and noted that only 1.2 percent of U.S. vodka imports come from Russia. In some countries, black-market or " bathtub " vodka
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4032-600: The Sazerac Company for US$ 550 million, but kept the Seagram's Seven Crown brand. In September 2022, Diageo sold Archers brand to De Kuyper Royal Distillers. In November 2022, it was announced that Diageo would acquire Balcones Distilling, a whiskey distillery based in Texas . In October 2023, Diageo sold Windsor Global, which owns blended Scotch brand Windsor, to private equity firm PT W Co of South Korea , sponsored by
4128-451: The clergy . Russian royalty reportedly regarded Smirnov as a favorite. When Pyotr died, his third son Vladimir succeeded him. The company flourished and produced more than four million cases of vodka per year. When the Tsar nationalized the Russian vodka industry in 1904, Vladimir Smirnov was forced to sell his factory and the brand. During the October Revolution of 1917, the Smirnov family fled
4224-405: The "heads" and "tails" to remain, giving them their unique flavors. Repeated distillation of vodka will make its ethanol level much higher than is acceptable to most end users, whether legislation determines strength limits or not. Depending on the distillation method and the technique of the still master, the final filtered and distilled vodka may have as much as 95–96% ethanol. As such, most vodka
4320-522: The 12th century. The process was well known among European medieval chemists by about 1300. The world's first written mention of the word wódka was in 1405 from Akta Grodzkie recorder of deeds , in the court documents from the Palatinate of Sandomierz in Poland. At the time, the word wódka referred to chemical compounds such as medicines and cosmetics ' cleansers. The production of liquor begins in
4416-509: The 16th century; Goldwasser , from the early 17th century; and aged Starka vodka, from the 16th century. In the mid-17th century, the szlachta (nobility of Poland) were granted a monopoly on producing and selling vodka in their territories. This privilege was a source of substantial profits. One of the most famous distilleries of the aristocracy was established by Elżbieta Izabela Lubomirska and later operated by her grandson, Alfred Wojciech Potocki . The Vodka Industry Museum, located at
4512-470: The 17th and 18th centuries, горящѣе вино or горячее вино ( goryashchee vino , "burning wine" or "hot wine") was widely used. Others languages include the German Branntwein , Danish brændevin , Dutch : brandewijn , Swedish : brännvin , and Norwegian : brennevin (although the latter terms refer to any strong alcoholic beverage). Scholars debate the beginnings of vodka because there
4608-526: The 17th and 18th centuries, Polish vodka was known in the Netherlands, Denmark, England, Russia, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania , Ukraine , Bulgaria and the Black Sea basin. Early production methods were rudimentary. The beverage was usually low-proof, and the distillation process had to be repeated several times (a three-stage distillation process was common). The first distillate was called brantówka ,
4704-622: The 1930s, Vladimir met Rudolph Kunett , a Russian who had emigrated in the 1920s to New York , and had succeeded in business. The Kunett family had been a supplier of grain to Smirnov in Moscow before the Revolution. In 1933, Vladimir sold Kunett the rights to Smirnoff vodka production and sales in North America. Kunett then returned to the United States, quit his sales job, and established his first North American distillery in Bethel, Connecticut , after
4800-553: The 1950s, vodka was not used as a designation for Swedish distilled beverages, which were instead called brännvin ("burn-wine"), the word having the same etymology as the Dutch Brandewijn , which is the base for the word brandy . This beverage has been produced in Sweden since the late 15th century, although the total production was still small in the 17th century. From the early 18th century, production expanded, although production
4896-505: The Bulgarian Balkan 176° with 88% ABV, these grain alcohol products are not considered vodka; they have not (yet) gone through the filtration and refining process used to produce vodka. A study conducted on NPR 's Planet Money podcast revealed negligible differences in taste between various brands of vodka, leading to speculation as to how much branding contributes to the concept of "super-premium vodkas". A common property of
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#17328547665924992-648: The Glen – which the company owned, but which has been on loan to the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh since 1999 – as it has "no direct link to our business or brands", being used on the label of rival brand Glenfiddich , owned by William Grant & Sons . Following a fundraising campaign, the painting was sold to the National Galleries of Scotland for around half its assayed value of £8 million. In 2015,
5088-522: The Pine Tree Investment & Management Co. In February 2024, a report claimed Diageo was looking to sell the brands Pimm's , Safari and Pampero Rum . Both Safari and Pampero rum were sold in July 2024. In 19 March 2024, Diageo reopened Port Ellen distillery after 40 years been closed and a £185 million (US$ 235m) restoration. In November 2024, the company formed Diageo Luxury Group,
5184-635: The Russian merchants. In these early days, the spirits were used mostly as medicines. Stefan Falimierz asserted in his 1534 works on herbs that vodka could serve "to increase fertility and awaken lust". Wodka lub gorzałka (1614), by Jerzy Potański, contains valuable information on the production of vodka. Jakub Kazimierz Haur, in his book Skład albo skarbiec znakomitych sekretów ekonomii ziemiańskiej ( A Treasury of Excellent Secrets about Landed Gentry's Economy , Kraków, 1693), gave detailed recipes for making vodka from rye . Some Polish vodka blends go back centuries. Most notable are Żubrówka , from about
5280-623: The US and countries who receive US manufactured vodka it does contain Smirnoff Vodka No. 21. Smirnoff Ice Twisted was a spin-off of the American Smirnoff Ice that featured flavors such as Mandarin Orange and Green Apple. The confusion in branding between Smirnoff Twist Vodka and Smirnoff Twisted Malt Beverage resulted in the decision to drop the "Twisted" from the flavored line of Smirnoff Ice. It
5376-501: The United States in the early twenty-first century prompted traditional vodka producers in the Vodka Belt countries of Poland , Finland , Estonia , Lithuania , and Sweden to campaign for EU legislation that would define vodka as only spirits made from grain or potatoes. This proposition provoked heavy criticism from South European countries, which often distill used mash from wine-making into spirits; although higher-quality mash
5472-726: The action of yeast or a mixture of yeast and other microorganisms. In 1956, it was put into revenue ruling that sugar not more than 0.2% and trace amounts of citric acid are not considered flavoring agent. The meaning of "trace amounts" of citric acid was clarified as not more than 1,000ppm in 1995. It is no longer defined as "to be without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color." The law includes other requirements: Vodka cannot be aged in wood; it may or may not be charcoal filtered; and it must meet minimum distillation and bottling proofs. In summer 2013, American LGBT rights activists targeted Russian vodka brands for boycott over Russia's anti-gay policies . In late February 2022, with
5568-481: The base spirits in bulk, then filter, dilute, distribute and market the end product under a variety of vodka brand names. Similar methods are used in other regions such as Europe. This pure grain alcohol, also known as rectified spirit , neutral spirit , or ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin , is also available directly to consumers in some areas, as products such as Everclear , Polmos spirytus rektyfikowany , and others. In contrast to very high ABV vodkas such as
5664-515: The base. Since the 1890s, standard vodkas have been 40% alcohol by volume (ABV) (80 U.S. proof ). The European Union has established a minimum alcohol content of 37.5% for vodka. Vodka in the United States must have a minimum alcohol content of 40%. Vodka is traditionally drunk " neat " (not mixed with water, ice, or other mixers ), and it is often served freezer chilled in the vodka belt of Belarus, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and Ukraine. It
5760-475: The brand after agreeing to sell Bushmills Irish whiskey to Proximo Spirits , who had since acquired Jose Cuervo, in exchange for US$ 408 million and full ownership of the tequila brand. In 2004, Diageo sold the inactive Coleburn distillery buildings and contents to the Winchester Brothers with plans to transform the distillery grounds into a whisky resort. Diageo formed a relationship with rapper Sean Combs in an "equal-share venture" in 2007 to promote
5856-443: The brand is owned by British company Diageo and for the US market is manufactured in Illinois. Smirnoff is currently manufactured in the following countries: Despite Smirnoff's founder being Russian, the modern incarnation of Smirnoff is traced back to an American company, Heublein . Smirnoff is not currently manufactured in Russia or, indeed, anywhere in Eastern Europe . Most Smirnoff products have an identifying number that
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#17328547665925952-468: The category. Whilst Diageo did acquire South African beer producer United National Breweries (UNB) in April 2015 shortly before the Red Stripe sale was made, they divested it again in the second half of 2019. In December 2023 it was speculated in the media that Diageo would exit from the beer market entirely, potentially including the Guinness brand, but this was denied by the company. The business has grown with purchases of alcohol businesses around
6048-490: The collapsed Seagram 's spirits and wine businesses which included Captain Morgan and Seagram's blended whiskey. In 2002.Diageo sold Malibu rum to Allied Domecq for £560m ($ 800m). In 2002, Diageo sold the inactive Rosebank distillery buildings and contents to British Waterways . Diageo acquired a 50% stake in Don Julio tequila through a joint venture with owner Jose Cuervo , for which they paid US$ 100 million in 2003. They later obtained full ownership of
6144-403: The company made major sales in both the beer and wine categories, selling the Red Stripe beer brand, along with interests in other breweries, and the rights to Guinness in some territories to Heineken , as well as the sale of most of its wine business to Treasury Wine Estates . The separate 2019 sale of the remaining wine brands including Navarro Correas and Chalone Vineyard saw Diageo exit
6240-436: The country. In 1920, Vladimir Smirnov established a factory in Constantinople (present day Istanbul ). Four years later he moved to Lwów (then in Second Polish Republic , now Lviv in Ukraine ). He renamed the vodka "Smirnoff". It sold marginally well but not nearly as it had in Russia prior to 1904. Although an additional distillery was founded in Paris in 1925, sales remained far less than that produced in Russia. In
6336-445: The creation of various new brands. A type of distilled liquor designated by the Russian word vodka came to Russia in the late 14th century. In 1386, the Genoese ambassadors brought the first aqua vitae ("water of life") to Moscow and presented it to Dmitry Donskoy , the grand prince. The liquid obtained by distillation of grape must was thought to be a concentrate and a "spirit" of wine ( spiritus vini in Latin), whence came to
6432-410: The distillate contain flavor compounds such as ethyl acetate and ethyl lactate (heads) as well as the fusel oils (tails) that impact the usually desired clean taste of vodka. Through numerous rounds of distillation, or the use of a fractioning still, the taste is modified and clarity is increased. In contrast, the distillery process for liquors such as whiskey , rum , and baijiu allow portions of
6528-437: The division to Grand Metropolitan in 1987. In 1985 Heublein Corporate Audit Manager Hanson J Kan had recommended to Heublein that it acquire the Grand Metropolitan IDV Smirnoff licensee and its global locations. Grand Metropolitan merged with Guinness to form Diageo in 1997. During the 1990s, one of Pyotr Smirnov's descendants started producing Smirnov (Смирновъ) vodka in Russia, claiming to be "The Only Real Smirnov." After
6624-429: The end of Prohibition in 1933. However, the business in North America was not as successful as Kunett had hoped. By 1938, Kunett could not afford the sales licenses, and contacted John Martin , president of Heublein , a company that specialized in the import and export of liquors and foreign foods. Using the $ 14,000 that the Heublein company made from a new product that ended up saving them from bankruptcy, Martin bought
6720-489: The first Russian state monopoly on vodka. In 1505, the first exports of distilled Russian vodka arrived in Sweden. By the 16th century, government-run taverns known as kabaks replaced privately-run korchmas . Giles Fletcher , who was the English ambassador in Russia, wrote: In every great towne of his Realme he hath a Caback or drinking house, where is sold aquavitæ (which they call Russewine ) mead , beere , &c. Out of these hee receiveth rent that amounteth to
6816-461: The first Russian vodka. Having a special knowledge and distillation devices, he became the creator of a new, higher quality type of alcoholic beverage. This "bread wine", as it was initially known, was for a long time produced exclusively in the Moscow grand principality and in no other Russian principality (this situation persisted until the era of industrial production). Thus, this beverage was closely associated with Moscow. In 1474, Ivan III created
6912-520: The majority stake in Seedlip , a non-alcoholic spirits brand. In October 2022, it was announced Diageo had acquired the Australian cold brew coffee liqueur brand, Mr Black. In September 2024, it was announced Diageo had acquired Ritual Zero Proof a non-alcoholic spirits brand. In March 2023, it was announced that Debra Crew would succeed Sir Ivan Menezes as CEO of the company. Crew started her role
7008-591: The mid-15th century, with varied local traditions emerging throughout Europe, in Poland as vodka ( Polish : wódka or gorzałka ). In the 16th century, the Polish word for the beverage was gorzałka (from the Old Polish verb gorzeć meaning "to burn"), which is also the source of Ukrainian horilka ( горілка ). The word written in Cyrillic appeared first in 1533, about a medicinal drink brought from Poland to Russia by
7104-645: The middle of the 18th century, but the word did not appear in print until the 1860s. Pokhlebkin's sources were challenged by David Christian in the Slavic Review in 1994, who criticized the lack of valid references in Pokhlebkin's works and its pro-Russian bias. Pokhlebkin is also known for his Pan-Slavic sympathies under the leadership of Russia and sentiments that, in David Christian's opinion, discredit most of his work, especially his History of Vodka . Up until
7200-429: The name of this substance in many European languages (like English spirit , or Russian спирт , spirt ). Perhaps one of the earliest terms linked to vodka production was varenoe vino ("distilled wine") which appears in a 1399 document. Another term used was perevara , a precursor to vodka, which last appears in official documents in 1495. The term korchma is one of the oldest official terms used for vodka, which
7296-568: The new Spiked line, available in Original, Screwdriver, and Hurricane Punch, as well as their Sourced line of fruit juice vodka, available in Ruby Red Grapefruit, Pineapple and Cranberry Apple. In 2019, Smirnoff Ice partnered with luxury brand Cremsiffino. In 2020, Diageo introduced sugar-free Smirnoff Ice, with 4.5% ABV. Smirnoff was mistakenly targeted for boycotts during the Russian invasion of Ukraine ; however, despite its Russian origin,
7392-540: The park of the Potocki country estate has an original document attesting that the distillery already existed in 1784. Today, it operates as " Polmos Łańcut ". Vodka production on a much larger scale began in Poland at the end of the 16th century, initially at Kraków , whence spirits were exported to Silesia before 1550. Silesian cities also bought vodka from Poznań , a city that in 1580 had 498 working spirits distilleries. Soon, however, Gdańsk outpaced both these cities. In
7488-412: The production of vodka from various unusual substances including even the carrot . Though there was a substantial vodka cottage industry in Poland back to the 16th century, the end of the 18th century marked the start of real industrial production of vodka in Poland ( Kresy , the eastern part of Poland was controlled by the Russian empire at that time). Vodkas produced by the nobility and clergy became
7584-437: The regulations were changed so that privately owned companies could produce Vodka. Vodka has become popular among young people, with a flourishing black market . In 2013, the organizers of the so-called "vodka car" were jailed for two and a half years for having illegally provided thousands of liters to young people, some as young as 13. Vodka may be distilled from any starch - or sugar -rich plant matter; most vodka today
7680-455: The rights to Smirnoff in 1939. His board thought he was mad. Americans were traditionally whiskey drinkers unfamiliar with vodka and so sales were slow. Sales picked up considerably after Heublein advertised it as a "white whiskey" with "no taste, no smell" sealed with whiskey corks. In 1982, the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company acquired Heublein Inc. for $ 1.4 billion. Its successor, RJR Nabisco , sold
7776-401: The second was szumówka , and the third was okowita (from aqua vitae ), which generally contained 70–80% ABV. Then the beverage was watered down, yielding a simple vodka (30–35% ABV), or a stronger one if the watering was done using an alembic . The exact production methods were described in 1768 by Jan Paweł Biretowski and in 1774 by Jan Chryzostom Pasek . The late 18th century inaugurated
7872-467: The state spirits monopoly Rosspirtprom and its Kristall distillery was instrumental for Vladimir Putin to consolidate his power as prime minister and president. Under his rule, the " Putinka " ("little Putin") brand of vodka became a bestseller, partly to Putin's financial benefit. Other popular Russian vodka producers or brands include Stolichnaya and Russian Standard . During the late 1970s, Russian culinary author William Pokhlebkin compiled
7968-599: The tequila category. Construction of the new facilities in Jalisco , Mexico is expected to begin in 2021. Diageo announced plans to build a €200 million brewery in Newbridge in July 2022. In February 2024, High Court proceedings were lodged against An Bord Pleanála by an Athy resident opposing the decision to approve the project. After mediation talks with Diageo, the challenge was withdrawn in April. In August 2019, Diageo bought
8064-441: The vodka. However, this is not the case in the traditional vodka-producing nations, so many distillers from these countries prefer to use very accurate distillation but minimal filtering, thus preserving the unique flavors and characteristics of their products. The master distiller is in charge of distilling the vodka and directing its filtration, which includes the removal of the "fore-shots", "heads" and "tails". These components of
8160-404: The vodkas produced in the United States and Europe is the extensive use of filtration before any additional processing including the addition of flavorants . Filtering is sometimes done in the still during distillation , as well as afterward, where the distilled vodka is filtered through activated charcoal and other media to absorb trace amounts of substances that alter or impart off-flavors to
8256-471: The word "corn" to refer to any grain, not just maize . In 1800, French poet Théophile Gautier glossed it as a "grain liquor" served with meals in Poland ( eau-de-vie de grain ). Another possible connection of vodka with "water" is the name of the medieval alcoholic beverage aqua vitae ( Latin , literally, "water of life"), which is reflected in Polish okowita , Ukrainian оковита , Belarusian акавіта , and Scandinavian akvavit . Whiskey has
8352-479: The word vodka appeared in around the late 18th century. In a book of travels published in English in 1780 (presumably, a translation from German), Johann Gottlieb Georgi correctly explained that " kabak in the Russian language signifies a public house for the common people to drink vodka (a sort of brandy) in". In 1799, William Tooke glossed vodka as "rectified corn-spirits", using the traditional English sense of
8448-633: The world, including the 2011 part-ownership and 2013 full acquisition of the Chinese baijiu manufacturer Sichuan Shuijingfang Company in China. The company further acquired Turkish liquor company Mey Icki for US$ 2.1 billion in 2011, and in 2012 followed this with Brazilian cachaça manufacturer Ypióca for £300 million, and the Indian United Spirits which they acquired a majority stake for £1.28 billion. In June 2012, Diageo announced
8544-450: The world. It is a major distributor of Scotch whisky and other spirits. Distilleries owned by Diageo produce 40 percent of all Scotch whisky with over 24 brands, such as Johnnie Walker , J&B and Old Parr . Its leading brands outside whisky include Guinness , Smirnoff , Baileys liqueur, Captain Morgan rum and Tanqueray and Gordon's gin . Diageo has a primary listing on
8640-516: Was Explorer Vodka , which was created in 1958 and initially was intended for the American export market. Although it ultimately failed in that market, it remains one of the most popular vodka brands in Sweden today. In 1979, Absolut Vodka was launched, reusing the name of the old Absolut Rent Brännvin ("absolutely pure brännvin ") created in 1879. After Sweden joined the European Union in 1995,
8736-442: Was a drink only for aristocrats. Burning wine was usually diluted with water to 24% ABV or less before drinking. It was mostly sold in taverns and was quite expensive. At the same time, the word vodka was already in use, but it described herbal tinctures (similar to Nalewka ), containing up to 75% ABV, and made for medicinal purposes. The first written usage of the word vodka in an official Russian document in its modern meaning
8832-557: Was demolished in 2011. In March 2016, the company sold Grand Marnier , a cognac and bitter orange-based liqueur, to the Italian beverage company Campari Group . In June 2017, the Casamigos tequila brand – a US-based tequila, launched in 2013 was acquired by Diageo. In November 2018, Diageo sold Seagram's whiskey brand, along with Myers's Rum , Popov vodka, Booth's Gin , Goldschläger , Yukon Jack , Sambuca , and 11 other brands to
8928-548: Was established in 1871. In 1925, the production of clear vodkas was made a Polish government monopoly. After World War II , all vodka distilleries were taken over by Poland's Marxist–Leninist government . During the martial law of the 1980s, the sale of vodka was rationed. Following the success of the Solidarity movement and the abolition of single-party rule in Poland , many distilleries began struggling financially. Some filed for bankruptcy, but many were privatized, leading to
9024-519: Was formed in 1997 from the merger of Guinness plc and Grand Metropolitan . Its creation was driven by the executives Anthony Greener and Philip Yea at Guinness, along with George Bull and John McGrath of Grand Metropolitan. Anthony Greener was the first executive chairman. Shares in Diageo began trading on the London Stock Exchange on 17 December 1997. As a legacy of the merger, Diageo owned
9120-401: Was prohibited several times, during grain shortages. Although initially a grain product, potatoes started to be used in production in the late 18th century and became dominant from the early 19th century. From the early 1870s, distillery equipment was improved. Progressively from the 1960s, unflavoured Swedish brännvin also came to be called vodka. The first Swedish product to use this term
9216-519: Was used alongside varenoe vino , but later came to denote illegally produced vodka by the 16th century. Other terms that referred to vodka included goriachee vino ("burning wine"), zhzhenoe vino ("burnt wine"), and khlebnoe vino ("bread wine"). According to William Pokhlyobkin , in around 1430, a monk named Isidore from the Chudov Monastery inside the Moscow Kremlin made a recipe of
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