The Russian would have major problems with my cherry vodka lathered into diet 7-up and served with a straw.

sigh

My father in law follows some list somewhere (i have yet to find it) vehemently, only drinking a vodka from the top ten. And when a ranking is changed, it’s like big deal news that the whole family has to participate in a discussion about.

If vodka is medicinal, isn’t it redundant to say na zdarovye?!

Educational. To be laminated and placed on bars around America. If the customer can make it to rule number 10 they are doing it right.

Cassie, I’m trying to wrap my head around how one “lathers their vodka.”

Bill, I’ve developed kind of a crush on your super-smart, eloquent father-in-law via your blog and would very much like to know his vodka of choice. One assume it’s Russian and distilled from grain..?

Now you’re getting advanced, Marinka.

Stasha such a list would be ripped to shreds by most American drinkers I know. No mixers? No hipster micro-distilled vodkas? Perish the thought.

After showing my husband this list, he has now decided to take up drinking vodka as a hobby and pledges to follow this list as best as he can. I think Christmas shopping just got easier!

DA! I agree with all of the above. Especially the medicinal ones. But I do keep the Stoli in the freezer.

My husband works for Stoli, so I can explain all the intrigue. Before he was in the biz, when we lived in Moscow, I drank Russki Standart or Zelena Marka. But now it is only Stoli. Cause the kids keep growing and need new shoes!

Your husband works for Stoli? This could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

I am happy to say I have broken all of those rules, and I don’t know any Russians that drink vodka at room temp!

Get to know me!

At the very least, I will drink like a Russian and laugh hysterically at your stories.

My apologies to the Russian. I’ve switched my allegiance from Stoli to Svedka. Swedish vodka. Smooth and five times distilled equals a much prettier me in the morning. And always I keep my Svedka in the freezer. Saves on ice. As for adding mixers, it helps we Americans keep from making complete asses of ourselves. I do agree Stoli should be drank straight but then the drunken bitch enters the room. Can’t have that no more.

C’mon now, you know you drink Svedka because they made a video starring Joan Rivers’ head.

so sorry for getting back to you so late – (what’s a couple months between friends?)

He amazingly drinks English Vodka – Tanqueray. The reason, he says, is because it produces the least crippling hangover the next day.

I know. Call the police. Or the KGB, rather.

I studied Russian and have spent a good deal of time around Russians, and I’d have to say they all follow the same list. Which I do too, not only in honor of them but because really all liquor should be drunk straight and at room temperature bc if you don’t like the flavor of it, YOU SHOULDN’T BE DRINKING IT. Ahem. Anyway, just commenting to let you know birch vodka is indeed delicious. As is birch soda, which you can sometimes find in Russian neighborhoods in big US cities. I don’t like the commercial American versions though—too sweet.

Okay, I just randomly found this blog after randomly reading a post on another blog. I like vodka and honestly, I prefer Stoli, so I guess I’m doing something right. However, I have read specifically that vodka should be kept in the freezer and that “Russians do it this way.” How did this debate come about? Do some Russians prefer their vodka in the freezer or is this a case of Americans making things up because it sounds cool?

This is pretty similar to a Serbian’s list for drinking rakija (local brandy made from fruit)–but the “health benefits” list would be a mile long. Rakija is also imbibed at room temperature, unless someone is sick-then it needs to be heated to a very specific temperature that I can’t remember. Probably because I’ve had too much rakija.

I hope that rakija wasn’t heated in a microwave, because microwaves are the devil.

I want to go to a vodka buffet with the Russian.

Trust me, every day is a vodka buffet with the Russian.

I obey all of the above rules, with the excepion of #8: Vodka must not be kept in the freezer. However, as I live in Scotland, the deviance is minimal. Unlike that of drinking Russian whisky, for which I will no doubt burn in McHell. The whisky rules are very similar, apart from the food thing!

“McHell.” You’re my new favorite commenter.

Does that medicinal value still work when the diarrhea is caused by drinking too much?  

I’m quite drunk now. This is bad when combined with t’interweb.. . . . .   . . . . . . . . . .. .  . . . . . . . .. . ok, very drunk.
 NOt as drunk as I shall be tomorrow, which is Oktoberfest.
This is, of course, the core risk of blogging about vodka. One attracts drunken scottish idiots with incipient liver problems and that pin out party attitude that never quite captures their mythological cultural heritage. Resulting instead in europes’ highest rates of knife crime and teenage pregnancy. “Braw”
p.s. I’ve never been a favourite commenter before, and it’s gone to my head.

Oh goodness, Brian6877. Everything in moderation, love.

Now you’re scaring me, Brian.

I recently spent some time with Russian opera singers, whose advice you have firmly upheld! Yummmmmm wooooodkaaaaaa!

Gheeze…. My Favorite is and has been Absolute for the last 25 years.  My most recent preference is to mix a bottle ofToscani Butterscottch with 2-3 liters of Absolute in a crystal decanter and leave sealed for 6 months in the attic where is gets hot……makes for a sweet winter.

OK… call the Commisar

Gheeze…. My Favorite is and has been Absolute for the last 25 years.  My most recent preference is to mix a bottle ofToscani Butterscottch with 2-3 liters of Absolute in a crystal decanter and leave sealed for 6 months in the attic where is gets hot……makes for a sweet winter.

OK… call the Commisar

Yikes, the only one I can adhere to is the, “at least to say nazdarovye,” one. 

Your russian is much like my parents, and the very way that i was raised.
{{{seal of approval}}}
Anna Kocherovsky

Rather helpful little list here, im going to Mother Russia in a couple of months to learn the language, at least now i’ll know how not to offend the delightful Russians and evoke the wrath of the ‘KGB’ 

HOLY COW! I love vodka, and Stoli! It is nice to know so far I am doing it right, except for the mixing part I do mix it on occasion with misc things. 

Russian rules in our house include if bottle is open it must be finished. Also Stoli ( in Canada anyhow ) is crap vodka, for tourist and the only real vodka is Russian Standard.

No Ruski Standard? That is what all the Russians in my area drink. Or Grey Goose. (They say it was actually made in Russia and then shipped to Canada – and that is why it says “made in Canada” and why they charge more for it.)

How does he feel about water being added to vodka served to 95-year-old grandfathers who have had two drinks already and REALLY shouldn’t have any more? My grandfather is Russian and insists on vodka ALL THE TIME, and seems to have the same food=vodka thing going, which can become problematic, especially since he KEEPS ON BLOODY FALLING AND HURTING HIMSELF. Even without vodka! Whatever medicinal properties vodka may or may not have, improving balance and coordination is not one of them. Is there a tactful way to refuse to give a Russian vodka?

Are you crazy? The medicinal properties is that vodka, in moderation, is good for the soul. And soul is more important than the body.

I think they forgot to mention the fundamental. After a considerable amount of voda is ingested, true Russian men must ask each other “?? ???? ?????????” — “Do you respect me, my friend?”.

The Russian confirmed this is true. And also that after two or three hours, they start hitting each other.

Nice article, if I can just throw few comments ^_^

 First: Wódka IS from Poland – first distilleries were found in eastern Poland (territory currently occupied by ukrainians) – even famous brand Smirnoff comes from Poland (it was originally set up in Moscow as Smirnow- but after revolution it moved to Lwów in Poland from where it become famous under new name)
Second: it’s not “nazdarovye” but “na zdrovye” (Rus) or “na zdrowie” (Pol) and it means “for health” Third: Wódka really has medicinal purposes – every time I come down with some cold or something I would take few shoots with pepper – last time I had to got to see a doc was about 10 y ago when I injured my knee – and even then – Wódka has proven to be a great pain killer :)Forth: When I was first in England and saw a dude ordering vodka with soda I almost cried, it was such a sad thing to see, such a waste, so #9 differently trueFifth: As for #10 – flavored wódka is some form of a replacement for home mixed Spirytus (93-96% pure ethanol) that u usually mix with ie. lemons so u can talk after drinking it ;)have lot more to say but little time now, but those are most essential things I wanted to add.Love form Poland and “na zdrowie” !

Nice article, if I can just throw few comments ^_^

 First: Wódka IS from Poland – first distilleries were found in eastern Poland (territory currently occupied by ukrainians) – even famous brand Smirnoff comes from Poland (it was originally set up in Moscow as Smirnow- but after revolution it moved to Lwów in Poland from where it become famous under new name)
Second: it’s not “nazdarovye” but “na zdrovye” (Rus) or “na zdrowie” (Pol) and it means “for health” Third: Wódka really has medicinal purposes – every time I come down with some cold or something I would take few shoots with pepper – last time I had to got to see a doc was about 10 y ago when I injured my knee – and even then – Wódka has proven to be a great pain killer :)Forth: When I was first in England and saw a dude ordering vodka with soda I almost cried, it was such a sad thing to see, such a waste, so #9 differently trueFifth: As for #10 – flavored wódka is some form of a replacement for home mixed Spirytus (93-96% pure ethanol) that u usually mix with ie. lemons so u can talk after drinking it ;)have lot more to say but little time now, but those are most essential things I wanted to add.Love form Poland and “na zdrowie” !

What about “legkaja ruka” and “tiazhelaja ruka”, i.e. “light hand” and “heavy hand”? A person with legkaja ruka is always pouring the vodka, because apparently their lighthandedness guarantees no hangover;)))!