Smirnoff Vodka

Vodka has always been considered as a spirit which was not purified but infused with certain flavors to make it flavorsome.

History

Vodka originated far back in the fifteenth century. P. A. Smirnoff, the founder of Smirnoff Vodka started his Vodka Distillery in Moscow, and since then has gained popularity worldwide as a reputed maker of Vodka Products. His method of producing Vodka became popular as the St. Petersburg Model.

Previously Vodka was considered as a spirit which was not purified but infused with certain flavors to make it tasty. Later on with the advancement of Vodka making technology, it was found that impurities of the spirit can be removed by the process of filtering the spirit through charcoal. This method gained popularity over the years and by the 19th Century this method of purifying spirit through charcoal filtration became the most preferred method of purifying spirit and converting it into Vodka. The Smirnoff brand has become one of the most reputed brands producing Vodka in the world.

Smirnoff Process

Smirnoff Vodka is prepared by passing vodka through columns of birch charcoals not only once but as many as five times to make it more pure and refined. The Vodka produced by Smirnoff is a mixture of de-mineralized water and one of the best qualities neutral spirits.

Usually they use a neutral spirit formed out of grain products and then blend it with purified water which dilutes the spirit thus enabling it to effectively go through the filtration process performed with charcoal. This filtration of spirit with charcoal not only removes impurities of the spirit but also adds certain minerals to the Vodka, which is a unique quality of the Smirnoff Vodka. The Vodka and charcoal contact time is more in Smirnoff production process as the spirit is passed through charcoal columns many times thus resulting in finer quality of Vodka.

The British Giant Diageo has taken over the Smirnoff Brand and is marketing the product extensively. The Smirnoff Vodka and other Malt Beverages are now distributed in more than 130 Countries. Its production process has varied a little as such it is made nowadays from spirit gained from grain and other non grain products unlike P.A. Smirnoff who only used rye and later wheat fro deriving spirit.. Diageo also uses charcoal which not only has birch but also hardwoods in it.

So the Smirnoff Vodka which was found in the 19th Century was different from what we drink today under the brand name Smirnoff. Due to the latest innovations and improvements evolved over the time in the technology of production, the regulations controlling alcohol production in different countries and the availability of raw materials in different parts of the world has brought about the changes in the production technology of Smirnoff Vodka.

Flavored Vodka, Ice, Triple Black and twisted Vodka are certain popular products of the Smirnoff Vodka. Today the Smirnoff Vodka is not only the best selling Vodka in the World but also probably the best selling high priced spirit worldwide.

Numbering of the Smirnoff Types

* 21 - The Classic Smirnoff Red Label Vodka
* 21 (Norsk) - The Classic Smirnoff Red Label Vodka Cut With Norwegian Berries
* 27 - Smirnoff Silver Label Vodka
* 55 - Smirnoff Black, small batch vodka
* 57 - Smirnoff Blue Label Vodka
* 64 - Smirnoff Ice Pomegranate Fusion Malt Beverage
* 66 - Smirnoff Ice Rasberry Burst (USA)
* 66 - Smirnoff Twisted V Raspberry
* 71 - Smirnoff Ice Malt Beverage ('spin' in South Africa)
* 72 - Smirnoff Ice Triple Filtered
* 73 - Smirnoff Black Ice Malt Beverage ('storm' in South Africa)
* 75 - Smirnoff Ice Double Black (New Zealand)
* 83 - Smirnoff Ice Wild Grape
* 85 - Smirnoff Twisted Raspberry (Canada)

Misconception

A common misconception is that Smirnoff Vodka with the Red Label that is purchased in plastic containers is a lower quality. This statement is untrue, as both the types in the plastic and the glass containers are the same product with the same number - 21.

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