Message 16904 of 22774 in Behind the Bar

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> To be historically accurate (and this is from what I understand, 
> George may have a different opinion), Smirnov vodka was originally 
> Russian, started by Piotr Smirnov. It was even the official supplier 
> of Vodka to the Tzars. If you know your history, you know what 
> happened to the Russian Tzars and everything associated with them, so 
> during the Bolshevik revolution the family had to flee Russia. They 
> eventually ended up in France, and were going great guns until the 
> Great Depression hit them for six. The company was sold to an 
> American Rudolph Kunett who took the brand to the USA and to an F&B 
> distribution company called Heublein Inc. In the 1940s they did a 
> great marketing campaign, associated the drink with the Moscow Mule, 
> and then they took over the world. Figuratively speaking. So it's 
> originally Russian, but is now considered 'American'.

My understanding is the link is a bit more tenuous than that.

Was the Vodka that was supplied to the Tzars 'marketed' and 'Smirnoff'? Was it 
branded at all? Or is the connection retrospective?

I read that the label 'Smirnoff' wasn't even used until the descendants 
started up their factories outside of Russia after a serious break in 
continuity.
Also, there were (IIRC) at least 3 different cousins or grandchildren who 
started using the name to make their own vodkas. The extended family split in 
many directions.  The one that was bought out, outright for a pittance, was 
simply one of several.

This company version is actually less clear cut than the wikipedia article 
makes out.
http://www.diageo.com/en-row/ourbrands/ourglobalbrands/smirnoff/
It certainly confirms that the vodka the family made in Russia was never 
called "Smirnoff"!

I'm not saying there isn't SOME thread of connection there, just that it's not 
exclusive.
THIS timeline
http://www.twoop.com/food_drink/archives/2005/10/smirnoff_vodka.html
looks a little more complete, saying on one hand that Vladimir Smirnov was 
actually the inheiritor of the family business, but also showing the many 
twists of ownership the company took, and mentioning one of the competing 
descendants.

Incidentally, the claim 
"Supplier to the Imperial Russian Court, Pierre Smirnoff Sons." 
as printed on the bottle is demonstratably false, as the company incorporated 
as "Ste. Pierre Smirnoff Fils" or "Pierre Smirnoff Sons" never supplied the 
Russian court ;)

Looking more into this, it seems
http://vls.law.vill.edu/locator/3d/Sept2001/995422.txt
that an alternate claim is via the wife and descendants of the ELDEST son of 
Poitr (Poitr II) who thought Vladimir (son 3) didn't have exclusive rights.

==============
The plaintiffs in this case contend that the defendants
have misappropriated the Smirnov name and that they
have misled consumers into believing that Smirnoff vodka
is made in Russia and is the same as the product that was
produced in Russia and purveyed to the czar before the
revolution. In fact, they allege that Smirnoff vodka is made
in the United States using ingredients and a process that
sharply differ from that used in Russia before 1917. Instead
of pure Russian water, they say, Smirnoff uses filtered city
tap water, and instead of neutral spirits derived from
Russian wheat, Smirnoff is made using American corn.
Moreover, the date 1818 on the Smirnoff label, according to
the plaintiffs, is deceptive, since the Russian trade house
was not founded until 1860, and manufacture of the
distinctive American vodka sold under the Smirnoff mark
did not commence until the 1930s.
===============

Either way, this trademark claim made by the Russian Direct descendants lost 
against the American corporation.

Figuratively speaking, VODKA is originally thought of as Russian, so any 
vodka has about as much connection to the mother country as Smirnoff.
;)

Man I love trivia.

.dan.