“Agdamych”, “Zaduryan”, “Bukharych”, “Kreplenych”, “Like Dam” - what kind of affectionate and ironic nicknames they did not come up with to designate this drink in the Soviet Union. And it is no coincidence: Agdam wine was one of the most popular cheap fortified wines in the USSR, and after that in the post-Soviet space. For example, at the May Day demonstration, in the best years of “stagnation,” there were, of course, speeches and slogans, but nevertheless the main meaning of these holidays (especially for the stronger sex) was unity with Nature. And what kind of celebration can there be without a drink that invigorates the spirit and amuses the minds of citizens?
Nationwide love
Why not beer, vodka, cognac, namely fortified wine "Agdam" (see photo above) and a whole range of other similar drinks? Undoubtedly, winemaking historians are better off understanding this issue. But our view a large role in the enormous popularity of "Agdam" among the population was played by its cheapness, accessibility and effectiveness. Firstly, it was possible to buy a chipper, picking up - literally - a trifle in your pockets. Secondly, it was implemented even in the most remote corners of our homeland. And thirdly, a sufficient strength of the drink (19%!) Allowed you to quickly and effectively achieve intoxication. The Soviet people respected him very much, and even statistical data can attest to this. In the USSR, more than 200 million decalitres of cheap fortified wines were produced each year, and the remaining varieties (dry, vintage, champagne) accounted for 150 million. The simplest version was called “for three”: Agdam wine was taken with money, and drank somewhere in the gateway or in any sparsely populated courtyard, around the corner.
A bit of history
Here is the main question: "In what" bright "little head did the idea of making wine mature in the Asian republics of the Union?" But religion strictly forbids Muslims to consume any alcohol. The logical conclusion: in Azerbaijan (as well as among Uzbeks and Turkmens), initially there were no traditions of distillery. No, of course, viticulture was developed, but nothing but raisins and grapes themselves were produced there. Everything changed after the October Revolution. The new chiefs with the Mausers replaced the former leaders who worshiped religion. The liberated inhabitants of the East could now freely drink alcohol, as it was proved to them that there is no God, and Allah now prohibits nothing. So in Azerbaijan they began to distill the grape must to wine, alcohol.
Brandy Factory
And in the city of Agdam, the Azerbaijan SSR built a factory for the production of cognac in the pre-war time. We can say that it is from this moment that the story of the most eminent and popular "chatter" in the USSR begins. Of course, winemaking should always be based on traditions that have been plagued by generations. But the new winemakers could not boast of them.
Wine "Agdam" (Azerbaijan)
In a difficult situation, they found a brilliant way: to produce alcohol strictly according to the written instructions. All operations were initially carried out almost by a stopwatch, according to technology approved from above, at the “party” level. Raw material? With this, they did not particularly fool themselves. At the plant all the grapes that were available at the moment in the district were in business. And the alcohol added for fastening had a different origin. Result: in the bouquet and aftertaste there were always traditional fusel shades. After consumption, a light viscosity remained in the oral cavity, resembling a soreness.
As you can see in the photo, Agdam wine (red table wine and white), like other drinks of this category, was poured into 0.7 liter fire extinguishers. And practically from one sip it drowned out the intellectual potential of any potential consumer. People said: it’s good for the brains! The country simply adored Agdam wine. 19% of the fortress is not a joke. And the price is acceptable: 2.02 (two rubles, two pennies - the real magic of numbers).
For effective speed intoxication - just right. An example can be seen in the photo above.
"Agdam" - red wine. Or white?
A simple label explained to the user that there was a case with a white (or red) port! Wine “Agdam”, of course, was not such wine by generally accepted standards (that rare case when a popular drink acquires a personal name, despite the fact that it was made). As already mentioned, any grape was used (and the drink itself acquired therefore pinkish shades), for fixing it was mainly grain alcohol. So in the traditional sense of the term port you can not name it. The Azerbaijani brand was the golden mean for many: not very disgusting in taste and very affordable (2.02). And if they then handed over an empty bottle, then 1.85!
Whoever drank Agdam today will be nice to the girls ...
Yes, do not laugh, many young men of the Union had their first kiss with this drink on their lips. Entire poems were written about wine, worse than Khayamov’s poems. And in the country there were many jokes about this wine. For example, that in the Union only “Agdam” was allowed from drugs. You can buy it at any grocery. But the government deliberately added flavorings to it; they made it unbearable to take “more than 3” to the chest, with a maximum of 5 “lights”. Therefore, an overdose in the USSR was completely absent.
Alas and ah, this peculiar "shmurdyak" has sunk into history. They stopped releasing it with the outbreak of conflicts in Karabakh. And the notorious cognac factory was destroyed during the shootings in the 90s of the last century. The “Agdam” that can now be found in stores is not the same! And it resembles, say, a fake nesting doll made in China: everything seems to be in place, but something is missing.