Back in the old days of paganism in Russia, the main beverage was birch sap. It was harvested in the maximum amount acceptable for the farm in spring. For a year he began to wander, but it did not spoil the taste. And the drinkers felt light and pleasant fun, there were no morning hangover problems.
Vodka for a horse
Although, according to archaeologists, the first Slavic moonshiners learned to drive alcohol from cereal wort several centuries ago, using clay dishes, red-hot stones, hides or freezing a winter mixture in winter, removing ice so that alcohol remains. The Novgorod birch bark certificate was found that already in the XIII century the first Russian “vodka” was produced there, that is, vodka. The price at that time was high, as much as three rubles per liter. And in those days it was possible to buy a good horse for a ruble.
Modern technology allows you to produce a product of the highest quality, but with a lower price. It is these drinks that are created at the production facilities of the Ladoga plant in St. Petersburg.
To the royal anniversary
The company was established in 1995 and quickly became the leading manufacturer of high-quality alcoholic beverages in the Russian market.
The plant’s products are also highly valued abroad, as there is a certified food safety management system - FSSC 22000, which enabled Russia to enter the WTO.
One of the company's brands is the Tsarskaya series of premium drinks, which, thanks to its taste characteristics, has won fans not only in Russia but also in 50 countries of the world.
In May 2003, on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg, the leadership of the Ladoga IG presented the Tsarskaya Original vodka. The drink was immediately accepted thanks to the excellent combination of quality and taste, as well as the original shape and design of the bottle. The capacity of the containers was prudently thought out for all kinds of cases - from 0.5 to 3 liters.
Quality and taste, proven over the centuries
Back in 1865, on approximately January 31, in the town of Klin, Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev invented vodka in the Boblovo estate. More precisely, he completed his dissertation "On the connection of alcohol with water." Since then, the drink has not changed - alcohol, diluted with water to 40%. According to modern GOSTs, the strength of the drink varies in the range of 38-60%.
The composition of “Tsarist Vodka” differs only in the addition of honey notes, and the fortress, as expected, is 40%. According to the statements of experts and inquisitive historians of the era, vodka was exactly to its taste during the reign of Peter I.
In total, the Tsar's Collection of the Ladoga PG consists of three premium brands:
- “Imperial Collection Gold”;
- "Tsarist Original";
- Elite Vodka "Czar's Golden Snow".
The basis of the composition of “Tsar's” vodka in each of the listed versions is the water of Lake Ladoga - the cleanest and largest source of glacial origin drinking water in Europe. To it is added rectified Lux alcohol, which has undergone thorough cleaning. Next come the nuances.
The subtleties of taste
Vodka “Tsarskaya Zolotaya”, in addition to its honey flavor, also has linden notes. After passing up to 12 degrees of purification, including through golden threads, the alcohol in each drop is saturated with infusion of linden inflorescences and honey broth. Reviews about Tsarskaya Zolotoy vodka are diverse only in their positive recommendations.
The next type of vodka is by far the most popular. The price of Tsarskaya Original is slightly lower, but this particular drink reflects the era of St. Petersburg. It is distinguished by the fact that only linden honey, monofleur honey, was used in the manufacture, which was enhanced by the addition of linden infusion. Purification of alcohol passes, including through birch coals and silver filters.
Czar's Golden Snow is rightfully considered a masterpiece of the collection of “Tsarist” vodka. It embodies the charm and enthusiasm of the Russian winter. If you shake the bottle well, you will see flakes of their gold leaf. This is a bewitching picture, from which it is difficult to take your eyes off. The taste is now definitely remembered.
Variety in volume and packaging
Despite the different volumes, the bottles of Tsarskaya vodka are decorated in the same style. On the front label is a portrait of Peter I by Karl Mohr. On the counter-label you can read the lines from the “Bronze Horseman” by A. S. Pushkin, on the side there is the inscription Premium, along the perimeter of the dispenser the inscription “Tsarskaya”. The bottles themselves have rounded shapes, a markedly concave bottom with embossed inscriptions.
These details will help not only with your eyes to find your favorite product on the shelves, but also to distinguish fakes. And another nuance - if you peel off the label, then on the glass of the original bottle will be exactly the same image of Peter I.
The original bottles are made of their pharmaceutical glass, which allows you to maintain the delicate taste and aroma of the drink. And the design with gold and silver decor makes Tsar Vodka table decoration and a great gift.
That's just as souvenirs worth buying in a gift box. Such “Tsarist vodka” will be more expensive, but more prestigious. A thick cardboard box with printed images similar to bottle ones also has a special plastic jumper handle to make it comfortable to hold.
In gift packages there may be 3-4 bottles of Tsarskaya Original 0.5 vodka or Tsarskaya Golden 0.5 vodka. Or it can be a bottle with shots (vodka glasses), which are also stylishly decorated. There is already a matter of taste - what to choose.
Where to get and how much
You can buy all these drinks in online stores, in large alcohol stores, designed for buyers with an income above the average. But it’s best to buy Tsarskaya series vodka in the company’s boutiques of the Ladoga holding - Monopol. This is an actively developing network of bars and restaurants where, before buying, you can try a drink, spend an evening with the company or mark some special date.
A quality drink is not cheap, it is not a secret. The price range for vodka series "Tsarskaya" varies depending on the volume and type.
Vodka "Tsarskaya Original":
- 0.05 L - from 91 rubles., With a wholesale purchase of 12 pieces;
- 0.5 l - about 500 rubles;
- 0.7 L - from 700 rubles.
Tsar Gold prices are up about 30%.
Particularly expensive are gift wrapping and sets. The price range for them is from 800 rubles (“Tsarskaya Original” in gift packaging) to 2270 rubles (“Tsarskaya Golden” packaging of 4 bottles of 0.5 l each).
I ask to the table
Judging by the reviews, Tsarskaya vodka can be drunk as a digestif, as an aperitif, and during the meal, and during cooking, add to dishes. In each era, their eating habits and addictions appeared. You can find a description of how soups were drunk with vodka, or rather, they were eaten with soups. Somewhere, the drink was consumed exclusively with cold appetizers, which are rich in traditional Russian cuisine - a pickled variety of cucumbers, mushrooms, apples, meat home-made delicacies.
Connoisseurs of vodka recommend serving the drink chilled in the range of 6-8 ° Ϲ.
In any case, if a small feast is planned over the weekend with the indispensable use of strong drinks, buy Tsarskaya Zolotaya vodka 0.5 l. This is enough to try the taste that combines history and modernity.