An Imperial Tradition
Contributed by Wicomico County’s Liquor Control Board

The story of vodka is a story of the heritage of a people. The details of the beginnings are lost in the obscurities of Russia’s history, but one of the most popular brands in the world traces its origins to Moscow in the 1860's. It was then that Piotr Arsenyevitch Smirnov founded a distillery in the Russian city and soon achieved national success.

In 1886 the distillery was awarded the honorary title "Official Purveyor to the Imperial Russian Court." Smirnov began winning awards around the world for excellence in quality and his product became the first truly international vodka.

During the Russian Revolution the Bolsheviks confiscated all private industry, including the Smirnov distillery, which they turned into a private garage. Piotr’s son Vladimir fled Russia, eventually landing in Paris, broke. He adopted the French version of the family name, "Smirnoff", and began trying to market a revised version of the family recipe. He soon met Rudolf Kunett, a fellow Russian living in the U.S., in Paris on business. Kunett convinced Smirnoff to bring his vodka to America. In March of 1934, production of SMIRNOFF™ vodka in the U.S. began. A South Carolina wholesaler promoted the beverage as "white whiskey - no taste, no smell." People soon learned that this strange Russian drink made from neutral grain spirits and exceptionally pure water could be mixed with nearly anything. Its popularity grew, drawing huge industry attention and prompting the purchase of the brand name by the American company, Hublein.

SMIRNOFF achieved the ultimate in "cool" when James Bond expressed his preference for a cocktail made of the famous vodka, "shaken, not stirred," in the first Bond film, "Dr. No" (1962).

Today SMIRNOFF is available in more than 150 countries and is the largest selling premium international vodka in the world. Flavored vodkas are the latest phase in the SMIRNOFF evolution and are proving popular with those seeking light summer refreshment.

MAGGIE’S MEMO:
THE WICOMICO COUNTY LIQUOR CONTROL BOARD was established in the 1930's to control access to alcohol, especially by minors. They fulfill their mission "to protect and serve" by operating a limited number of stores and maintaining strict employee standards.

MAGGIE SAYS:
The best part of a visit to Wicomico’s dispensaries is the quality of service. The knowledgeable staff will help you choose just the right beverage to serve for that special occasion.