Vodka-art

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Vodka-art - 10/18/06

"Vodka-The Little Water of Life" by Marija Kotok.

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NOTICE -

This article was submitted to me by the author for inclusion in this set

of files, called Stefan's Florilegium.

These files are available on the Internet at:

http://www.florilegium.org

While the author will likely give permission for this work to be

reprinted in SCA type publications, please check with the author first

or check for any permissions granted at the end of this file.

Thank you,

Mark S. Harris

AKA: Stefan li Rous

stefan at florilegium.org

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Vodka-The Little Water of Life

by Marija Kotok

Experts argue that vodka first appeared in Russ between 1398 and the early 1400's. It is believed that in the late 1400's Vodka began to be distilled in Russia! It originally was brought in for medincinal purposes. <I know you're all laughing at that. But it really was. It was known as Aqua Vitae!

Timeline

1398 Introduction of Vodka to Russ & Slav

Early 1400's cottage production

1462-1505 Grand Prince Ivan III forbade production of strong spirits

1533 Tsar Ivan IV <the terrible> built the first kabak "bar" for his oprichniny "palace guard" in Moscow. But public drunkenness could get a prison term.

1584 Tsar Fyodor led a drive to destroy all the kabaks.

1598 Boris Godunov seeing the financial value of vodka led a movement build kabaks and even allow people to purchase for take out.

Early 1600's By this time every small town had its own kabak. Often called a Kruzhechny dvor or tankard courtyard.

1613 Tsar Mikhail tried to enforce a brief prohibition due to drunkenness. He tore down many kabaks and tried to limit the drinking to the few kabaks left.

1645 Tsar Alexis reinstituted allowing at least one kabak in every town. And made laws about liquor only being produced by the state. In his famous Law Code of 1649. After this private production was punished brutally. All money from sales of Vodka went directly to the royal coffers.

And now you should know in what periods a person could or could not drink in public. And when they could legally make their own. Or drop into the local kabak for a nip! Hopefully this will help with period inappropriate drinking embarrassment.

Now you have all the time facts straight here is a web address for Vodkaphiles Recipes. They have food and some medicinals listed. Now go have a good time with your Vodka! http://www.vodkaphiles.com/recipes1.cfm

"One charka for your health, the other, for feeling nice, the third, for a quarrel!"

Bibliography

April 1988 Russian Life Magazine History of Vodka

Russian Vodka http://www.russianvodka.ru/vodkahome.htm

A History of Vodka William Pokhlebkin

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Copyright 2002 by Marilyn Kinyon, 1598 Sawmill Rd., Hedgesville, WV 25427. <MamaLynx at allvantage.com>. Permission is granted for republication in SCA-related publications, provided the author is credited and receives a copy.

If this article is reprinted in a publication, I would appreciate a notice in the publication that you found this article in the Florilegium. I would also appreciate an email to myself, so that I can track which articles are being reprinted. Thanks. -Stefan.