White magic of Russia: introductory vodka-tasting
Legendary liquor, “extremely clear and smooth”, a vodka for the Russians is something more than a drink... As a whiskey in Scotland, vodka has become an integral part of national mentality: the Russians rub vodka on children's chest to relieve fever, it is a glass of vodka and a slice of bread that are put on a dead man during the funeral.
Our tasting takes place in a small cozy restaurant in the historic center of St Petersburg. You will be offered five types of vodka to reveal full spectrum of its taste and production technology:
— 2 classical vodkas prepared according to present-day technology: one from Russia, one from Ukraine or Belarus
— vodka prepared according to a historic recipe described in Russian literary classics
— Armenian vodka distilled from mulberry or carnelian cherry flavoured vodka
Vodka is paired with a gastronomic accompaniment in the form of Russian dumplings from Siberia (pel'meni). They come in a vast variety of fillings: from elk to vegetarian. Our tasting has nothing to do with getting loaded up with cheap stuff but, on the contrary, is focused on the following highly intellectual issues:
What a vodka is made of and in what way?
What is behind vodka label and how to read it?
Why is there no Russia-produced vodkas among the best selling Western brands?
When, why, with whom and with what is vodka drunk in Russia?
The length of the vodka-tasting is about 1.5 hours.
Price is 2.500 roubles per person, 2 people minimum.
(Prices for bigger groups are discussed).
5 shots (40 g) of vodka, a main dish, all shared by the two + a Russian story-teller are all included in the price.
Tasting vodka can help you to open Russia easier and quicker than “protocol” visit to the Hermitage.
individual
excursion
by agreement
Our tasting takes place in a small cozy restaurant in the historic center of St Petersburg
Bolshaya Moskovskaya, 2