Smirnoff Updates Russian Vodka with a Peppermint Twist

The whole idea of a limited-edition offering of a vodka with Peppermint even sounds appealing when you hear it.  It looks even better when you see the bottle, with red and white and green ribbon swirling from top to bottom (and you cannot see the content inside either!)

We’ve given a bottle with a box of peppermint bark candy to family and friends – the same look of happy surprise on their face as soon as they see the bottle.

SMIRNOFF Vodka, triple distilled for silky smoothness and filtered ten times to enhance the soothing, cool peppermint last.  is also practically priced.

The aroma is delicious candied peppermint.  The full bodied flavor is rich enough for a holiday party.

And people I presented a bottle to as a gift (along side homemade or artisan peppermint bark were very excited to see the package).

There are so many ways to serve this vodka, with vodka already being the sublime, clear addition to whatever idea you may have. Smirnoff suggests Peppermint Hot Chocolate with 1.5 ounces Smirnoff Peppermint Twist and 6 ounces of hot chocolate.  Simply pour a shot of Smirnoff Peppermint Twist into the hot chocolate and garnish with shipped cream and a peppermint stick.

We love coffee so we made a Greek frappacino with Nestles Classico and ice cream on a hot Los Angeles day.  It worked. It also works as a caffe correcto, the Italian version of espresso with a shot of spirit in it.

Another treat is a Smirnoff Peppermint Twist Shot with 1.5 ounces of Smirnoff Peppermint Twist.  Shake over ice and strain into a chilled shot glass and coat the rim with crushed peppermint.

Smirnoff is an award-winning brand of vodka, owned and produced by the British company Diageo.  The Smirnoff brand, began with a vodka distillery founded in Moscow by Pyotr Arsenievich Smirnof  (1831–1898).  It is currently distributed in 130 countries,including India, Ireland, Italy, the UK and the United States.  Smirnoff products include vodka, malt beverages and flavored vodka, including the new pepper twist vodka for the holidays.

The drink is made using a traditional charcoal filtration method developed by the corporation. Recipe NO.21 was created by P.A.’s son Vladimir after escaping Russia and the Bolshevik revolution.

The history goes as follows:

1860s: Piotr Arsenieyevich Smirnov founds the Smirnov vodka distillery.It is the first in the world to use a charcoal filtering process.

1886: The Smirnov factory receives the mark of the official purveyors to the Imperial Russian court.

1910: Piotr Smirnov dies. His son, Vladimir Smirnov, takes over the company.

1917: At the start of the Russian Revolution, the Bolsheviks confiscate the Smirnoff distillery and shut it down. Piotr Smirnov’s third son, Vladimir, is imprisoned and sentenced to death. He escapes and flees to Constantinople.

1920: Vladimir Smirnov reopens the factory in Constantinople.

1924: Vladimir Smirnov moves the company to Lwów and changes the name from Smirnov to Smirnoff.

1925: A second distillery is opened in Paris.

1934: During the Great Depression, Vladimir Smirnov sells the company to Russian emigree Rudoplh Kunett. Kunett moves the company to the United States and sells the company to G.F. Heublein & Bro.

1955: G.F. Heublein & Bro. changes its name to Heublein, Inc.

1963: Smirnoff vodka is featured in the first James Bond film, Dr. No, and is featured in most subsequent Bond films.

1990s: A descendant of Piotr Smirnov in Russia begins producing vodka under the name Smirnov and claims it is “The Only Real Smirnov.” American Smirnoff sues and wins the sole right to the trademark.

1994: Smirnoff Black is introduced in the United States.

1996: Smirnoff Mule is introduced in the United Kingdom.

1997: Diageo, the company that now owns Smirnoff, is formed by a merger of Guinness and Grandmet.

1999: Smirnoff Ice is introduced.

Late 1990s: Smirnoff introduces flavored vodkas including Raspberry, Mandarin, Green Apple, Raspberry, Cranberry, Raspberry, Citrus, and Vanilla.

Jan. 26, 2005: The New York Times does a blind taste test of 21 high-end vodkas. They throw in the less prestifious Smirnoff “as a bit of mischief.” Smirnoff ends up winning the taste test.