Russian Standard Platinum Original Russian Premium Vodka 70 cl 40%

A standard for Russian vodka was set in 1894, and everyone has had to measure up to it since. Russian Standard took the name literally. Platinum is the taut version of the house style, where the spirit gets one extra pass through the filters before it reaches the bottle.

Expert description

Russian Standard Platinum is a Russian Vodka from St Petersburg, distilled from Russian winter wheat and bottled at 40%.

The house was founded in 1998 by Roustam Tariko, and in 2006 a large distillery was completed in St Petersburg. The wheat is winter wheat from the Russian steppes, sown in autumn and left in the ground through the cold before harvest. The water is soft glacial water from Lake Ladoga, north-east of the city and the largest lake in Europe.

What separates Platinum from the house Original lies in the filtration. After the usual charcoal filtration the spirit is run through silver. Silver is far less common than charcoal in vodka production, and the house uses the step to catch the last impurities the charcoal has let through.

You notice it in the texture. Where Original keeps a clearer grain bite, Platinum feels denser and more polished, without the wheat being polished away altogether. Nothing is added to soften it; the work sits in the distillation and the two filtration stages.

Tasting notes

Nose

Clean and reserved with a pale grain note. A trace of lemon peel and something close to freshly laundered linen.

Palate

Dense and oily. The wheat lays down a dry sweetness, a fine thread of aniseed appears mid-palate, and only then does the pepper report for duty.

Finish

Medium and dry. The warmth stays put for a moment, and at the very end the grain stands alone.

Specifications

Name: Russian Standard Platinum
Distillery: Russian Standard
Region/Country: St Petersburg, Russia
Type: Russian Vodka
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Charcoal filtered and then silver filtered
EAN no.: 4603400000180
Serving suggestion: Ice cold in a small glass alongside something salty and rich, or in a Martini where the purity has room.

Flavour profile

Clean · Dense · Dry grain note · Lightly peppered

Did you know?

The 1894 standard is often tied to the chemist Dmitri Mendeleev, the man behind the periodic table. He did work on mixtures of alcohol and water, and his name has followed Russian vodka ever since, regardless of how much can genuinely be credited to him.

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Frequently asked questions about Russian Standard Platinum

What is the difference between Platinum and Russian Standard Original?

One extra filtration stage. Both are wheat based and bottled at the same strength, but Platinum is run through silver after the charcoal filtration. That gives a denser, more polished texture, while Original keeps a clearer bite of grain.

What does silver filtration actually do?

The silver binds residues the charcoal fails to catch. Charcoal works broadly and removes most things, while silver acts more selectively on the last heavier compounds. The method is rare in vodka because it is expensive to run and the filters need frequent maintenance.

What is it made from?

Russian winter wheat and water from Lake Ladoga. Winter wheat sits in the ground through the frost and develops a firmer kernel than spring wheat, which yields a slightly more compact spirit. The water is soft and contributes to the cool sensation on the finish.

How is it best served?

Cold in a small glass with something to eat. Herring, dark rye bread, pickled cucumber or anything smoked suits the dry grain character. Chilled too hard the aroma closes up, so half an hour in the freezer is plenty.

Does it work in cocktails?

Yes, particularly the dry ones. A Vodka Martini or a Vesper puts the dense texture to use, and a Bloody Mary gains something to lean on. In sweet, fruity drinks the extra filtration work simply goes to waste.

How long does an opened bottle keep?

Several years with a tight closure. Vodka does not spoil, but every time the cap comes off new air gets in and the aroma flattens a little further. If only a small measure is left, drink it within a few months.

What sets Russian Vodka apart from other countries?

The tradition of wheat and charcoal filtration. Russian houses typically aim for a clean, dry profile with a soft grain note, where the Poles often cultivate the spice of rye and the Scandinavians chase neutrality. Browse the other Vodka brands if you want to compare styles.