Stolichnaya The Original Premium Vodka 70 cl 38%

A red band, gold script and a drawing of a hotel by Red Square. The label has barely moved since the 1950s, and it has become one of the most recognisable pieces of graphic design in the whole drinks trade. The bottle behind it is filled in Riga today.

Expert description

Stolichnaya The Original is a Latvian Vodka made from wheat and rye, bottled at 38%.

The recipe comes out of the Soviet era. The trademark was registered in 1938, and in 1953 the vodka was shown at the international trade fair in Bern, where it took a gold medal. After the Soviet Union broke up, the rights ended in a dispute between the Russian state and SPI Group, and the result is that two Stolichnaya bottles exist in the world: one for the Russian market and one for the rest of us.

The one you find here comes from Latvijas Balzams in Riga, where SPI Group placed its production. Wheat and rye run through columns, the spirit is blended with Latvian artesian water and filtered first through quartz sand, then through birch charcoal and finally through woven cloth. Since 2022 the raw spirit has been sourced outside Russia.

The rye is what sets it apart from the many pure wheat vodkas. It gives a bready, lightly peppery character that keeps the bottle from being wholly neutral, and it is the reason the vodka still turns up in everything from a Bloody Mary to a shot alongside pickled herring.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh rye crust and a hint of aniseed. A light sweetness sits underneath and only steps forward once the glass has rested.

Palate

Dry and direct. The grain fills the middle with something floury before a clear stripe of pepper rises and takes over.

Finish

Medium and warm. The pepper stays at the back of the mouth, and a touch of lemon peel turns up right at the end.

Specifications

Name: Stolichnaya The Original
Producer: Stoli Group
Region/Country: Riga, Latvia
Type: Latvian Vodka
ABV: 38%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Column distilled and filtered through quartz sand, birch charcoal and woven cloth
EAN no.: 4750021000126
Serving suggestion: Ice cold in a small glass with herring and rye bread, or as the base of a Bloody Mary where the rye can carry the spice.

Flavour profile

Dry · Bready · Peppery · Direct

Did you know?

In 1972 PepsiCo struck a barter deal with the Soviet state: the right to sell Pepsi inside the Soviet Union in exchange for the right to sell Stolichnaya in the West. Roubles could not be freely converted, so vodka became the currency.

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Frequently asked questions about Stolichnaya The Original

Is Stolichnaya a Russian vodka?

The bottle you find in Europe is Latvian. SPI Group produces Stolichnaya at Latvijas Balzams in Riga using Latvian water, while the Russian state sells its own version on the Russian market. The recipe shares an origin, but the bottles come from different countries.

What is it made from?

Wheat and rye. That combination is unusual among the big international brands, where pure wheat or corn dominates. The rye supplies the bready, lightly peppery character that makes the vodka recognisable in a blind tasting.

What is the best way to drink it?

Ice cold and neat in a small glass, ideally with rich or salty food. Herring, salmon, caviar and smoked meat all sit well against the dry grain. If you would rather mix, it holds its own in robust drinks without disappearing.

Does it work in cocktails?

Yes, particularly the spiced ones. A Bloody Mary, a Moscow Mule and a Vodka Gimlet all pick up some of the rye, where a wholly neutral vodka merely adds alcohol. In a very dry Martini it does come across as slightly rustic. See more bottles among our Vodka brands.

What does the birch charcoal filtration do?

It removes the heavier compounds that bring sharpness and a bitter edge. The spirit passes quartz sand first, then activated birch charcoal and finally woven cloth that catches the last particles. The result is a cleaner mouthfeel without stripping the grain character out entirely.

Why are some bottles labelled Stoli and others Stolichnaya?

Because the brand changed its name in 2022. Stoli Group adopted the nickname Stoli in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Older and ongoing bottlings still carry the full name on the label.

How should an opened bottle be stored?

Upright, cool and dark, with the cap sealed properly. Vodka does not spoil, but the aromatic compounds evaporate slowly once there is a lot of air in the bottle. Kept in the freezer it thickens in texture and closes up on the nose.