Wodka Gorbatschow facts for kids
| Type | Vodka |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Henkell & Co. Sektkellerei KG |
| Country of origin | Berlin, Germany |
| Introduced | 1921 |
| Alcohol by volume | 37.5% (standard bottle) |
| Proof (US) | 80 |
| Related products | List of vodkas |
Wodka Gorbatschow is a popular German vodka brand. It has been made in Berlin, Germany, since 1921. It is known for its special bottle shape, which looks like an onion dome, and its blue label. Since 1960, the brand has been owned by Söhnlein Rheingold AG, which is part of Henkell & Co. Sektkellerei KG. This company has been owned by Dr. Oetker since 1996.
Contents
History of Wodka Gorbatschow
Starting in Berlin
The story of Wodka Gorbatschow began with Lev Leontyevitch Gorbachev. He used to run a vodka factory in St. Petersburg, Russia. During a big change in Russia called the October Revolution, Gorbachev and his family left their home. They moved to Berlin, Germany.
In Berlin, Lev Gorbachev started making vodka again on April 28, 1921. Just two years later, in 1923, his company, L. Gorbatschow & Co., officially registered the brand name. They also registered the unique onion-domed bottle and the blue label as their trademark. This meant no one else could use them.
Changes in Ownership
Over the years, the company went through some changes. In 1938, during a difficult time in history, the company Gorbatschow Liköre J. Kramer & Co. was taken over by new owners.
Later, after World War II, a person named Arthur Barth became the director of the company. In 1960, a larger company called Söhnlein Rheingold KG bought Gorbatschow-Wodka Arthur Barth. This helped the vodka become sold all over Germany.
The Brand's Slogan
Since 1975, Wodka Gorbatschow has used a special slogan: Des Wodkas reine Seele. In English, this means The pure soul of vodka. This slogan was created to suggest the idea of the Russian soul, which is a common saying about Russian culture. The company started this advertising campaign after other Russian vodka brands began selling well in West Germany.
Wodka Gorbatschow Products
Wodka Gorbatschow comes in different types and bottle sizes. The most common one is a 0.7-liter bottle with a blue label. This one has 37.5% alcohol by volume (abv).
The company also makes other versions:
- Some bottles have a higher alcohol content, like 40% or 50%. The 50% version is mostly for restaurants and bars.
- There's also a very strong 60% version, but it is only sold outside of Germany.
- In 2003, they launched Wodka Platinum 44, which has a different way of being made and a unique bottle shape.
- Since 2008, Wodka Gorbatschow has offered flavored versions. For example, Wodka Gorbatschow Citron is lightly flavored with lemon.
- They also make ready-to-drink mixed drinks in cans, like Gorbatschow & Lemon (since 2010), Gorbatschow & Orange (since 2014), and Gorbatschow & Maracuja (since 2016). These mixed drinks have less alcohol, around 10%.
