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Black Death vodka became widely known in Russia in the 90s. Black aluminum cans were sold in every stall. Despite the frightening packaging design, a high-quality drink with an unusual taste was in demand among buyers. The trademark belongs to the British company G&J Distillers, which produces gin. Over the history of its existence, Black Death vodka has won 27 medals at prestigious international competitions.
Historical information
The history of Black Death vodka began in 1906 in the village of Siglunes in the north of Iceland, where the Sigurdsson family was engaged in the home production of moonshine using their own technology. The drink was bought with pleasure by neighbors and sailors from merchant ships that called at the local port. A modified and improved recipe for a strong drink formed the basis of the famous vodka.
In 1975, the grandson of the first producers of Icelandic moonshine, Valgeir Sigurdsson, opened a small bar in Luxembourg City, where he sold the original drink to visitors. Richmond Distillers became interested in the recipe, which soon bought the rights to produce vodka from the first owner. In 1987, “Black Death” received its first gold medal at an international competition in London and began a triumphal procession around the world.
Reasons for oblivion
During its heyday, the brand was successfully sold in 70 countries, and sales volumes amounted to 120 million bottles per year. Under the brand Black Death produced bourbon, tequila, beer and cigarettes. Trouble began in 1990 when the American Football League stopped players from wearing vodka T-shirts because of the ambiguous slogan.
Two years later, the American Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Guns banned the sale of Black Death in the United States. Officials did not like the brand’s aggressive advertising, which they saw as death propaganda. In addition, the name caused a direct association with the bubonic plague. Representatives of the company filed a lawsuit and achieved the removal of restrictions, but the reputation was irrevocably damaged.
In the mid-90s, Russia decided to stop importing the brand, and the Black Death lost a huge sales market. In 2005, the manufacturer was fined £2 million for selling the brand illegally in the UK. At the end of the misfortunes, a fire broke out at the plant, which destroyed most of the buildings where vodka was produced.
In 2015, the Black Death experienced a rebirth, winning a gold medal at a competition in San Francisco. Currently, the right to the trademark has passed to G&J Distillers, and the British company Spa Group is engaged in the promotion of the brand, trying to revive the former popularity of the product. Vodka is again sold in stores in Europe and the United States. Against the backdrop of the development of modern pop culture, the design of the bottle now does not cause unpleasant associations for anyone. Russian buyers can purchase the brand only at auctions and online stores selling foreign alcohol.
Awards
International Wine & Spirit Competition, Лондон:
- 1987, 1989, 1993 – gold medal.
San Francisco World Spirits Competition, San Francisco:
- 2015 – gold medal.
Interesting Facts
In the early 90s, the famous rock band Guns N’ Roses took part in the Black Death advertising campaign. Subsequently, the musicians justified their act by saying that they did not think about the content of advertising, only caring about reimbursement for the tour.
In 1992, due to numerous comments from officials, the manufacturer had to revise the design of the label. A cylinder was added to the image of the skull, and the crossbones were removed. Despite this, the brand continued to be criticized for provocative promotional gifts, which included a miniature wooden coffin.
Features
Vodka Black Death, 40%
At the heart of Black Death vodka is alcohol from French sugar beet, obtained by triple distillation. The blend is filtered in coal columns. The manufacturer keeps all the details of the recipe a secret.
Vodka has practically no alcohol smell, and pronounced sweet notes are felt in the aroma. A strong drink is characterized by a sharp and unusual, but well-balanced taste with a predominance of caramel tones. The manufacturer recommends drinking vodka with ice and soda, as well as using it in cocktails.
