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Kizlyarka is a vodka brand, the rights to which belong to the Kizlyar Cognac Factory, which is included in the list of the most significant and highly profitable alcohol producers in Russia. The main activity of KKZ is the production of cognacs, including the protocol drink of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation. Vodka is made from grape distillate according to an old recipe restored by the company’s technologists. The assortment portfolio is represented by three types of grape vodka and a new collection of fruit vodkas.
Historical reference. Today, Kizlyarka vodka is produced by the Kizlyar Cognac Factory, but the history of this drink began long before the establishment of the enterprise. The first mention of kizlyarka dates back to the middle of the XNUMXth century: the inhabitants of Kizlyar borrowed the recipe for grape vodka from the French assimilated in the city and creatively reworked it, adapting it to autochthonous grape varieties. So vodka got its name and began to be in high demand among the population.
A century later, with her Charter of Letters, Empress Catherine granted the German colonists the right to distill wine for grape vodka. They were allowed to make kizlyarka for themselves and for sale to visitors. By the middle of the 13th century, 200 factories were already operating within the boundaries of Kizlyar, smoking wine and grape vodka. Local winemakers supplied over XNUMX thousand buckets of the famous drink to the Nizhny Novgorod Trade Fair.
The popularity of grape vodka can be judged by the frequency of its mention in literary works. The fact that the legendary General Platov paid tribute to the “sour” was written by Nikolai Leskov in his “Lefty”, the historical novelist and publicist Danilevsky. In T. Shevchenko’s story about a hired girl, it is said about “a real kizlyarka, a bottle for a ruble”. The name of the drink is also found in many memoirs dedicated to the life of the Russian Caucasus.
In 1885, the distillery David Saradzhev laid the foundation for a cognac factory, uniting several handicraft distilleries around him. After 8 years, the Kizlyar Vodka produced at the Sarajevo plant became a real discovery at the World Exhibition held in Chicago. Representatives of the plant returned from a trip overseas as victors: with a silver medal and an honorary diploma of the exhibition.
The history of Kizlyarka in the Soviet era is full of not only victories, but also trials. In 1976, the technologists of the enterprise restored the authentic recipe of the drink according to old documents. However, soon the anti-alcohol campaign led to the almost complete destruction of the plantations of Tersky scarlet wine grapes, which were used to make cognac and vodka. For several years, “Kizlyarka” was not produced at the plant. By 1991, the situation leveled off, and grape vodka again took its rightful place in the product portfolio.
Awards
Grand Prix Effie, Paris:
- 2004 – international prize “Gold Standard”.
Specialized exhibition “Wine. Vodka. Tobacco, Sochi:
- 2005 – Silver (“Kizlyarka Original”) medal.
International Exhibition “Beverage Industry”, Moscow:
- 2005 – Gold medal and diploma of the 1st degree.
Tasting competition at the exhibition “Peterfood”:
- 2009 – Gold (“Kizlyarka Traditional”) medal and honorary diploma “Choice of Networks”.
International tasting competition Grand Collections:
- 2009 – Gold (“Kizlyarka Traditional”) medal.
National award “Product of the Year”:
- 2009 – victory in the nomination “For high quality and loyalty to traditions”.
International professional competition, Moscow:
- 2010 – Gold (“Kizlyarka Traditional”) medal;
- 2016 – Gold (“Kizlyarka Traditional”) medal.
Tasting competition “Best Product”:
- 2014 – Gold (“Kizlyarka Aged”) medal.
Prodexpo:
- 2012 – Gold (“Kizlyarka Aged”) medal;
- 2017 – silver (“Kizlyarka Traditional”) medal.
Types of vodka Kizlyarka
Kizlyarka Traditional, 40%
The flagship vodka of the brand, which has collected a whole “collection” of medals from international tasting competitions. It has a harmonious bouquet, in which there are berry and fruit notes. Soft and drinkable, slightly oily, with pronounced sweetness and light vanilla tones. Due to the peculiarities of taste, as a gastronomic accompaniment, it is worth giving preference not to a classic appetizer – pickles, jelly with horseradish or cold cuts, but to drink a drink with desserts.
Kizlyarka Original, 40%
The vodka production process includes a 7-month aging of grape distillate in Caucasian oak barrels. This technology gives the drink a golden color and aroma, saturated with tones of dried fruits, quince, flowering vines. On the palate, there is a slight oiliness and a fairly distinct sweetness. It will serve as a great addition to a meal that includes traditional Russian dishes. In this case, the vodka should be pre-cooled so that the fruity aroma becomes less pronounced.
Kizlyarka Aged, 45%
The strongest and most high-calorie vodka in the line. The aging time of the distillate in oak barrels is 18 months, during which time the product has time to saturate with woody-balsamic aromas and acquires a golden-straw hue. The flavor range includes notes of grape seed, wild pear, dried fruit compote. The manufacturer does not recommend cooling this drink, its bouquet and taste are most fully revealed at room temperature.
“Kizlyarka Apple”, 40%
The product that replenished the brand’s collection in 2014. Produced without the use of artificial flavors and dyes, based on fruit distillates obtained from local varieties of apples. Aged in oak barrels for at least a month, acquiring an amber-yellow color during this time. It has a recognizable aroma of ripe apples with light notes of fermentation. Alcoholic taste is not expressed, it is easy to drink, leaves a pleasant tart aftertaste with hints of spices.
“Kizlyarka Apricot”, 40%
Vodka, during the production of which the fruit must is distilled, ending with a monthly aging of the finished product. Differs in deep aroma with the thin assimilated spirit and the expressed fruit note. In a bright taste, a burning alcohol note and the sweetness of ripe apricots harmoniously coexist. The drink is well suited for the role of an after-dinner digestif – in this case it is better not to cool it. Fresh fruit can be served as an appetizer.
“Kizlyarka Plum”, 40%
Vodka is produced by triple distillation of fermented plum must, the finished drink is aged in oak barrels. The bouquet is represented by scents of fruity scale with a subtle bitter-almond note. Defining flavor characteristics are butteriness and sweetness with a honey lining. For an appetizer, Balkan dishes are suitable: Shopska salad, smoked meats, a slice of toasted cornbread. “Kizlyarka” can successfully replace rakia or plum brandy in “Balkan mulled wine” or “Zorro” cocktail.
“Kizlyarka Kizilovaya”, 40%
A new development of KKZ technologists is a fruit vodka made from dogwood distillate and softened water. The pronounced aroma of berries “neutralizes” the pure grain notes in alcohol. It has a whole rounded taste with complementary spicy, peppery and sweet notes. Perfect for a dessert table or as a base for fruit-toned cocktails.
