In 1893 the brothers Yankel and Zelman Rakovshchiks established a yeast brewery with an integrated distillery in the Nizhne-Lyakhovskaya Street next to the Svisloch river in the town center of Minsk. The office building still exists, a typical solid brick construction, where the long story of success began. The spirits production of the brothers was already a significant example of top quality and soon mastered the government's liquor standards. Many awards are proving this fact: for instance, the gold medal honor during the exhibition of the Tsar’s suppliers in Rostov. Starting with a 5 hp steam plant, fermentation vats, distillery components and twenty-four employees they produced beverages worth 89 thousand Rubles per year.

In the early XX century the distillery was a member of the monopolistic association of yeast brewery and alcohol distillery owners of the North-Western Region. During the refurbishment in 1910 an electric generator, a 50 hp steam engine, a 75 hp locomotive and a 25 hp gas generator were installed. By the twentieth anniversary of the company they employed already 150 workers. The turn-over exceeded 719 thousand rubles and the enterprise soon turned into the most recognized distillery plant in Belarus terms of technology as well as in production capacity.

The Great October Socialist Revolution affected the distillery’s performance. The brothers Rakovshchiks’ plant became nationalized by the Bolsheviks and was used as the republic alcohol and automated. The production developed gradually with capacities up to 4000 liters per shift.

In 1924 the USSR Government announced a resolution referring to volume of alcoholic beverages production. The following year the distillery was converted into state-owned “Sprit and Vodka Distillery” and after 1937 the treasured master recipes were standards for all Soviet vodkas.

The economic boom in Belarus during the post WW ll years increased the demand for premium beverages. In the year 1948 the distillery started implementing efficient methods for filtration and water softening techniques to improve once more the vodka quality. In the 50s the management focused on worldwide marketing of the great reputation of Russian vodka and tried hard to keep the leadership in quality and taste.

During the 60s and 70s installation of modern manufacturing tools allowed enlarging volume and maintaining a constant quality level. At this time the specific rectification and purification process was invented, which guarantees smooth taste together with a characteristic fine flavor.

In July 1986 the corporation bought three starch factories in the countryside plus adjoining 3050 hectares of farm land.

Since 1990 the Republic of Belarus is an independent state. The Belarussian distilleries are state owned and are belonging to the Belgospicheprom group. Meanwhile Minskaya is a rising star and has become a symbol for perfection in Belarus. On the occasion on the 100th jubilee a new bottle / carafe design was created referring to the single estate premium vodka Minskaya. Thanks to the patented “black flint” plus silver filtration technology a new class of vodka was born.

Since 2000 the Belgospicheprom group works in compliance with the European quality management system STB ISO 9001. In 2003 certification according to the Republic of Belarus plus the system of ecological management (STB ISO 14001) was implemented. 2004 the HACCP standards for quality insurance and safety in the food industry hazard analysis control point were passed successfully. In 2009 a control system of labor safety (STB 18001) was installed. In 2009 the distillery in Minsk under the supervision of Western Blue e.K. received the certificate “Organic”, confirming that the production of vodkas meets all requirements of the European Standards EU 2092/91.

Western Blue, Germany created with master distiller Sergey Mashkov the Russian Cult Vodka Minskaya. Instantly the unique vodka was awarded with the Blue Medal in the super premium category at the International Spirits Challenge in London 2010 and 2012 in the San Francisco’s World Spirits Competition.

Russian Cult Vodka Minskaya is officially available in the western hemisphere through the importer Western Blue for you all, not anymore for diplomats only. In cherishing this heritage from the Rakovschikys’ brothers the new label tells you important details referring to the ingredients provides interesting information about the history and shows six unique awards from the old times. Western Blue keeps the number of bottles strictly limited each year to ensure the Rakovschikys’ brothers philosophy of the fine art of vodka making - since 1893 and as long as life exist...

NEW!
> single estate only
> grain is malted before fermetation for incomporable fine flavor
> Siberian Gin No. 33 - the very first Russian Gin based on our master distiller experience
> handcrafted - of course!