I guess the upside is Peter Smirnoff’s name will live on through his vodka.Īnyone who has enjoyed this brand knows that it is one of the most delicious gins available on the market.

In 1934, Rudolph Kennett bought the company from Smirnoff. He fled to Turkey where he began production again, but once the Great Depression rolled in, he once again had to let go of the family business. By the 1900s, Smirnoff was mass producing his vodka, but the Russian Revolution proved to be cruel to the alcohol industry and his distilleries were closed and seized. He began producing his own vodka in the 1800s, which was said to be so good, Czar Alexander III made Smirnoff his official distiller. Peter Smirnoff, aptly, was the man who gave us this legendary clear drink. In fact, there are quite a few of our favorite or at least familiar liquor brands whose names have some interesting origin stories. Every now and then, when I'm out on the town, I'll pick up my glass and sincerely wonder who was this Jack Daniel's guy and how did he create this magic? The story may surprise you.