According to the official version, vodka was invented by D.I. Mendeleev. Although the forty-degree mixture of alcohol and water was known long before the great scientist defended his dissertation in January 1865. It is this drink that burns the larynx that is preferred by the adult population of Russia and emigrants living far from their homeland. During times of shortages and the anti-alcohol campaign, M.S. Gorbachev, connoisseurs of “little white” were forced to switch to drinking pure alcohol, pharmaceutical tinctures and even cologne.