Russian Standard vodka Russian Standard® In 1894 Dmitry Mendeleev, the greatest scientist in all Russia, received a decree from the Tsar to create the Imperial quality standard for Russian vodka. The ' Russian Standard' was born. Today in St Petersburg, our state-of-the-art distillery allows us to bring this vodka heritage into the 21st Century. Using winter wheat from the Russian Steppes & pure glacial water from Lake Ladoga, we have created the genuine taste of Russian vodka that is once again being celebrated throughout the world.