Eristoff Vodka (pronounced air-wrist-off; Georgian: ერისთავი, transliterated Eristavi) is a brand of vodka that originated in Georgia and was first created for Prince Eristavi of Duchy of Racha in 1806.[1] Eristoff vodka is triple distilled and then charcoal filtered, a technique first established in 18th century Russia.
The Eristoff logo of a wolf howling at a crescent moon represents the Persian name for Georgia, Gorjestan, meaning "land of the wolf".
History
The original Georgian version of the name, Eristoff or Eristov, was Eristavi (ერისთავი). The title means ‘head of the nation’ but translates more accurately as ‘head of a military force’. By the 19th century, five noble families, each representing a different part of Georgia, were using the name Eristhavi. Prince Ivane Eristoff, who first created Eristoff vodka in 1806, was from the northwest province of Racha.
After Ivane’s great-grandson, Prince Alexander Constantine Eristoff, moved from Georgia to Saint Petersburg, he went on to eventually reach the rank of Colonel in the Imperial Guard.
After the Soviet takeover, the Eristovs left Georgia. One Eristavi from America served as the new Jersey state treasurer.[2]