🥃 Viru Valge
Estonian grain vodka from Liviko, produced since 1962; the symbol is a horn-player in folk dress from Mulgimaa; the classic version is 40% ABV.
Viru Valge is an Estonian vodka made from grain spirit, produced by Liviko since 1962. The producer calls it the oldest and most popular vodka in the country. The brand's symbol is a horn-player in the folk dress of the Mulgimaa region, facing west, and the classic version is 40% ABV.
History. The first bottle of Viru Valge was filled in 1962, and Liviko's craftsmen have since refined the recipe with newer technology. The horn-player figure was devised by company employee Bernhard Jürno, and the rocks and trees were drawn by graphic illustrator Paul Luhthein. In northern folklore a horn blast gathered people together, and the brand puts that image at its centre. For the 60th anniversary a retro jubilee edition was released in a 0.7 l bottle.
How it is made. According to Liviko, the base is pure grain spirit made to the company's own recipe, and the water is specially prepared groundwater. The bottles are made by a glassworks in Järvakandi, about 85 km from Liviko; more than half of the glass in them is recycled.
Range. Besides the classic, there are flavoured versions: cranberry, watermelon, cherry, green apple, rhubarb and plum. Check the strength and composition on the label, as they may differ from the classic version.
Why it matters to you. Under EU rules a classic vodka must be at least 37.5% ABV and have no pronounced taste other than that of its raw material, while flavoured versions are a separate category of drinks and may contain more sugar. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1962, Liviko (Tallinn, Estonia) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | vodka — Reg. (EU) 2019/787, Annex I, cat. 15 |
| EU category | 15 — vodka; flavoured — cat. 31 |
| Raw material | grain spirit; prepared groundwater |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (classic) |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Viru Valge → kind of → 🌾 Vodka and grain spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Made from
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🍸 Vodka, 🌾 Vodka and grain spirits
- Related to
- 🌍 Northern Europe
- Similar and different
- 🍸 Flavoured vodka, 🥃 Finlandia, 🥃 Wyborowa, 🥃 Estonian Vodka
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Viru Valge is the oldest Estonian vodka?
The producer says so: the brand has been made since 1962, and Liviko calls it the oldest and most popular vodka in Estonia.
Who is shown on the label?
A horn-player in the folk dress of Mulgimaa, facing west; the figure was devised by Liviko employee Bernhard Jürno.
What is Viru Valge made from?
From grain spirit and specially prepared groundwater, according to Liviko.
What is the strength of Viru Valge?
The classic version is 40% ABV; flavoured versions may have a different strength.
What flavours does Viru Valge come in?
Cranberry, watermelon, cherry, green apple, rhubarb and plum, in addition to the classic version.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍸 Flavoured vodka — Vodka with a predominant flavour different from its raw material: EU category 31, 37.5% vol. or more, less than 100 g/l of sugar.
- 🌍 Northern Europe — Scandinavia, Finland, Denmark and Iceland: a cold land of cows, Icelandic skyr, Norwegian brunost and Danish cheeses with protected names.
- 🥃 Wyborowa — Brand of Polish rye vodka from Poznań; history from 1823; 40% ABV; international trademark since 1927; owned by Pernod Ricard.
Similar
🥃 Danzka · 🥃 Eristoff · 🥃 Koskenkorva · 🥃 Luksusowa · 🥃 Ketel One · 🥃 Khortytsa
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Liviko: Viru Valge (since 1962; grain spirit; groundwater; hornblower in Mulgimaa costume; Järvakandi glass; Cranberry, Watermelon, Cherry, Green Apple, Rhubarb, Plum)
- Liviko: Viru Valge Jubilee Edition (40 %, 700 ml; first bottle 1962; label by Bernhard Jürno and Paul Luhthein)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I (whisky; vodka; liqueur from 15 % vol.)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)