- Plumbing recently unearthed archives and mountains of primary sources, Himelstein has uncovered a rich historical record. In prose that"s vivid and assured, she takes the reader beyond the formation of one of the oldest brands in business history and into the personal lives of the Smirnov family and the tumultuous events that lead to the Revolution. Authoritative, illuminating, and deeply engrossing, "The Vodka King" is a monumental work of history.