Bethel and Smirnoff Vodka

Come and join the Bethel Historical Society:

When – May 4th, 2025

Time - 1:00pm

Where – The Parloa Room at the Bethel Public Library

Reservations are limited to 45 people and no one under 21 may attend as we are serving alcohol.

Please reserve as soon as possible by calling Milena at (203) 241-8667.

Topic: A discussion of an early product made/shipped from Bethel - Smirnoff Vodka. Bethel was the first US location where this was made and shipped. The building still exists and is located on South Street, next to the train tracks, as the train was instrumental to the Smirnoff business.

Following the presentation, there will be a taste of 3 vodkas, along with munchies.

Our presenter is Erik Ofgang whose writings on science, history and other topics have been featured in The New York Times, Smithsonian magazine, Washington Post, The Atlantic, Slate, LiveScience.com, Forbes and many others. He has also appeared on the History Channel’s Food That Built America and is the co-author of The Good Vices and a faculty member in Western Connecticut State University’s MFA in Creative and Professional Writing. He was a longtime staff writer at Connecticut Magazine and continues to contribute regularly to the publication. He lives in Bethel with his wife and their son, Phoenix.

SEE YOU THERE