So a friend of mine is going to Russia next week for a long trip, she asked the usual question "is there anything I can bring back for you?"

Well duh, the first response is of course VODKA.

Of course, I don't know anything about real Russian vodka, I don't mean something we can import in the US, or is "distilled by license from blah blah" here in the US.
And I don't mean something she can pick up from the duty free shop in the airport made for tourists.

I mean something that we've ZERO access to, but is FANTASTIC and I absolutely must try.

Can one of you english speaking Russian folks (or well traveled 'muricans/Euro's) suggest something?

Of course on the flip side is it has to be something I can read on this forum with my English character set, and can write down and hand to her, that is not completely unpronouncable or unwritable that she can vaguely understand.

Thanks!

Jeez, would you like us to go over there and get it for you, too???

;)

Yes, that would be the point. :P If you could pop over there and fetch me some real Russian vodka I'd appreciate it.

In fact, if you're into wealthy 40-something's, she's pretty smokin' hot (and unmarried), so you may want to coordinate your trip. She leaves next week.

My boss used to work with several Russians back when it was still the USSR. He told us a funny story about consummating a deal once...

Having a vodka shot was (at least at one point in time) a usual and customary procedure for any business transaction when 'in country'. The story goes that he was making a business deal when the Russian gentleman with which he was doing so asked his underling to bring in the vodka to 'finalize the transaction'. The man brought in a tray with two shot glasses and a bottle of Stolichnaya, only to have it knocked out of his hand by the man at the table, who chastised him, screaming, for bringing him an inferior product. The man demanded that his underling "bring the good stuff for our deal with Mr. Jim!". The underling returned, sheepishly, with two new (unbroken) shot glasses and a bottle of "the good stuff".

Any guesses as to what it was?

http://www.russianstandard.com/brands/

Russian Standard Original. Of course, as of April 2007 you can now get it here in the United States, so maybe that's not what you want. ;P

However, it's the genuine deal, and the #1 brand in Russia. You can't get any better.

"Any guesses as to what it was?"

Smirnoff?

My guess is Skol, which we endearingly named Skoli since after the headache went away it might as well have been GG or Belvedere.

Some of the Russian made wrist watches are very nice. A good one still has a jewel movement and wind up crown with a screw down winder like a Rolex. It's hard to get a mechanical watch here in the US but they are still available there. Maybe something like that...small to carry out on the plane but unique and a nice conversation piece worn on the arm here.

If you're aiming for an "alcohol" only gift, you should ask your friend to bring you some home-distilled vodka spelled "sam-o-gone" :) Could be dangerous, though :)

Seriously, I don't think we have something very special with relation to vodka, but if you're really looking for an alcohol-related gift, your friend will easily find some kind of "gift edition vodka" stylized like Kalashnikov's AK-47 or Kremlin or Caucasian blade or something like this.

Love me some Svedka.