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Table of Contents
- The Drinks of Viggo Tarasov
- The Drinks of Iosef Tarasov
- Abram: The Final Tarasov
- A Couple of Wild Theories
The John Wick films may seem like your average shoot ‘em up thriller, but they have become notorious for packing in symbolism, allegory, and deeper meaning into the edges of its action-heavy barebones plot.
The universe of John Wick vibes on a slightly different frequency, everything is recognizable but noticeably heightened. The “normal world” (such as it is) only seems to exist in the Wick universe to give cover to assassins.
Everyone is assassins in the John Wickverse.
Everyone is assassins in the John Wickverse
It’s subtle touches such as the bizarro currency in which a gold coin seems to have the value of 1 “thing”, whether that be a round of drinks at the bar or disposing of a corpse. There is also exactly one cop representing the “real world” authority outside the assassin world, and he really couldn’t care less about the goings-on of the assassins.
In order to further make this universe seem lived in despite giving next to no information about its various characters, the production crew used great care in using the characters’ clothing choice, the accessories they wear, their physicality, and choice of beverage to imply backstory and character details that are never explicitly said aloud.
As there is so much to cover I decided to break down the drinks of John Wick Chapters 1-3 into a series.
There will be major spoilers throughout so please keep that in mind.
For the first dive into the drinks of the John Wickverse, we start with the family whose actions spark the entire series, The Tarasovs. Viggo Tarasov’s entire character arc is supported by his cocktail choice and his dog-killing son Iosef betrays his own weaknesses through his drink orders as well.
The Drinks of Viggo Tarasov
Viggo Tarasov’s entire character arc is supported by his cocktail choice
Viggo is given a playful intensity by the late character actor Michael Nyqvist. Ostensibly a man of business (a highly questionable business, but a business nonetheless), the only role that matters to him during the events of John Wick is that of a father. Every action he takes in this film relates to the love for his son.
His son Iosef, played by Alfie Allen of Game of Thrones fame, kills John Wick’s dog in the beginning of the John Wick 1 and John’s quest for to avenge this death incites the carnage and mayhem that it the John Wick franchise.
Drink 1: Quintessentially Q Vodka
Beginning with his 1st drink in the film, Viggo is all about his son. He has just learned that his son has killed The Boogeyman’s dog (the guy you send to kill the boogeyman) and there is little question in mind that his son will end up dead because of this.
His idiot son is still oblivious to his monumental fuck-up as Viggo pours his first drink, a shot of Quintessentially Q Vodka.
It was rather difficult to identify this brand and for good reason: It’s very exclusive and possibly doesn’t exist anymore. It is (was?) a high end luxury label made exclusively for the “luxury lifestyle management” and concierge service Quintessentially.
If the use of “exclusive” and “luxury” didn’t tip you off, this shit is expensive.
This vodka is a symbol of wealth and power, made specifically to be sipped by fancy men and women who have enough money to buy and sell your entire family and want to make sure people know it. And I can’t find any information on whether it still exists.
It’s very exclusive and possibly doesn’t exist anymore.
Regardless, this vodka represents the luxury and fineries that Viggo has been able to provide for his son.
Iosef downs it one gulp. Because Iosef is a garbage person.
Viggo has provided Iosef with a life of luxury but failed to instill a sense of appreciation and responsibility for this lifestyle. Now that his son has fucked up beyond repair, Viggo finally teaches Iosef that beautiful luxury can be stripped away with ugly violence, and proceeds to literally punch that fancy Q vodka right back out of Iosef.
The message is clear: What is given can be taken away, you. dumb. ass. And that brings us immediately to Viggo’s second drink choice, another vodka, Russian Standard.
Drink 2: Russian Standard Vodka
Russian Standard is a vodka brand most popular among Russian expats who are feeling a bit homesick. Viggo pours a large glass of this spirit and takes a long sip before launching into the story of the mythical bloody exploits of John Wick.
Viggo is already beginning to crumble. He longs for comfort and dulled senses, drinking a near tasteless booze of his mother country that represents not only where he started and how far he’s come but also, more concerningly, how far he can fall and how much he can lose. His options are already limited to the point of being nonexistent and tells his son as much.
This is the first of many times Viggo is presented with a choice: Let John Wick kill his son or watch his entire empire be burned up by John’s fury. Viggo, still sipping the comforting brand of vodka, lays down his pride and calls John to plea for Iosef’s life.
When John unsurprisingly does not relent, Viggo makes the poor choice to try and save his son’s life by sending a hit squad to John’s house, leading to a long night of nursing his third drink and the next choice in his downfall.
Drink 3: Glenlivet 18yr Scotch
Viggo knows he’s put himself and his business in the unstoppable hitman’s sights by attempting to kill John, but his ego and pride prevent him from making the pragmatic (if admittedly heartless) choice of letting his son die. But he does it anyway.
You see, 18yr old Scotch is another expensive luxury item, and this one is a symbol of his arrogance and giant ego. He nurses the bottle all night as his first attempt to kill John Wick fail. The next morning he’s completely finished his Scotch and has put out an open hit on John Wick.
This … is a symbol of his arrogance and giant ego.
Consuming all his Scotch as he makes these decisions underlines how he’s willing to throw every last resource and sacrifice the empire that feeds his ego in order to save his son.
He eventually regains his sobriety for a stretch of the film and actually manages to have victory briefly in his sights. But, his plans are foiled by a rogue Willam Dafoe (relatable) and, his options finally gone, steps aside as John goes to kill his son Iosef.
Let’s now take a break from Viggo’s Tale to take a look at:
The Drinks of Iosef
Iosef throughout John Wick is portrayed as a spoiled brat that lacks the sense to know how stupid he is.
Quintessiantially Q: His drinking journey starts with the earlier incident where his dad punched luxury brand vodka out of him in a power display.
Champagne: Later, while acting as bait in another of Viggo’s attempts to kill John, we see Iosef in a state of debauchery drinking champagne. While champagne is usually another sign of wealth and excess, here it just underscores how Iosef is just a pathetic little baby. He literally asks for more champagne by crying out for a bottle.
Iosef is just a pathetic little baby.
Russian Standard and Putinka Vodkas Iosef ends his journey just sort of waiting to die (seriously he is surprisingly not very proactive in keeping himself alive the entire movie), anyway he’s just waiting to die drinking from 2 bottles of Russian vodka. One is Russian Standard symbolizing he wants to feel safe and strong like his father.
And then the murders happen.
And as John is killing Iosef, we go back to Viggo as he moves on to his next intoxicant.
Drink 4: Marijuana Cigarette
Alright, I’m fully aware a joint isn’t an alcoholic beverage. But this is the final time John presents Viggo with the choice to let John exact his revenge and allow Viggo to walk away with his business and life intact or fall into ruin.
John continues to offer an out because despite all his rage and fury he is still a loyal man with a solid code of ethics that realizes Viggo’s actions are of a desperate father just as John’s are of a grief stricken widower.
Compared to the refined drinking choices, a sloppy hand-rolled joint is crass, low class, and truly mind dulling. Despite his intoxication throughout the film, Viggo has managed to maintain at least a semblance of being in control and keeping his mind somewhat functional.
Viggo’s actions are of a desperate father just as John’s are of a grief stricken widower.
But that is gone. For each bullet hole in his son’s corpse, two more formed in Viggo’s strong facade.
John understands that Viggo was acting as a desperate father and therefore lets Viggo continue to live.
Viggo makes his final fatal decision as he reaches for…
Drink 5: Russian Standard (Again)
Viggo has his revenge on the rogue Dafoe and by killing him also takes away a friend and ally from John.
“Rogue Dafoe is my stripper name.
Viggo is doing his own dirty work with his own bare hands. He has a few goons left still, but truly he is a man standing alone without an empire, without a family, and so he throws his life away as well.
Drinking Russian Standard again shows how far he has fallen and although he feels some comfort in his act of revenge, we know he no longer truly feels powerful because when we next him he is drinking:
Drink 6: Whatever’s Handy in the Car
As his remaining goons are summarily slaughtered, Viggo is reduced to getting absolutely shit-faced off some booze he’s got in his car.
Gone are the status symbol labels, replaced with generic decanters. Granted it’s probably expensive booze and the decanters aren’t cheap themselves, but the point remains.
His demeanor has changed and he’s all but given up and puts up just enough fight to make his death interesting.
And thus all his choices and every intoxicant along the way has lead him here: Slumped over on the pavement in a gutter. Alone, rained on, and utterly destroyed.
Abram: The Final Tarasov
The Tarasov saga is wrapped up in the beginning of John Wick 2, with Viggo’s brother Abram echoing how John Wick was introduced in the 1st film: a story about a pencil.
Abram originally seems like he’s going to fight continue the fight with John (john did kill his brother and nephew after all), but then quickly changes his mind when he finds himself in a sole-survivor-type situation.
John pours him a glass of Russian vodka in a sign of peace and Abram accepts.
Jewel of Russia Vodka
The affinity for Russian vodka ties him to his late brother and nephew, but he drinks Jewel of Russia instead of Russian Standard or Putinka as seen in John Wick.
He is also making the wise decision to accept peace with John and thus keeps his blood inside of his body.
And thus ends the Tarasov saga. At least for now. He may pop in any of the sequels being planned, who knows.
And since no John Wick analysis is complete without some wild speculative theories here’s a couple quick ones:
A Couple of Quick Wild Theories
Viggo’s Drinks Represent the 5 Stages of Grief:
I think I’ve seen this one floating around the internet before and it kinda makes sense:
Denial: The Quintessentially Q vodka, thinking his life of luxury and power is still in his control
Anger: Russian Standard: The 1st time he punches his son and when he relapses into anger, he kills Marcus
Bargaining: 18yr Old Scotch: Maybe if he sends enough hitmen at John they will kill him and save his boy.
Depression: The marijuana cigarette: He is too sad to drink so he finds something even more numbing to try to drown his pain.
Acceptance: The car booze: He’s oddly giddy as he’s come to terms with the fact his empire is ruined and he’s as good as already dead.
That works pretty good, but I also think if you put Viggo and Iosef together you can get:
Viggo and Iosef’s Drinks are the 7 Deadly Sins
Pride: The 18yr Old Scotch. Viggo thinks he can use his wealth and power to stop John Wick.
Greed: The Quintessential Q vodka. Represents every sin Viggo has committed to achieve wealth and power.
Wrath: The Russian Standard. Viggo takes his wrath out on Iosef and Marcus with punches and violent murder respectively. On the flip side, Iosef is about to feel his dad’s and John’s respective wraths when he’s drinking it.
Envy: Iosef drinking Russian vodka like his father. Iosef drinks his vodka because he wants to be everything his father is, but knows he is inadequate.
Lust: Iosef’s champagne : he drinks it with nearly naked people in a make-out grotto while ignoring danger.
Gluttony: Car Booze: Viggo is totally over-indulging
Sloth: The marijuana cigarette: Viggo ceases to fight and becomes listless
Performing endless penance for an endlessly sinful life is a running theme in John Wick and for these sins the Tarasovs are punished.
They both kinda work!
But there are still many more drinkers (and crazy theories) in the John Wick universe so be sure to follow me on Twitter and Facebook or subscribe to my youtube channel for the video versions.
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