27/02/2006 - 2:45:55 PM Smirnoff back in the family The story of Smirnoff vodka took a new twist today when it was re-united with the name of the legendary Smirnov family after a gap of nearly 90 years. Drinks giant Diageo has signed a joint venture with the maker of Smirnov, which uses original recipes created by imperial vodka supplier Pyotr Smirnov, who died in 1898. The split happened when one of Pyotr’s sons – Vladimir Smirnov – fled Russia following the Soviet revolution. He established Smirnoff in Paris using the Francophone spelling of his name and the business developed...