At the intersection of Pyatnitskaya Street and Ovchinnikovskaya Embankment stands a mansion, seemingly frozen in time. This house was built in the mid-19th century by merchant Morkovkin, of whom it is known only that he was a peasant from Count Sheremetev.

The main history of the building is connected with Pyotr Arsenyevich Smirnov, the vodka king of the Russian Empire. On one of the walls of the house, one can still see the inscription: "Supplier to the Court of HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY Pyotr Arsenyevich Smirnov."

Smirnov arrived in Moscow in 1860 after receiving his freedom and immediately opened a small wine shop with nine employees. His goal was to produce high-quality vodka, different from what was served in taverns and inns. In 1863, he built a small vodka factory near the Chugun Bridge on Ovchinnikovskaya Embankment, which quickly became known for its high-quality products.

In 1867, Smirnov purchased this three-story house from merchant Morkovkin. The house was spacious, with a large courtyard, several extensions, and a deep basement for storing wine barrels. The mansion on Pyatnitskaya was bought specifically so that Smirnov could personally oversee the quality of production. Nine years later, the building was reconstructed according to the design of architect N. A. Geintz. The entrance was adorned with a cast-iron porch awning featuring double-headed eagles, as seen on the labels of "Smirnov" vodka. During the Soviet era, the awning was demolished, and the entrance was bricked up, but it was restored in the late 1990s.

In 1873, Pyotr Smirnov, being a hereditary honorary citizen, participated in the international industrial exhibition in Vienna, where he achieved great success and received a diploma and a medal. This marked the beginning of recognition for his business. Soon, Tsar Alexander III wished for Smirnov to become the Supplier to the Highest Court. In 1886, Smirnov was awarded the Order of Stanislaus of the III degree, as evidenced by the inscription on the facade of the house facing Pyatnitskaya: "Supplier to the Court of His Imperial Majesty Pyotr Arsenyevich Smirnov."

Smirnov's product range amazed even the most discerning foreign connoisseurs: "Cherry Vodka," "Nizhyn Rowan," "Fin-Champagne," as well as the popular table wine No. 21. Empress Maria Feodorovna especially loved the liqueur "White Plum," produced exclusively by Smirnov. By the end of the 19th century, his factory's assortment included over four hundred items.

After the revolution in 1918, the factory and the house near the Chugun Bridge became "national property" and ceased operations. The son of Pyotr Smirnov sold the rights to the company "P. A. Smirnov" to an American citizen, who began producing vodka "Smirnoff" using a different technology.

Today, the house near the Chugun Bridge at the corner of Pyatnitskaya Street and Ovchinnikovskaya Embankment remains a symbol of P. A. Smirnov vodka. The mansion now houses a trading house and a store that sells drinks based on the recipes of the founder of the famous merchant dynasty.