Booze Business | A blog dedicated to the business of spirits and wine

Wacky World of Vodka

April 13, 2012 1 Comment

Over half a billion 9-litre cases of vodka are sold around the world. It should not come as a surprise therefore, that some strange things occur with brands, people and the category itself.

As a public service to my blog readers, I have found just a few of the more interesting, and yes, wacky recent occurrences.

The Vodka for the Rich

Stoli is introducing a $3,000 a bottle of vodka from the Himalayan Edition of Stolichnaya’s Pristine Water Series. Only 300 bottles will be sold globally. Apparently what makes it so expensive is the type of water used, sourced from the Himalayan mountains, from an underground reservoir that has been pooling fresh melted snow. The water is then combined with 100% winter wheat harvested from Russia’s Tambov region. As an added bonus, it comes in a hand-blown glass bottle with a gold-plated decorative ice pick – perfect for your spouse to stick in your brain when he/she sees the credit card bill.

Not to be outdone, there is a company I believe is based in Hong Kong, selling (or about to launch) Royal Dragon vodka from Russia. There are three editions, but the Emperor Vodka will be made from rye and only 888 bottles will be sold.

Spirits Ads on TV

April 3, 2012 1 Comment

I write a monthly column for Spiritz magazine in India, which is the most widely read alcohol-related magazine in the country. My column is called Booze Abroad and the March issue contained a story on how the broadcast advertising (voluntary) ban for spirits was ended in the US.

While TV advertising for spirits has become widespread, it came about through the leadership of Seagram, but not without some ups and downs along the way.

The article is available on this blog with the permission of Bishan Kumar the publisher of Spiritz. To read it, simply click on the words, “Spirits Ads on TV” at the top of the column on the right.

The Fountain of Booze

March 29, 2012 No Comments

Buffalo Trace Newsletter reprinted an article from Agence France-Press (AFP) with this headline – Georgia Toasts Tourists With Alcoholic Fountain. I knocked over my coffee in the rush to book a flight to Atlanta, and then realized the Georgia in question was the country not the state.

Georgia is a sovereign state (ex-Soviet Union) in the Caucus mountain region on the border between Europe and Asia. It seems that they have been pushing hard to attract tourists to the city of Batumi, an up and coming party town on the Black Sea coast. Past attraction efforts have included wedding cake buildings, Dubai-style glass towers and an upcoming aerial tramway. The new venture is a fountain that dispenses local booze.

The Mayor of Batumi (who I picture sounding like Borat) had this to say about it, “Once a week, for 10 to 15 minutes, Chacha will flow from this fountain instead of water. Tourists will have an opportunity to taste the traditional drink.”

In case you didn’t know (I sure did not) Chacha is a clear strong liquor made from grape using the pomace — grape residue after making wine — or what I like to think of as seeds and stems. In other words it’s like Grappa.