Absolut Vodka is a brand of vodka, produced near Åhus, Skåne, in southern Sweden. Since July 2008 the company has been owned by the French firm Pernod Ricard who bought V&S Group from the Swedish government.
Absolut is the third largest brand of alcoholic spirits in the world after Bacardi and Smirnoff, and is sold in 126 countries
History:
Absolut Vodka was established in 1879 by Lars Olsson Smith and is produced in Åhus, Sweden. Smith introduced fractional distillation that produces liquor without fusel alcohol in Sweden in 1877, under the name "Tiodubbelt Renadt Brännvin" (Tenfold Purified Vodka). Brännvin literally means "burn-wine" and is analogous to the German "Branntwein". The term is also used in Norwegian, Danish and Icelandic. ("Vodka" was not used for Swedish liquor until 1958, with the potato-based Explorer Vodka.) The name was changed to "Absolut Rent Brännvin" (Absolutely Pure Vodka) by Smith to market his much improved product. Smith challenged the city of Stockholm's liquor marketing monopoly with his vodka. It was sold at a lower price than the monopoly's product, just outside the city border. Smith even offered free boat rides to the distillery and "Rent Brännvin" made Smith a fortune. 
In 1917, the alcohol industry in Sweden was monopolized by the Swedish government. Vodka was then sold nationwide under the name "Absolut Rent Brännvin". The name changed with intervals, Renat Brännvin or Absolut Rent Brännvin. In 1979, the old name Absolut was picked up when the upper-price range Absolut Vodka was introduced. Renat is still a euphemism for spirits in Sweden, and the name of another vodka product by Vin & Sprit.
Absolut Vodka was introduced to the global market in 1979. Since its launch, Absolut has grown from 90,000 liters to 96.6 million liters in 2008. It has become the fourth largest international spirit and is available in 126 countries. The vodka is made from winter wheat. Approximately 80,000 metric tons (2,900,000 bushels) of wheat is used annually to produce Absolut Vodka. Over one kilogram of grain is used in every one-liter bottle.
Blavod (blah-VOD) is an 80-proof black vodka distilled in the United Kingdom. It is marketed on the liquor's unique black color that derives from Black Catechu, ie extracts from the heartwood of Burmese catechu acacia trees.Such additives reportedly don't interfere with the characteristics of the vodka, imparting no additional flavor or odor. Catechu also does not stain or leave a trace of other flavours.
Blavod vodka is produced by Blavod Wines and Spirits plc which also acts as UK distributor for numerous other alcoholic beverages including Bruichladdich single malt whisky,Arran Malt Whiskey and several Fratelli Branca products including Fernet Branca, Punt e Mes vermouth and Caffè Borghetti coffee-liqueur.
Chopin Vodka pioneered the concept of luxury vodka.Family-owned in the fertile South Podlasie region of Poland, It is one of the few vodka producers to distill its own spirits. A small team shepherds its product from farm to bottle under the watchful eye of Chopin’s inventor and master distiller, whose signature is on every bottle. Chopin sources its ingredients from select local farmers who grow their crops naturally. This ensures that only the highest-quality rye or late-harvest potato makes it into each bottle, along with purified water from Chopin’s own artesian well.
At its historic distillery in Krzesk (67 miles east of Warsaw), Chopin hand-selects late-harvest potatoes, valued for their high starch content, to craft its potato vodka throughout the fall season, converting to rye for the remainder of the year. Chopin relies on a traditional copper still and a simple, centuries-old process, distilling its vodka four times to produce an authentic spirit of superior quality and taste. The vodka is produced in relatively small batches, and once it is complete, a taste panel is convened. If one person on the panel finds one flaw in the batch, regardless of how minor it is, that batch is destroyed.[citation needed]
Chopin Potato Vodka was first introduced to North America in 1997, and Chopin Rye, long available in Poland, will make its U.S. debut in March 2011.
Chopin Vodka is produced with a care, artistry and passion matching that of the brand’s inspiration, the legendary Polish Romantic composer Frédéric Chopin. It is certified a 100% non-French vodka by the European Union as a reassurance to consumers.
Double Cross Vodka is a brand of distilled spirit produced in the Slovak Republic. The distillery that produces Double Cross is situated in the town of Stará Ľubovňa, which is located the Tatra Mountains in northeastern Slovakia.
Double Cross founders Malcolm Lloyd and John Gellner saw that there were few, if any, luxury goods from Slovakia in the U.S.. They also noted that there were few vodka brands in the price range set for Double Cross; however there are many vodkas in the market. They put four years of research and development into their liquor, touring distilleries throughout Eastern Europe to find Jan Krak, a master distiller in Slovakia near the Polish border.
According to its producers, Double Cross is seven-times distilled and seven-times filtered and made using locally-grown winter wheat and mountain spring water sourced from 200-foot (61 m) deep aquifers.
Owners of the brand state that the inspiration for the Double Cross name came from the double cross symbol found in the Slovak flag and coat of arms and that the rectangular bottle is decorated with script which is lines of Slovak poetry.
Both the vodka and the unique bottle design have earned a variety of awards and attention in the consumer and business press.
In 2008, Double Cross won a gold medal for taste and a gold medal for package design at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Wine Enthusiast gave Double Cross a rare 95-point "Highly Recommended" review and also included Double Cross in it selection of "Top 50 Spirits from 2009 F. Paul Pacult, in his industry publication Spirit Journal, gave Double Cross a 4-star/”Highly Recommended” review.while Anthony Dias Blue gave Double Cross an “Outstanding” review in the Tasting Panel Magazine.
Playboy magazine said "rare that we single out a vodka for praise, but we'll make an exception for Double Cross
Eristoff Vodka originates from Georgia and was first created for Prince Eristoff in 1806.
Made from 100% grain spirit, Eristoff vodka is triple distilled and then charcoal filtered, a technique first established in 18th century Russia.
The Eristoff logo - a wolf howling at a crescent moon - represents the Persian name for Georgia, Virshan, meaning “land of the wolf”. Today, Georgia is still home to the grey wolf, which for hundreds of years has been a part of Georgian culture and folklore.
Eristoff’s bell-shaped bottle is embossed with the imperial crown and around the base of the bottle the words “Original Recipe of Prince Eristoff of 1806” are written in Russian Cyrillic text.
History:
The original Georgian version of the Russian name Eristoff or Eristov was Eristavi. The title means ‘head of the nation’ but translates more accurately as ‘head of a military force’. By the 19th century, five noble families each representing a different part of Georgia were using the name Eristhavi. Prince Ivane Eristoff who first created Eristoff vodka in 1806 was from the northwest province of Racha.
A landmark in the history of the Eristoff family and Eristoff vodka came in the late 19th century when Ivane’s great grandson, Prince Alexander Constantine Eristoff moved from Georgia to Saint Petersburg. Prince Alexander went on to enjoy a distinguished military career eventually reaching the rank of Colonel in the Imperial Guard.
The last members of the Eristoff family were Prince Nicolai Alexandrovich Eristoff, whose name appears on every bottle of Eristoff vodka, who died in 1970, and his sister, Olga, who died in 1991. Neither had children.
Eristoff vodka is now owned by the Bacardi Group.
Flavours:
Eristoff is also available in four flavours.
Eristoff Red: sloe berry flavour
Eristoff Black: wild berry flavour
Eristoff Limskaya: lime flavour
Eristoff Gold: caramel flavour
FRÏS (pronounced "FREEZE") is a Danish vodka brand owned by The Absolut Company (V&S Vin och Sprit AB), part of Pernod Ricard group.
The name “Frïs” originates from the Danish words meaning "frost" and "ice" and refers both to Scandinavia and to its patented process of distillation, the “Freeze distillation”. This process consists in lowering radically the temperatures during distillation to capture and freeze impurities. By doing so, unwanted fusel oils can be removed. This is an industrial process that cannot be reproduced by individuals: it is a process different from “Fractional freezing”, which contrary to Freeze distillation results in concentration of the fusel oils.
In complement to Freeze distillation, FRÏS vodka is 6 times distilled.
FRÏS Vodka is 40% alcohol per volume (80 proof).
Three flavored versions exist: FRÏS Grape, FRÏS Cherry and FRÏS Blueberry (35% alcohol per volume, 70 proof)
History:
FRÏS vodka was launched in the US in 1989 by Danish Distillers and is distilled in Aalborg, Denmark, at the country’s oldest distillery – renowned for its aquavit tradition[3]. The distillery is the official purveyor of the Royal Danish Crown for Aquavit and Vodka, and is identified as part of the cultural heritage of Denmark[4].
Danish Distillers was sold in 1999 to V&S Group, which was then acquired by Pernod Ricard Group in 2008.
FRÏS vodka represents the tradition of Scandinavian vodka making and quality product: it is made of whole wheat grain from Denmark. FRÏS Vodka’s taste was awarded a Gold Medal at the San Francisco Spirits Competition in 2000, 2001 and 2003
Hangar One Vodka is a vodka made by St. George Spirits in Alameda, California since 2001. The vodka is made from a blend of pot-distilled viognier grapes and column-distilled American wheat.
St. George Spirits was founded as an eau de vie distillery in 1982 by Jorg Rupf. Needing great amounts of space for the operation, the company was set up in a hangar at the old Alameda Naval Air Station. The distillery first began producing vodka in 2001 with the aid of Ansley Coale from Germain-Robin. They also produce Agua Azul, Agua Libre, Aqua Perfecta Eau de Vie, Aqua Perfecta Fruit Liqueurs, Firelit Coffee Liqueur, St. George Absinthe Verte, St. George Single Malt Whiskey, and Qi Tea Liqueurs. The distillery is open to the public for tours and tastings, and is a popular San Francisco event location.
FlavorsRegular flavors:
Straight Vodka
Kaffir Lime Vodka
Mandarin Blossom Vodka
Citron “Buddha’s Hand” Vodka
Fraser River Raspberry Vodka (seasonal)
Spiced Pear Vodka (seasonal)
In 1917, the alcohol industry in Sweden was monopolized by the Swedish government. Vodka was then sold nationwide under the name "Absolut Rent Brännvin". The name changed with intervals, Renat Brännvin or Absolut Rent Brännvin. In 1979, the old name Absolut was picked up when the upper-price range Absolut Vodka was introduced. Renat is still a euphemism for spirits in Sweden, and the name of another vodka product by Vin & Sprit.
