Stoli Group’s Elit ultra-premium vodka has won the Beverage Testing Institute’s (BIT) Best Vodka of the Year title, along with the Platinum Award, both for the tenth time.
Elit was also judged Superlative 97/100 for the tenth time, a score unbeaten by any other vodka. The ratings, according to Stoli Group, place Elit “in a category of its own” and confirm the brand as one of the highest-rated vodkas.
The vodka features a blend of spring and winter wheat, grown in the fertile black soil of the brand’s single estate Kerschinskoye in Russia, and blended with artesian well water in Latvijas Balzams in Riga, Latvia.
Following a quadruple filtration process, the spirit is frozen at -18°C in a process inspired by traditional vodka making techniques.
Stoli Group said Elit’s latest award sets a new benchmark for ultra-premium spirits globally, adding: “With provenance, precision, and cutting-edge technology, Elit pushes the limits of what it means to be vodka”.
Stoli Group Global Travel Retail Director Jean-Philippe Aucher commented: “This is amazing news for Elit and underpins the progress we are seeing for the brand in global travel retail.
“Elit was performing very well for us before COVID-19 hit, and since travel has started to open up again we are seeing a very strong upward curve in sales. Results are particularly strong in the Middle East, the Gulf, India and the USA but we see potential and opportunity for Elit in many markets. Being voted the world’s best vodka can only benefit us in our discussions with retailers and buyers.”
Aucher said a new Elit Rye Limited Edition will launch with Dubai Duty Free in 2022, with further collaborations expected.
NOTE. Stoli Group is a Gold Partner of next week’s Virtual Travel Retail Expo (11-15 October) where it will host two webinars.
Visitor registration remains open for the Virtual Travel Retail Expo run by The Moodie Davitt Report and FILTR.QINGWA, with co-organiser Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development.
Registration is free for all travel retailers, food & beverage concessionaires and airport companies.
