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Russian Standard yesterday (26 January) held a vodka lunch to celebrate the company’s heritage at Russian-inspired restaurant and bar Bob Bob Ricard, in Soho, London.
The tasting session, hosted by Russian Standard Global Travel Retail Marketing Director Andrew Notcutt and International Brand Ambassador Tatiana Petrakova, saw guests taste and compare six different vodka brands from Russian Standard’s portfolio: Russian Standard Original, Platinum, Imperia, Green Mark, Parliament and Zubrowka.
The tastings were complemented by traditional Russian-style tapas including caviar, salmon, and Russian dumplings, followed by a fish pie for the main course.
Russian Standard Original – Said to be the most classic style of Russian vodka, it has spicy, herbal notes and mixes well with cocktails.
Russian Standard Platinum – Described as a “sipping vodka”, it features citrus and peppery notes, said to be perfect for Martinis.
Imperia – A feminine vodka with a floral bouquet, said to be good for sipping neat and enjoying with caviar and cold fish starters.
Green Mark – A traditional masculine vodka with full spices and a big body.
Parliament – Made with milk purification, it features citrus notes and a soft finish, said to be one of the purest vodkas.
Zubrowka Bison Grass Flavoured Vodka – An aromatic, flavoured vodka that goes well with orchard fruits such as apple juice.
Founded in 1998, Russian Standard sells three million cases a year (four million of Zubrowka) and is the world’s second biggest vodka producer.
Russian Standard is the fourth premium vodka brand in global travel retail, while in domestic markets it is the number one premium vodka brand in Russia and number two in the UK and Germany. Parliamant is the number three premium vodka brand in Germany.
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Russian Standard Global Travel Retail Marketing Director Andrew Notcutt and International Brand Ambassador Tatiana Petrakova present a selection of the company’s vodka portfolio | |
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A traditional Russian fish pie was served to complement the vodka tastings | |
Petrakova revealed that 45% of the world’s vodka is drunk in Russia, with 3,000 vodka brands available in the country, of which 5% come under the premium category.
Remy-Cointreau is now selling Green Mark, Parliament and Zubrowka in Asia, the Americas and in the Nordics, where the brands are becoming established on ferry lines and in border stores in the region. Zubrowka is already available in Canadian border stores.
Notcutt confirmed that the company is looking to build on existing listings with other key duty free retailers in the Nordics.
The travel retail exclusive Enchanted Forest limited-edition Zubrowka, which was launched at last year’s TFWA World Exhibition, has been an “excellent success” so far in duty free, thanks to the displays and samplings, said Notcutt. He added that consumers love sampling Zubrowka because of its “unique, different aromatic” taste.
Further Zubrowka promotions and samplings will take place next month at World Duty Free Group (WDFG) stores at Manchester and Gatwick airports.
In 2014, 20,000 cases of Zubrowka were sold in airports, with the limited-edition bottle accounting for an incremental third of those sales.
Other brands in Russian Standard’s vodka portfolio include Kauffman, a delicate aroma with ginseng and pear notes, and Russian Standard Gold, a creamy tasting vodka with notes of cinnamon and vanilla.
Russian Standard Gold is sold globally in travel retail and Kauffman is available in travel retail locations across Europe, Israel, Russia and the CIS countries.
Russian Standard will be exhibiting at the IAADFS Duty Free Show of the Americas in March.
