elit by Stolichnaya launched the final Andean Edition of its elit pristine water series at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes last month.
Only 250 bottles of this limited-edition spirit (40%abv/80 proof) are set for global distribution, retailing at €3,000 per numbered bottle. It will be available in travel retail from this month.
The elit pristine water series – first introduced in 2011 with the Himalayan Edition, followed by the New Zealand Edition last year – explores the concept of “˜terroir’, the idea that a place has the power to influence the flavour profile of a spirit.
For each of the elit pristine water series editions, Stolichnaya master craftsmen searched the world for different water sources from which to craft “the ultimate limited-edition vodka”. This year, they trekked to the crystal clear waters of Colico Lake in the La Araucanía Region of Chile, to a natural spring flowing from the foothills of the Andes Mountains. This water was added to elit’s Russian Alpha Spirit to create the final vodka in this rare series.
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elit pristine water series: Andean Edition is made using water sourced from the waters of Colico Lake in the La Araucanía Region of Chile |
“To craft a truly exemplary vodka, one with subtle taste and extraordinary clarity, you must begin with water, the purest of all elements,” said SPI Group Global Commercial Director Rob Cullins. “Our quest for water purity took us around the world to the crystal waters of Colico Lake, where the unique balance of minerals ensured the third and final edition in our elit pristine water series would emphasize our heritage of unrivalled taste and craftsmanship.”
After being sourced from Colico Lake, the water is combined with Russian Alpha Spirit at the Latvijas Balzams distillery in Latvia, where Stolichnaya vodkas have been produced and bottled for more than 65 years. The spirit is made from a single source of grain harvested from SPI Group’s Raduga farming operation in Tambov, Russia, where the fertile land is said to be farmed without fertilisers or pesticides. The blend is then filtered with a freeze-filtration process at -18 degrees Celsius.
This limited-edition vodka comes in a hand-cut crystal bottle by crystal house Glencairn, designed to refract light and enhance the liquid’s clarity. Each bottle is sealed with a silver medallion overlaid with gold and crowned with a ruby depicting the elit by Stolichnaya flame. The bottle is then nestled in sustainable Chilean Black Cherry wood case that is lined with leather.
For trade enquiries, contact Jean-Philippe Aucher, Global Duty Free & Travel Retail Director, Stoli Group; tel: +357 2584 9774 or e-mail: jpaucher@stoli.com.
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L-R: Stoli Group Global Commercial Director Robert Cullins, SPI Group CEO Val Mendeleev and Stoli Group Global Duty Free & Travel Retail Director Jean-Philippe Aucher at the launch of elit pristine water series: Andean Edition during the TFWA World Exhibition last month |
