The Intoxicologist Is In

Finlandia Three-Million Splash

Finlandia Three-Million Splash

 4 cl or 1-1/4 oz Finlandia Vodka

 5 Grapes 

1 cl or 1/4 oz Simple Syrup 

Apple Juice 

Lemonade 

Garnish: Cucumber

Muddle grapes into highball glass. Add ice cubes, Finlandia Vodka and syrup. Top with apple juice and lemonade. Garnish with cucumber. Stir lightly. 

Media Release: Finlandia Vodka Breaks Three-Million Annual Case Sales Milestone

Growth led by Central and Eastern Europe; explosion of Finlandia’s flavor portfolio

Jan 12, 2009 7:30 AM CST-LOUISVILLE, Ky.– (BUSINESS WIRE) — Finlandia® Vodka, which is already the 5th most powerful premium vodka brand globally, has broken a major milestone — THREE-MILLION ANNUAL CASE SALES.

“Since Brown-Forman wholly purchased the Finlandia Vodka brand four years ago, we have seen double-digit growth each year,” said Maureen Brekka, managing director for Finlandia Vodka. “It took Finlandia 23 years to reach one-million annual shipments, 12 years to reach two-million and only three years to break three-million. This is an incredible achievement for the Finlandia Vodka brand and its parent company, Brown-Forman.”

With that type of growth, it is no wonder Finlandia Vodka was named the fastest growing global spirit brand by “the Spirit Business,” a London-based trade publication, in its March issue. Finlandia received this recognition because of its more than 19 percent growth in 2007.

The most impressive growth for the Finlandia Vodka brand has come from Central and Eastern Europe.

“Our tremendous growth in Eastern Europe, specifically Poland and Russia, is fuelled by the consumer’s appreciation for the naturally pure ingredients found in Finlandia Vodka,” she said.

In Russia, Finlandia Vodka surpassed the largest vodka importer by selling more than 169,000 annual nine-litre cases as of February 2008, making Finlandia Vodka the #1 imported premium vodka in Russia. (*Russian government import statistics)

“Being the top-selling imported premium vodka in Poland and Russia speaks well for the quality of Finlandia Vodka as Eastern Europeans are well known for their appreciation of fine vodkas,” said Blaine Rowlette, director of Finlandia Europe/Africa.

Another contributing factor to Finlandia’s growth is the success of its flavored vodkas.

“We experienced more than 30 percent growth in our flavors last fiscal year,” said Brekka. “Our flavor growth has been consistently strong over the past few years and at the same time our Classic Finlandia Vodka has continued to show dynamic growth.”

Finlandia Vodka was one of the first premium vodkas to introduce flavors from nature in 1994 with the launch of Cranberry Fusion. Since then, Finlandia has introduced more fresh tasting flavors to the portfolio: Finlandia Lime Fusion (1999), Finlandia Mango Fusion (2004), Finlandia Redberry (2004 — limited distribution in Eastern Europe), Finlandia Wild Berries Fusion (2005) and Finlandia Grapefruit Fusion (2006).

One of the brand’s most successful flavors, all-natural Finlandia Grapefruit Fusion, has taken the vodka world by storm. Since its introduction, Finlandia Grapefruit Fusion won a Double Gold medal in the 2007 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, a five-star rating, the highest recommendation, from Paul Pacult’s Spirits Journal, and scored a 96-100: Highest Recommendation by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. And, in September, Finlandia Grapefruit Fusion won the only “Master” award in the flavored vodka category of the 2008 Vodka Masters Competition, hosted by the Spirit Business magazine.

To celebrate this major milestone, Finlandia’s global ambassador, Pekka Pellinen, has developed the Finlandia Three-Million Splash:

Finlandia Three-Million Splash

 4 cl or 1-1/4 oz Finlandia Vodka

 5 Grapes 

1 cl or 1/4 oz Simple Syrup 

Apple Juice 

Lemonade 

Garnish: Cucumber

Muddle grapes into highball glass. Add ice cubes, Finlandia Vodka and syrup. Top with apple juice and lemonade. Garnish with cucumber. Stir lightly. 

For more information, please contact David Page at 502-774-7701. For imagery, including the drink above, please visit the Finlandia pressroom at www.finlandiapr.com

Brown-Forman Corporation is a producer and marketer of fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel’s, Southern Comfort, Finlandia, Canadian Mist, Fetzer, Korbel, Gentleman Jack, el Jimador, Tequila Herradura, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord, Tuaca, Woodford Reserve, and Bonterra. For more information about Brown-Forman and our brands, please visit our website at www.brown-forman.com

Keep your judgement pure. Drink responsibly.

©2009 Finlandia Vodka Worldwide Ltd., Helsinki, Finland. Finlandia Vodka 40% Alc./Vol.

Brown-Forman Corporation

David Page, 502-774-7701