elit™ by Stolichnaya® Launches Its Limited Edition Pristine Water Series

NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- elit™ by Stolichnaya® (www.elitbystoli.com), the highest rated white spirit in the world(1), proudly announces the launch of its new limited edition vodka: The Himalayan Edition. This will be the first in the 'elit pristine water series', offering only 300 bottles for global distribution. Through this new venture, Stolichnaya aims to mark another pioneering achievement in the class of ultra-premium spirits.

Stolichnaya has taken great care to handcraft the elit pristine water series, a unique vodka of unprecedented perfection and exclusivity for the most discerning palate.  The quest to find the world's most pristine water sources has led the company to the Langtang National Park in the heart of the Himalayas.

"With the launch of this first-of-its-kind, limited edition series, elit by Stolichnaya continues to raise the bar when it comes to providing superior quality, perfection, and taste," offers Val Mendeleev, CEO of SPI Group.  "As a leader in the spirits industry, this is our way of providing our clients with exciting opportunities to treat their discerning taste buds." 

The water used for the first edition of the series has been sourced from the heart of the Himalayan Mountain Range. There, it is formed from the perpetual melting of snow and journeys through countless layers of rock to an internal reservoir. This water, of unparalleled quality, is then combined with the finest winter wheat harvested from the Tambov region in Russia. Situated alongside the all-natural Kershinskoye water reservoir, this wheat is completely free from impurities. These impeccably fresh ingredients are mechanically filtered to remove imperfections while maintaining the water's natural composition and characteristics. And finally, this rarest of vodkas undergoes a unique freeze-filtration process to ensure no imperfections remain in the final liquid.

After going to incredible lengths to source the purest water, grow the highest-quality grain and distill it into the world's most precious vodka, it could only be housed in a one-of-a-kind handcrafted bottle.

The elit pristine water series bottle is made from the finest, hand-blown, superior-quality Bohemian glass available, which is sealed with the exquisite gold-plated decorative ice pick. Each bottle is housed in an individually numbered hand-made, walnut carved chest. The unique character of the Himalayan Edition comes from the provenance of its water and grain, together with its distinctive distillation process and packaging of unparalleled quality.

As part of the unveiling of the elit pristine water series: The Himalayan Edition, elit by Stolichnaya has partnered with Oceana, the largest international organization working solely to protect the world's oceans. Gaining access to the most impeccably fresh water sources requires a unique partner and to celebrate, elit by Stolichnaya will be contributing towards the great projects that Oceana undertakes on behalf of the world's oceans, coinciding with the release of this first edition.

The elit pristine water series from Stolichnaya is 40% ABV (80 proof), retailing at $3,000.00 per limited-edition bottle. Stolichnaya will be revealing a new water source and the next edition in 2012.

For more information about elit™ by Stolichnaya®, visit www.elitbystoli.com.

Savor elit™ responsibly.

TASTING NOTES:
APPEARANCE: Crystal-clear, slightly viscous.
NOSE: Exceptionally clean and neutral, fresh and engaging with subtle aromas of citrus and fruit blossoms.
TASTE:  Lively and remarkably clean.
FINISH: Long and elegant, velvety smooth finish.

(1) Beverage Tasting Institute 97 Rating, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010.

About William Grant & Sons

William Grant & Sons, Ltd. is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the luxury spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distills some of the world's leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world's most awarded single malt Glenfiddich®, The Balvenie® range of handcrafted single malts and the world's fourth largest blended Scotch Grant's® as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Hendrick's® Gin, Sailor Jerry® Rum, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey and the award-winning Milagro® Tequila.

Among the most recent accolades for the well-awarded company, William Grant & Sons was honored as the "Distiller of the Year" for the fourth time in five years by the prestigious International Spirits Challenge.

Founded in 1964, William Grant & Sons USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of William Grant & Sons, Ltd. and features one of the fastest growing spirits portfolios in the USA with brands including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Hendrick's Gin, Sailor Jerry Rum, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, Milagro Tequila, Stolichnaya Vodka, Grant's, Hudson Whiskey, Clan MacGregor, Reyka Vodka, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Lillet, Licor 43, Art In The Age, The Knot and BOLS cordials. The company has offices in New York City (sales and marketing) and Edison, NJ (bottling and warehouse facilities). For more information on the company and its brands, please visit www.grantusa.com.

About Relevent

Relevent, founded by H. Tony Berger, is a leading experiential marketing agency based in New York and an MDC Partners firm, a Business Transformation Organization that utilizes technology, marketing communications, data analytics and insights and strategic consulting solutions to drive meaningful returns on Marketing and Communications Investments for multinational clients in the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Caribbean.  Relevent acts as a strategic marketing partner to develop 360 degree consumer experience programs that deliver unique, engaging and immersive brand experiences and initiatives.  The company seamlessly infuses brands into the target consumer's lifestyle by tapping into passion points of music, entertainment, sports and pop culture.  Relevent drives consumer awareness and engagement; maximizing the brand's ROI while developing consumers into brand champions and loyalists. www.relevent.net 

About Oceana

Oceana is the largest international advocacy group working solely to protect the world's oceans. Oceana wins policy victories for the oceans using science-based campaigns. Since 2001, we have protected over 1.2 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea turtles, sharks, dolphins and other sea creatures. More than 500,000 supporters have already joined Oceana. Global in scope, Oceana has offices in North, South and Central America and Europe. To learn more, please visit www.oceana.org.

SOURCE elit(TM) by Stolichnaya(R)