elit™ by Stolichnaya® Launches Final Edition of its elit™ pristine water series: Andean edition, Concluding Global Quest to Create World's Most Exquisite Vodkas

NEW YORK, Nov. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- elit™ by Stolichnaya^®, the highest rated white spirit in the world*, announced today the arrival of elit™ pristine water series: Andean edition, the third and final limited edition Ultra Luxury Vodka in the exclusive series. The elit pristine water series captures the unrelenting pursuit of liquid perfection, as the vodka maker continues its quest to explore and bring to life the subtle tastes of exemplary vodka, beginning with the most pristine of all ingredients: water.

Not unlike how the terroir influences the taste of wine, the elit pristine water series explores how the water source can have an impact on the salinity and flavor notes of the vodka. For each of the editions, Stolichnaya's master craftsmen scoured the world for the most exquisite 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 meticulously crafted Russian Alpha Spirit to create the final vodka in this rare series.  This new, highly limited edition spirit is the jewel in the crown of a series of unique vodkas of unprecedented perfection and exclusivity.

"To craft a truly exemplary vodka, one with subtle taste and extraordinary clarity, you must begin with water, the purest of all elements," said Lori Tieszen, Chief Marketing Officer - Stoli Group USA. "Our quest lead us 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 elit™ by Stolichnaya®'s heritage of unrivalled taste and craftsmanship."

After being sourced from Colico Lake, the pristine water is combined with the most exceptional 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 land is so fertile that it is farmed without fertilizers or pesticides. The rich and flavorful blend is then filtered with a freeze-out filtration process at -18 degrees Celsius.

This limited edition vodka comes in a hand-cut crystal bottle by Glencairn® Crystal, one of the world's leading crystal houses, designed to refract light and enhance the liquid's clarity. Every exquisite 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 a sustainably sourced, Chilean Black Cherry wood case that is lined with leather and embellished with an indigenous pattern local to Colico Lake.

The elit(TM) pristine water series is 40% ABV (80 proof), retailing for EUR 3,000 per limited edition bottle.  The Andean edition will be available for purchase beginning Fall 2014.  For more information about where to buy and elit™ by Stolichnaya®, visit www.elitbystoli.com. Savor elit™ responsibly.

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

About Stoli Group USA, LLC

Stoli Group USA, LLC is the North American subsidiary of SPI Group, recognized globally for pioneering heritage and the outstanding Stolichnaya^® brand of premium vodkas. New York-based Stoli Group USA reflects significant growth investment in the U.S. market by parent company SPI Group and will drive the brand forward through new marketing, sales and brand innovation. Internationally distributed Stolichnaya® vodkas are bottled in Latvia and are known for award-winning flavor and impeccable clarity. Considered a trailblazer in the vodka industry, Stolichnaya® vodka defines the benchmark for quality with meticulously crafted liquid that meets the highest Alpha Spirit standard. The Stolichnaya® brand portfolio includes Stolichnaya^® Premium Vodka, Ultra Luxury elit^™ by Stolichnaya^®, Stolichnaya^® 100 Proof Premium vodka, the super premium Stolichnaya^® Gold and Stolichnaya^® Flavored Premium vodkas including Ohranj^®, Razberi^®, Vanil^®, Citros^™, Peachik^® and Hot^™. For more information visit www.stoli.com or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/stoli and on Twitter @Stoli.

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SOURCE Stoli Group USA, LLC