Finlandia Vodka

Infobox Beverage
name= Finlandia


type= Vodka
abv = 40.0%
proof= 80
manufacturer= Finlandia Vodka Limited
origin= Flagicon|Finland Finland
introduced= 1970
discontinued=
related= List of vodkas

Finlandia is a Finnish vodka produced from six-row barley by the Altia distillery in Ilmajoki. Of all Finnish high-alcohol drinks, it is the brand name that most foreigners associate with the country. Finlandia was launched in Scandinavia in 1970 and in the United States in 1971. Finlandia is now the top imported vodka in Russia and one of the largest in Poland. [http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS146364+31-Mar-2008+BW20080331 Reuters article from Business Wire press releases] It is the sixth-largest premium vodka in the world, according to its producers. [http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS146364+31-Mar-2008+BW20080331 Reuters article from Business Wire]

It has very similar properties as the popular Koskenkorva clear spirit drink, being in fact made with the same raw alcohol ingredient. [cite web | url=http://www.tekniikkatalous.fi/kemia/article24924.ece | title=Koskenkorva kirkastaa ohran (in Finnish) | publisher="Tekniikka & Talous magazine" | accessdate=2008-02-07] However, it has a slightly higher proof, 80, and lacks the small amount of sugar as in Koskenkorva. Even these minor modifications to the recipe result in a markedly dryer taste.

The design of the Finlandia vodka bottle (1970-2000) was among the most famous works of the celebrated Finnish designer and sculptor Tapio Wirkkala. [ [http://virtual.finland.fi/netcomm/news/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=26196 Tapio Wirkkala on virtual.finland.fi] ]

Today the Finlandia vodka brand is wholly owned by Brown-Forman Corporation, an American company that completed its purchases in stages from 2000 to 2004. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2004_Nov_22/ai_n7071206 Business Wire article articulating the stages of purchase.] The contract between Altia and Brown-Forman determines that Altia remains the sole producer of Finlandia until at least 2017.

References

External links

* [http://www.finlandia.com/ Finlandia Vodka website]