Tas: Tas company exports vodka to Russia

AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-2006
Tas: Tas company exports vodka to Russia

By Robyn Grace

HOBART, April 20 AAP - A Tasmanian business has achieved the alcoholic equivalent of
selling ice to the Eskimos, landing a six-year contract to supply vodka to Russia.

The Tamar Distillery at Beauty Point in northern Tasmania will export 50,000 bottles
of vodka a year to the Russian market.

Fine food and beverage company Strait Brands negotiated the contract with distributor
Vozdka 18 months ago, but technical problems delayed production.

The first 500 bottles of Strait Vodka were produced this week, using a converted milk
vat as a blender.

Strait Brands managing director Philip (Philip) Ridyard said today the purity of Tasmania's
water had enticed the Russian clients.

Tamar Distillery sources alcohol from the NSW-based Manildra Group, but the water is
collected from the Permian Springs in northern Tasmania.

"It's very convenient and it's absolutely superb," Mr Ridyard said.

"The attraction (of the vodka) to the Russians is the quality of the water and the
purity of the wheat grain."

Strait Brands presented 25 different water samples to a blind tasting by its Russian
clients in Hobart before choosing the final location.

Mr Ridyard described the end product as "very smooth" but said the hectic pace of preparing
a product for the export market did not allow time for much vodka drinking.

"We haven't had time to soak in what we've achieved really but it's about time we did," he said.

Strait Vodka is a traditional Russian vodka at 40 per cent alcohol and distilled from
fermented grain.

Strait Brands' labels feature a series of Tasmanian scenes by amateur photographers.

The distillery also produces gin and there are plans to introduce fruit liquors to
the range. It may also export water products to Russia.

Mr Ridyard concedes gaining a reputation in Russia's $4 billion-a-year vodka market
may be difficult, but said Strait Vodka would benefit from the success of other Australian
products.

"We can certainly compete on the back of the reputation of Australian beer and wine," he said.

Strait Vodka is already taking off locally.

Thousands of people visited Tamar Distillery for the opening of its cellar door this
week and the business has already had some repeat customers.

Strait Brands aims to produce 200,000 bottles in the first year.

It aims to have 50,000 bottles in stock by the time Australia Week is held in Moscow in June.

AAP rgr/jas/de

KEYWORD: VODKA

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.