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Smirnoff
Smirnoff is a brand of vodka now owned and produced by United Kingdom|British drinks company Diageo. Products under the Smirnoff brand, which began with a vodka distillation|distillery founded in Moscow by Piotr Arsenieyevich Smirnov, are now distributed in 130 countries and includes flavored vodka and malt beverages. In March 2006 Diageo North America claimed Smirnoff vodka to be the best selling distilled spirit brand in the world[Diageo North America :: SMIRNOFF(R) Vodka is the World's #1-Selling Premium Distilled Spirit].
History
Piotr Smirnov first founded his vodka distillery in Moscow in the 1860s, under the trading name of PA Smirnoff. He died in 1910 and was succeeded by Vladimir Smirnov. The company flourished and produced more than 4 million cases of vodka per year.
During the October Revolution, the distillery was confiscated and the family had to flee. Vladimir Smirnov re-established the factory in 1920 in Istanbul. Four years later he moved to Lwów (formerly Poland, now Lviv, Ukraine) and started to sell the vodka under the contemporary French language|French spelling of the name, "Smirnoff". The new product was a success and by the end of 1930 it was exported to most European countries. An additional distillery was founded in Paris in 1925.
In the 1930s Vladimir met Rudolph Kunett, a Russian who had emigrated to America in 1920. The Kunett family had been a supplier of spirits to Smirnoff in Moscow before the Revolution. In 1933 Vladimir sold Kunett the right to begin producing Smirnoff vodka in North America. However, the business in America was not as successful as Kunett had hoped. In 1938 Kunett couldn't afford to pay for the necessary sales licenses, and contacted John Martin, president of Heublein, who agreed to buy the rights to Smirnoff.
Since the 1990s
During the 1990s one of Piotr Smirnov's descendants started producing Smirnov (Смiрнов (Smirnov Trading House)|Смирновъ in Ukraine) vodka in Ukraine, claiming to be "The Only Real Smirnov". After a number of lawsuits Smirnoff successfully claimed back the trademark, whilst in 2006 Diageo tied up a joint venture deal with the Смирновъ company. [http://vls.law.vill.edu/locator/3d/Sept2001/995422.txt]
The Smirnoff company has the naming rights to the Smirnoff Music Centre, a concert amphitheater in Dallas, Texas. They also sponsor the Smirnoff Underbelly, a major venue at the Edinburgh Fringe.
In the late 1990s, Smirnoff introduced a series of new products onto the United Kingdom|UK and later the European and North American market, which quickly became popular among young people, especially within the Nightclub|club scene (See "''Alcopops''").
There are two different products by the name of '''''Smirnoff Ice'''''. One, sold in France and the United States, is a citrus-flavored malt beverage (5.5% Alcohol by volume|ABV) with variants in 'Original,' and 'Triple Black.' The other, sold in Europe (excluding France), Latin America, Australia and Canada, is a premixed vodka drink. It also has variants in 'Original' and 'Black Ice' (or in some markets, 'Triple Black' or 'Double Black'), ranging from 5% to 7% Alcohol by volume|ABV in different markets.
'''''Smirnoff Ice Twisted''''' was a spin-off of the American Smirnoff Ice that featured flavors such as Mandarin Orange and Green Apple. Confusion in branding between Smirnoff Twist Vodka and Smirnoff Twisted Malt Beverage resulted in the decision to drop the "Twisted" from the flavored line of Smirnoff Ice. Current flavors include Watermelon, Wild Grape, Pomegranate Fusion, Arctic Berry (Blueberry), Green Apple Bite and Raspberry Burst.
The next line of Smirnoff's malt beverages to hit shelves was their "Raw Teas" in flavors like Peach and Raspberry. This product line has been marketed most notably with the "Tea Partay" music video and website. It is similar to the brand Twisted Tea.
The newest product from Smirnoff is '''''Smirnoff Source''''', a beer-alternative created with alcohol and spring water released in May 2007. It is citrus flavored and lightly carbonated with 3.5% ABV.
A line of fruit flavored vodkas with the "Twist" moniker appended on the end of the name have also been introduced. Flavors include Green Apple, Orange, Cranberry, Raspberry, Citrus (Lemon), Vanilla, Strawberry, Black Cherry, Watermelon, Lime, and, most recently, Blueberry.
Smirnoff trialed in the UK and Canada during 2004 a new blend of vodka entitled Smirnoff Penka. Marketing and distribution was handled by The Reserve Brands of Diageo plc. Penka continues to be available in the UK [http://www.fluidtrade.co.uk/breakingnews.aspx?NewsType_ID=7.]
Numbering
- 21 - Smirnoff North (previously Norsk) - The Classic Smirnoff Red Label Vodka Cut With Nordic Berries. In some markets, including the UK, it is now known as Smirnoff Nordic Berries.
- 21 - Smirnoff Classic Mix - Smirnoff no 21 Vodka premixed with either lime soda or cola in a 70cl bottle
- 21 - Smirnoff Vodka and Cranberry Juice - Smirnoff no 21 Vodka premixed with Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice in a 250ml can
- 27 - Smirnoff Silver Label Vodka (90.4 pr)
- 55 - Smirnoff Black, small batch vodka - produced in copper stills
- 57 - Smirnoff Blue Label Vodka (100 pr)
- 63 - Smirnoff Twisted V Green Apple
- 64 - Smirnoff Ice Pomegranate Fusion alcopop|Malt Beverage
- 66 - Smirnoff Ice Raspberry Burst (USA)
- 66 - Smirnoff Twisted V Raspberry
- 67 - Smirnoff Twisted V Mandarin Orange
- 68 - Smirnoff Twisted V Black cherry
- 69 - The Classic Smirnoff Red Label Vodka (80 pr)
- 70 - Smirnoff Ice Watermelon alcopop|Malt Beverage
- 71 - Smirnoff Ice - It's named Smirnoff Ice Triple Black in the US where it's a alcopop|Malt Beverage , but in the rest of the world it's vodka based ('spin' in South Africa)
- 72 - Smirnoff Ice Triple Filtered
- 73 - Smirnoff Black Ice - Again like Smirnoff Ice Vodka based in the majority of the world but malt Based in the US ('storm' in South Africa)
- 74 - Smirnoff Ice Triple Filtered
- 75 - Smirnoff Ice Double Black (Australia & New Zealand)
- 76 - Smirnoff Ice (Canada)
- 83 - Smirnoff Ice Wild Grape
- 84 - Smirnoff Twist Artice Berry
- 85 - Smirnoff Twisted Raspberry (Canada)
- 103 - Smirnoff Twisted V Arctic Berry
- 110 - Smirnoff Ice Double Black & Cola
Smirnov
Smirnov (Russian language|Russian '''Смирнов''') can be seen as the Russian version of Piotr Smirnov's Smirnoff vodka. It is made by the '''Smirnov Trading House''', a company owned as part of a joint venture by Russia's A1 / Alfa Group and Diageo, owner of the Smirnoff|Smirnoff Brand.
The full title of the Smirnov Trading House is ''The Trading House of the Heirs of the P.A. Smirnov''.
Smirnov was launched in 1991 by Boris Smirnov, an offspring of the original producer of the spirit, Piotr Smirnov. After many lawsuits with Smirnoff's parent company, which resulted the Diageo brand being banned in the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Russian brand became a sister product to Smirnoff, as well as Johnnie Walker, Captain Morgan and Jose Cuervo in Diageo's portfolio of drinks due to million share-offer for 75% of the Russian firm.
See also
- Sea (Smirnoff advert)
- Vodka war in the European Union
References
External links
- Smirnoff - Official site
- Independent - Smirnov joint venture
- CNN Vodka wars
Category:Vodkas
Category:Diageo brands
Category:Premixed and RTD alcoholic beverages|Smirnoff Ice
Category:Brand name alcohol products
Related Images- A bottle of Smirnoff vodka
- Numbering and additional information such as brewing place and bottling place are available at the bottom of the bottle. Depicted here is the number 63 - ''Smirnoff Twisted V Green Apple''
Sources: StartLearningNow, Wikipedia | Usage license: GNU FDL
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