DRINK LIKE A RUSSIAN!

Sputnik Vodka Announces New Flavours Basil, Rose Petal and Horseradish

Seeking to build on a fan base that reaches from St. Paul's to St. Petersburg, Genuine Russian Sputnik Vodka launches three versatile new flavours to orbit the chic UK drinks scene. True to the brand's pioneering spirit, Sputnik's new offering is vodkas flavoured naturally with Rose Petal, Basil and Horseradish. The new flavours will make their global debut in London at the International Wine and Spirits Fair in May and later at June's much-anticipated bar.05 Show. Rose Petal, Basil and Horseradish flavoured Sputnik will be available to UK vodka connoisseurs in June.

Russian flavoured vodka has not always been available to the masses, as it was traditionally the privilege of noble families. In mid-18th-century Russia, Empress Catherine the Second, who was biased toward society's elite, granted the land-owning aristocracy the exclusive right to distil spirits. These privately owned distilleries began developing their own flavours that became the trademark of an estate. Almost every landowner in Russia had their own vodka-making technique and favourite family flavour.

Sputnik carries on this tradition with its 'homemade' flavoured spirits that are still worthy of recognition from connoisseurs from around the planet. Sputnik Marketing Director Lenny Musatov wants to teach vodka drinkers in the UK that "there is much more to vodka drinking than simply getting a buzz. Vodka is a huge part of socialisation in Russian culture - think of it as 'tea time' Russki style. Sputnik's Basil, Horseradish and Rose Petal vodkas will complement the sophisticated British palate whilst introducing the richness of Russian traditions to the UK cocktail culture". The inaugural flavours reinvent old favourites, allowing mixologists' creativity to run wild and encouraging the creation of as-yet unheard of cocktails and a trend towards savoury as well as sweet tipples - think Sputnik Spicy Horseradish Caipi'russkas' and Sputnik Rose Petal-politans. The new Sputnik flavours offer bartenders the option of using these naturally infused, unique blends in their drinks to provide flavours that are difficult to source naturally.

The new drinks will be some serious conversation starters, which is in line with a Russian tradition that disallows drinking in groups of less than three in order to prevent dull conversation. You are probably wondering who could get bored when there are such unique flavours to choose from. We asked that too, but apparently some people are just impossible to please. Only 2% of the vodkas sold in the UK are Russian, giving Sputnik the opportunity to responsibility tutor Britons in the Russian Experience of enjoying vodka as a complement to '???????' (pronounced 'zakuska', snacks). This concept is commonplace in Russia, as they know that to keep your wits about you while enjoying vodka with friends it is important to pair the drink with food.

All three flavours will be held to the same rigorous standards as Sputnik's original; the new versions of Sputnik will be triple-distilled to create Sputnik's premium signature flavour and truly Russian essence of 'zhivaya voda' (water of life). Using a closely guarded secret vodka recipe that dates to the 1890s, Sputnik is steeped in tradition. Sputnik's mind altering water of life adheres to the stringent Russian standard of 40% ABV that was established by Dimitri Mendeleev - founder of the Periodic Table and a huge fan of vodka (and horseradish) - who worked tirelessly to stop people from going blind from drinking truly sinister homemade spirits. Created by the Russian Vodka House to commemorate the launch of the world's first satellite into Earth's orbit, Sputnik is an emblem of the coming together of Russia's past and future. Alongside Sputnik's rich heritage is a strong desire to explore and a thirst for innovation illustrated by Sputnik's unique taste that strongly appeals to flavour-forward UK vodka fans.