SKYY vodka

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SKYY
Type Vodka
Manufacturer Campari Group
Country of origin United States
Introduced 1992
Proof 80
Related products List of vodkas

SKYY vodka is produced by the Campari America division of Campari Group of Milan, Italy, formerly SKYY Spirits LLC.[1] SKYY Vodka is 40% ABV or 80 proof; SKYY 90 Vodka is a 90 proof high-priced brand aimed at martini drinkers, as well as flavored SKYY being 70 proof. Its creator, Maurice Kanbar, claims the vodka is nearly congener-free due to its distillation process. The bottle is a cobalt blue with a plastic label. In 2008, SKYY expanded the SKYY Vodka line with five new flavors, referred to as SKYY Infusions.

Brand ownership history

SKYY vodka was originally sold by SKYY Spirits LLC, established in 1992 by Maurice Kanbar. In 2009 SKYY Spirits LLC was acquired by Campari Group, and renamed Campari America. It is now the US marketing arm of Campari, and markets not only the vodka line, but other Campari products.[2]

Manufacturing

SKYY Vodka 750ml bottle

Actual production and bottling of the product was outsourced to Frank-Lin Distillers Products in San Jose, California.[3] Bulk ethanol is delivered in railroad tank cars to Frank-Lin's railroad siding near the San Jose rail yards. The ethanol is mixed with filtered and deionized water, flavoring is added, and the product is bottled using a 42-head US Bottlers Machinery Company filling machine to ensure uniform product level.[4]

The ethanol is purchased from MGP Ingredients of Atchison, Kansas,[5] a bulk ethanol producer for beverage, industrial, and fuel applications.[6] MGP uses wheat as a feedstock for the process. The distillation plant is in Pekin, Illinois and is currently powered by natural gas, but United States Environmental Protection Agency approval has been requested to convert the plant to burn coal.[7]

Varieties

SKYY comes in a variety of flavors:[8]

  • SKYY
  • SKYY Cherry
  • SKYY Citrus
  • SKYY Ginger
  • SKYY Grape
  • SKYY Passion Fruit
  • SKYY Pineapple
  • SKYY Raspberry
  • SKYY Vanilla
  • SKYY Blood Orange
  • SKYY Dragon Fruit
  • SKYY Peach
  • Skyy Blue, a ready to drink beverage made with SKYY Vodka. Available in Mexico, Australia and Brazil.[citation needed]
  • SKYY Strawberry
  • SKYY Moscato

Awards

SKYY vodkas have had some success at international spirit ratings competitions. The unflavored SKYY generally has had the best performance, winning silver medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

References

  1. ↑ "Skyy Spirits Changes Name to Campari America". Business Wire. January 12, 2012. 
  2. ↑ "Campari finalises acquisition of Wild Turkey, world’s top premium Kentucky bourbon whiskey". Campari Group. May 29, 2009. 
  3. ↑ Associated Press (May 14, 2005). "Booze bottler mixes ag past with tech present". Billings, MT: Billings Gazette. Archived from the original on September 12, 2009. 
  4. ↑ Mans, Jack (October 2001). "Bottle and case coders identify liquor products". Packaging Digest. Archived from the original on 2006-10-18. 
  5. ↑ Bibo, Terry (July 11, 2008). "Coal-fired boiler raises environmental worries". Peoria, IL: Journal Star. 
  6. ↑ "MGP Ingredients, Inc. - Alcohol Solutions". August 1, 2008. 
  7. ↑ Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (July 14, 2008). "Permit Record - MGP Ingredients of Illinois, Inc.". 
  8. ↑ "Skyy Spirits". Skyy Spirits. Retrieved October 7, 2010. 

Bibliography

  • Secrets from an Inventor's Notebook, Maurice Kanbar, Penguin Books, 2001, ISBN 0-14-200056-6

External links

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