russian standard

Do you like your vodka Russian? If Russian provenance is important to you, Russian Standard vodka wants you to know its 100% Russian. The Russian Federation has ruled that to be labeled a Russian vodka, all ingredients must be grown, distilled, and bottled in Russia and Russian Standard Vodka is one of the first vodkas in the U.S. that will carry a special label with a unique number declaring its 100% Russian provenance.

"We are proud to display our Certificate of Origin as a guarantee of Russian Standard Vodka's quality and provenance," said Roustam Tariko, founder and president of Russian Standard Vodka in a press release. "In today's world, consumers value authenticity and production origin highly in their choice of brands. Just as superb French and Italian products are awarded Appellation d'origine controlee and Denominazione di Origine Controllata, or a Cuban cigar holds the coveted Habanos D.O.P., Russia, the homeland of vodka, also must guarantee its national drink. Our Certification of Origin will help vodka lovers distinguish Russian Standard from the many vodka brands that pretend to be Russian, but are not."

Russian Standard Vodka, which bills itself as Russia's #1 luxury vodka, has embarked on a nine-city U.S. tour with a gaggle of gorgeous contestants from the Miss Russia Pageant. In each city, the models are toasting the U.S. and providing fans "an insider look into Russia's most popular cities, cultural heritage and legendary nightlife." The Russian beauties, including Alina Ivanova (above) pictured at the Russian Standard distillery, are currently in Miami making their way to New York for a Nov. 19 finale.

The Miss Russia Pageant is Russia's national beauty pageant which draws contestants from over 70 regions and serves as a springboard to national and international fame for many young women. The annual Miss Russia winner receives a $100,000 cash prize, free use of an apartment for a year, a university stipend and a modeling contract. Russian Standard vodkas are made with only the finest local ingredients, "uniquely conforming to the formula for vodka established in 1894" by famed Russian scientist Dimitri Mendeleev for Russia's Czars.