Russian Standard Company Launches New $60 Million State-of-the Art Vodka Distillery

02/10/06 Russian Standard Company, the number one premium vodka company in Russia, today announced the launch of its new $60 million state-of-the art vodka distillery in St. Petersburg, Russia. At the same time, Russian Standard Vodka announced its plans to launch Russian Standard Original in the U.S., across Europe and in select Asian markets.

A majestic $3 million celebratory event, entitled "Russian Standard Day", took place over the weekend, co-hosted by the Governor of St. Petersburg and Russian Standard Company founder and Chairman Roustam Tariko.

"The construction of this new distillery and our aggressive international expansion are a direct result of the popularity and demand for our products across the globe," said Roustam Tariko, owner and Chairman of Russian Standard Company. "We are now one of the privileged few vodka companies to own our own distillery, allowing us to meet global demand while maintaining superior Russian vodka craftsmanship."

The new Russian Standard distillery posses the most advanced vodka production technologies currently available. The 30,000 square-meter complex, which is located on the Pulkovskoye Shosse in St. Petersburg, features state- of-the-art process design and equipment that modernizes each stage of production and offers full automation from unloading of raw materials to bottling and storage. Advanced green technologies and processes make the distillery one of the most environmentally friendly spirits production facilities in the world.

The facility will handle production of Russian Standard's entire vodka portfolio globally, which is currently exported to 28 countries with immediate expansion plans for Russian Standard Original in the USA, additional European markets and in Asia. The facility will produce up to 4 million cases per year, at a rate of 22,500 bottles in hour, marking a doubling in capacity over the company's previous production.

Tariko continued, "We have brought together 700 hundred years of Russian vodka craftsmanship with best-practices in technology and equipment from around the world. This new distillery will strengthen our leadership in Russia and will allow us to accelerate our aggressive global expansion."

VIPs from around the world, as well as local dignitaries, employees and international media, assembled in St. Petersburg this weekend to celebrate this important milestone in the company's history. Roustam Tariko and Mrs. Valentina Matvienko, Governor of St. Petersburg, presided over the ceremonies. Festivities began on Saturday evening with an Imperial dinner at beautiful Marble Palace followed by a glamorous after-party designed by Dyagilev Production, Russia's top nightclub promoter, at Kadetsky Korpus.

The VIP group gathered mid morning today for the unveiling of the new distillery, led by Tariko. Guests witnessed the official 'turning on' of the facility, and observed the first vodka bottles as they rolled down the production line, then signed by Tariko and the Governor. Later, guests joined over 100,000 citizens of St. Petersburg in Palace Square for a live public concert featuring world renowned music artist Andrea Bocelli, for his first live appearance in Russia, broadcast on Russia channel 5, sponsored by Russian Standard Bank.