Finlandia

Finlandia is a Finnish vodka produced from six-row barley by
the Altia distillery in Ilmajoki. Of all Finnish high-alcohol
drinks, it is the brand name that most foreigners associate
with the country. Finlandia was launched in Scandinavia in
1970 and in the United States in 1971. Finlandia is now the
top imported vodka in Russia and one of the largest in Poland.
It is the sixth-largest premium vodka in the world, according
to its producers.

It has very similar properties as the popular Koskenkorva
clear spirit drink, being in fact made with the same raw
alcohol ingredient.However, it has a slightly higher
proof, 80, and lacks the small amount of sugar as in
Koskenkorva. Even these minor modifications to the recipe
result in a markedly dryer taste.

The design of the Finlandia vodka bottle (1970-2000) was
among the most famous works of the celebrated Finnish
designer and sculptor Tapio Wirkkala.

Today the Finlandia vodka brand is wholly owned by
Brown-Forman Corporation, an American company that completed
its purchases in stages from 2000 to 2004. The contract
between Altia and Brown-Forman determines that Altia remains
the sole producer of Finlandia until at least 2017.