Vodka distillation and enjoyment is a new phenomenon in the United States, compared with Russia (12th century) and Poland (15th century). American interest in vodka started to develop after the end of World War II. In 1948, sensing this newfound interest in vodka, we set about making and introducing our first vodka brand — Taaka (talk-ah) vodka.

Great care went into making Taaka vodka: four distillations; charcoal filtration; and unique packaging for its time with a very distinctive big, blue label. Happily, the brand was an instant hit, going on to become one of the largest-selling vodka brands in the United States. Today, we maintain those same high standards of production with four distillations and charcoal filtration that deliver a very smooth and clean product. Taaka is consistently rated among the best-tasting vodkas on the market. We have also remained true to the original "big blue" packaging design.

From our humble beginning as an 1850 coffee house on Royal Street in the French Quarter to our pioneering involvement in the vodka market in the U.S., we have dedicated ourselves to developing a mastery of vodka distillation aimed at bringing a wide array of different vodkas to U.S. consumers.

In 1987, we purchased and added Nikolai and Crown Russe vodkas to our portfolio because of their unique production methods and different recipes, which yield two low-congener vodkas at a great value.

In 1992, we purchased the Buffalo Trace Distillery, which possessed special equipment for vodka distillation and a unique vodka distillation technique along with a special yeast strain. Harnessing our own growing vodka expertise with Buffalo Trace’s equipment and process allowed us to begin experimenting with new vodka tastes. Over the next three years, under the direction of Master Distillers Gary Gayheart and Harlen Wheatley, we worked to perfect organic vodka.

Rain Organics vodka is distilled from white organic corn sourced from a single 1,500-acre farm, Fizzle Flats farm in Yale, Illinois. Farm owners Marvin and Carol Manges take great care to make sure that the white organic corn delivered to the distillery is extremely clean and unbroken and has the precise moisture level for perfect cooking, fermentation and distillation.

The resulting product achieves a delicate balance of smoothness while at the same time retaining flavor characteristics of the original grain, making Rain Organics unique in its class and providing for a very different vodka experience. Rain Organics vodka is a proud winner of multiple gold medals, including "best" super-premium vodka at the World Beverage Championships, beating out rivals Grey Goose, Belvedere, Stolichnaya, Absolut and Three Olives.

Further experimentation led to the introduction of our seven-times-distilled Platinum 7X vodka. Platinum 7X vodka undergoes four column distillations, followed by three additional pot still "polishing" distillations. Organoleptically, Platinum 7X is an exceptionally clean, refreshing vodka.

Not yet content with our progress to date, we are working on a number of new experiments involving different recipes and distillation methods. Over the next several years we are looking forward to launching exciting new vodka experiences for U.S. consumers.

With rising interest and demand for imported and flavored vodkas, we searched the world for like-minded vodka distillers. In Denmark we have found such a distiller. From Danish Distillers, a company with a long and proud tradition of vodka distillation, comes Denaka vodka. Denaka is a finely crafted premium vodka that we use to produce Denaka Raspberry, Grape, Orange, Black Cherry, Vanilla, and Citron vodkas.

Our latest adventure has been the purchase of the A. Smith Bowman Distillery in Virginia. As the oldest operating distillery on the east coast of the United States, Bowman has a long and proud tradition of distilling fine spirits. Formerly owned by descendants of John Adams and Robert E. Lee, the distillery is quietly situated just outside Fredericksburg, Virginia. We are hoping to open the distillery for tours in the near future.

We are especially excited about the unusual "third" still in the still house. This unique shaped still holds exciting promise for "triple" distilled vodkas.

Hopefully, we haven’t bored you with our little story about the quest to become America’s preeminent vodka distiller. We may be 800 years late in getting started on making the world’s best vodka, but we have never let small details like that get in the way of our desire and determination to succeed. Our aim is simply to deliver to our consumers a complete range of exceptional vodkas through experimentation, innovation, quality and attention to detail.