Pernod links with second US micro-distillery

Pernod Ricard has moved forward with its Our/Vodka programme by partnering with a second urban micro-distillery in the US, launching Our/Seattle Vodka.

Pernod Ricard has partnered with a local micro-distillery in Seattle to launch Our/Seattle vodka

The Absolut Company, the vodka arm of the French drinks group, announced plans to roll out its Our/Vodka brand across the globe by partnering 11 new micro distilleries last year.

Each distillery will create the Our/Vodka brand using the same recipe, but will adapt flavour and style to “communicate the personality” of each city – making Our/Vodka the “largest locally-produced spirits brand in the world”.

Our/Seattle follows the launch of the Our/Detroit distillery in the US, with other partnerships planned for Los Angeles, New York, Miami and Houston in 2016.

Our/Vodka has also already partnered with a micro-distillery in Berlin and recently announced the location of its collaborating London distillery, which will launch Our/London this summer.

The Seattle site will be run by designer Nin Truong, writer and producer Stephen Pleadwell and local creative director Christa Thomas.

“True to the spirit of Our/Vodka, Seattle has a strong community of creative entrepreneurs,” said Truong. “It’s an amazing city situated in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. It’s a perfect addition to our sibling micro-distillery’s Detroit and Berlin.”

Based in the Ballard neighbourhood, known for its Farmer’s Market, the doors to the combined distillery and tasting room will open to the public this weekend.

At the time the Our/Vodka initiative was first announced, Åsa Caap, founder of Our/Vodka and former innovations director at Pernod Ricard, said: “Finding the right partner in each city is crucial. Since we hand over the responsibility of running the local brand and business to them, it has turned out to be our most critical task.”