Valentine Vodka Wins Gold Medal at Esteemed San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Detroit-made Valentine Vodka won a Gold Medal award last week at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Overall, 1215 spirits from 60 countries were submitted.

“We proudly add this to our two consecutive Gold Medals from the BTI and our Double Gold from the 50 Best,” says Owner/Distiller Rifino Valentine. “San Fran is arguably the most respected competition in the world and winning a Gold Medal there reinforces that what we’re doing here in Detroit works! I challenge bars and restaurants to stop carrying inferior brands from half-way around the world and focus on those that are made locally and decorated as among the best of the best!”

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is the first comprehensive, international spirits judging ever held in the United States on an annual basis. Celebrating its 12th year of awarding spirits excellence, the 2012 Competition was held at the distinguished Hotel Nikko in downtown San Francisco on March 23, 24, and 25. Judging is based on a blind, consensual procedure ensuring competitive integrity, making this annual competition the most reputable and recognized competition in the spirits industry. (www.sfspiritscomp.com).

As Detroit’s first micro distilled spirit since Prohibition, the award-winning Valentine Vodka continues to raise the bar for ultra-premium hand-crafted vodka with its clean, crisp and uniquely flavorful taste. As one of the first distilleries in the world to use a triple-grain recipe, Valentine Vodka is hand distilled from a blend of Red Michigan wheat, malted barley and corn, and is proud to use a 100% American supply chain.

After three years of intense research and study, Valentine Vodka reached the market in March, 2009. From Christmas 2009 to the same time 2010, sales for Valentine Vodka quadrupled in sales. In April 2011, production moved to a 5000-square-foot facility in Ferndale and in February 2012 production once again expanded with the addition of a new world-class Christian Carl Still. Valentine Vodka can be found in more than 1200 outlets throughout Michigan, Illinois and Tennessee.

Valentine Vodka is located at 161 Vester Street in Ferndale, Michigan. Online at ValentineVodka.com (facebook.com/valentinevodka | twitter.com/valentinevodka.