Pinnacle vodka

Pinnacle Vodka

Type	Vodka
Manufacturer	Suntory Global Spirits
Country of origin	France
Introduced	2002
Alcohol by volume	35 - 50%
Proof (US)	70 - 100
Variants	List of flavors
Website	Pinnacle Vodka

Pinnacle is a brand of vodka owned by Suntory Global Spirits, a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings of Osaka, Japan. It is distilled in France from French wheat then exported to the United States where it is flavored and bottled by Suntory.

It is currently available in around 30 flavors.^[1][2] The brand was launched by the White Rock Distillery in Lewiston, Maine in 2002.^[3][4] On April 23, 2012 it was announced that Beam Inc. would acquire the Pinnacle brand for $600 million.^[5] In January 2013, Beam announced that it would close the former White Rock distillery plant and shift production to Kentucky.^[6] The Lewiston bottlery and a portion of the White Rock brands were subsequently acquired by Sazerac Company.

Awards and recognition

Pinnacle Vodka was ranked the #1 Premium Spirit Worldwide based on growth 3 years in a row from 2010-2012.^[7]

Pinnacle Vodka Awards:

• 2007, 2008, 2009, & 2010 Charles Schwab Impact Hot Brand Award^[8][9]
• 2007, 2008 & 2010 Beverage Testing Institute Gold Award^[10]
• Adam's Beverage Group 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011 Growth Brand Award^[11]

Pinnacle flavored vodka awards:

• Pinnacle Whipped - Product of the Year New Hampshire Liquor Commission 2010^[12]
• Pinnacle Citrus - 2011 The Fifty Best - Best Flavored Vodka Double Gold Medal^[13]
• Pinnacle Tropical Punch - 2011 The Fifty Best - Best Flavored Vodka Double Gold Medal^[13]
• Pinnacle Le Doublé Espresso - 2011 The Fifty Best- Best Flavored Vodka Double Gold Medal^[13]</ref>
• Pinnacle Kiwi Strawberry - 2011 The Fifty Best- Best Flavored Vodka Gold Medal 9^[13]
• Pinnacle Whipped - 2011 The Fifty Best- Best Flavored Vodka Gold Medal^[13]

Product timeline

• 2002: Pinnacle Vodka package was designed.
• 2003: Pinnacle Classic Vodka is launched.
• 2005: Pinnacle Kiwi Strawberry, Raspberry, Apple, Cherry, Citrus, and Orange flavors were introduced.^[2]
• 2006: Pinnacle Grape and Blueberry were introduced, and the package was updated.^[2]
• 2007: Pinnacle Vanilla, Espresso, and Pinnacle Gin were introduced.^[2]
• 2008: Pinnacle became a priority brand for White Rock Distilleries, and the company began investing heavily with national advertising. Pinnacle Melon, Banana, Mango, Chocolate, Pomegranate, Le Doublé Espresso, Root Beer, and Butterscotch were introduced. Pinnacle was ranked the #7 imported vodka in the US.^[2][14]
• 2009: Pinnacle Cherry Lemonade, Tropical Punch and Pinnacle 100 Proof were introduced^[2]
• 2010: Pinnacle was ranked the #6 imported vodka in the US.^[2][15] Pinnacle Cotton Candy and Whipped were introduced.
• 2011: Pinnacle Vodka Ranks #6 Imported vodka by Impact Magazine.^[2][16] Pinnacle Cherry Whipped, Orange Whipped, Chocolate Whipped, Cake, Gummy®, Coconut, Cookie Dough, Marshmallow, Red Berry, Key Lime Whipped, Pineapple, and Atomic Hots™ were introduced.
• 2012: Brand sold to Beam Inc., 1st broadcast TV commercial introduced.^[17] Pinnacle Blackberry, Cucumber Watermelon, Peach, and Pumpkin Pie were introduced.^[2]
• 2013: Rainbow Sherbet and Strawberry Shortcake flavors introduced. ^[18]
• In November 2013, Pinnacle Vodka and Cinnabon teamed up to introduce their own brand of cinnamon flavored vodka, Cinnabon Vodka.^[19]

Advertising

Pinnacle released a "Paper or Plastic" television ad in 2012. The ad portrays a woman's fantasy of being served Pinnacle Whipped in a whipped world by two men named Papier and Plastic. The ad ends with her snapping out of her daydream by two men, at a grocery store, asking her if she'd like paper or plastic bags for her Pinnacle.^[17] This was not shown in Pennsylvania television markets, due to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board having a monopoly on liquor sales in its state-owned/operated Fine Wine and Good Spirits stores.

See also

References

1. "White Rock Distilleries Extends the Use of PET For Pinnacle Line of Imported French Vodka". Bevnet.com. 2010-07-01. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
2. "White Rock News & Press". White Rock distilleries. 2012-04-16. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
3. "CEO can run White Rock from anywhere". Portland Press Herald. 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
4. "The Bottom Line: White Rock reaches a pinnacle". Portland Press Herald. 2011-03-06. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
5. "Beam to Acquire Pinnacle Vodka". Wall Street Journal. 2012-04-23. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
6. Maker of Jim Beam to Close Former White Rock Facility in Lewiston, Lay off 160 Workers, January 24, 2013.
7. "Shanken's IMPACT Newsletter February 1 & 15, 2012". Shanken News Daily. 2012-01-02. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
8. "Shanken's IMPACT Newsletter March 1 & 15, 2010". Shanken News Daily. 2010-01-03. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
9. "White Rock Distilleries". Food & Drink Magazine. 2010-01-03. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
10. "The Beverage Testing Institute". Tastings.com. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
11. "Adam's Beverage Group". 2010-01-03. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
12. "New Hampshire: Liquor Commission Announces New Product Of The Year & Supplier Service Excellence Award Recipients". National Alcohol Beverage Control Association. 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
13. "The Fifty Best Flavored Vodkas". The Fifty Best. 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
14. "The Beverage Information Group's 2009 Liquor Handbook". The Beverage Information Group. 2009. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
15. "The Beverage Information Group's 2010 Liquor Handbook". The Beverage Information Group. 2010. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
16. "The Changing Face Of The US Imported Vodka Market". Shanken News Daily. 2010-03-05. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
17. "Absolutely Delicious/Pinnacle Vodka, Paper or Plastic". OHLALA Mag. 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
18. "Pinnacle Introduces New Flavors". Joonbug.com. 2013-04-03. Retrieved 2013-11-29.
19. "PINNACLE® VODKA AND CINNABON® JOIN FORCES TO DEVELOP AN INDUSTRY-FIRST VODKA INNOVATION" (Press release). Deerfield, IL. November 21, 2013. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.