NORWALK, Conn., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday, in
honor of National Vodka Day, actor and environmentalist,
Ted Danson, joined SMIRNOFF™ at the
Diageo Facility in Plainfield,
Ill. to meet the more than 600 hardworking employees
who are personally responsible for creating America's favorite
vodka in America's heartland. The Facility is a state-of-the-art
plant that produces many of Diageo's most well-known brands.
Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8188151-smirnoff-made-in-america/
Throughout the day, Danson joined SMIRNOFF for a
behind-the-scenes tour of the Facility where he got to know a
number of employees personally and learn about their role in the
process. While on the tour, Danson learned how SMIRNOFF is
ten-times filtered which requires careful attention to detail in
order to create a quality vodka at an affordable price that is
tasteless, odorless and smooth. The series of steps includes a
sensory analysis test during which a team of certified employees
vet the quality of the vodka to achieve perfection in every batch.
As a result of this careful evaluation, SMIRNOFF No. 21 recently
earned Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits
Competition.
"Many people don't know that SMIRNOFF vodka is made right here
in America," said Danson when discussing his visit to the Diageo
Plainfield Facility. "One of the things I love about SMIRNOFF is
that it never pretends to be something that it isn't. I am grateful
to have had the opportunity to meet with the men and women who have
true passion for making this vodka each day."
Following the Facility tour, Danson and SMIRNOFF co-hosted a
special barbecue and happy hour to celebrate the employees who put
the quality into SMIRNOFF right here in America's heartland. The
Americana-themed celebration featured specialty cocktails including
the "Red, White and BOOM," as well as entertainment and backyard
games.
"The fact that we're with Ted in Plainfield, Ill., the town that has been home
to SMIRNOFF for almost two decades, with the people who make it
possible every day, is truly special," said Jay Sethi, Vice President, SMIRNOFF, while
on-site at the Facility. "These people who come to the Diageo
Plainfield Facility each day and night are the reason why SMIRNOFF
has been the most awarded name in vodka for the past decade.
Today's events are a small token of our gratitude for everything
that they do."
During the tour, seven employees spoke with Danson to educate
him on the critical steps that are taken to produce top-notch
quality vodka and tell him a little about themselves. Brandon Crow, a Warehouse Team Member, shared
with Danson while beaming with pride that he was inspired to join
his father, a Machine Operator, at the Diageo Plainfield Facility,
after seeing firsthand how much he loved his job. Omar Hill, Operations Team Member, has been an
employee at the Diageo Plainfield Facility for more than fifteen
years and demonstrated on the tour to Danson just how well he knows
the ins and outs of facility. When asked what working for SMIRNOFF
means to her, Christina Vargo,
Operations Team Member and Army veteran said, "Working here is a
badge of honor, but the employees make this place what it is. There
is so much rich culture and diversity at the Diageo Plainfield
Facility and we all have an unbreakable bond."
To conclude an eventful day at the Diageo Plainfield Facility,
employees joined Danson for a toast to America's number one vodka,
to the people who make it and to celebrating SMIRNOFF being made in
America. During the gathering, Ted mingled with employees and
Diageo executives while enjoying his favorite vodka cocktail, the
Filthy No. 21 Martini. Ted insisted that everyone drink
responsibly and to savor each sip of cocktail, especially after he
saw firsthand how much work goes into perfecting each batch.
"This Facility is Diageo's premier manufacturing site in
North America," said Mark Laven, Vice President of Supply at the
Plainfield Facility. "Next year will be the 20th
Anniversary of SMIRNOFF coming to Plainfield. We're proud to play a role in a
brand that's been America's number one vodka for the last two
decades."
All of the day's events were captured on video, which can be
viewed on Youtube here, as well as photos which can be
found here.
The day at The Diageo Plainfield Facility followed SMIRNOFF's
announcement earlier this year that the brand would be partnering
with Ted Danson as part of the
SMIRNOFF No. 21 vodka "Only the Best For Everyone" campaign. To
kick-off the campaign, Danson and SMIRNOFF co-curated a comical
series of short videos communicating cleverly how SMIRNOFF vodka is
made in America. These videos are available to view on YouTube here
and are currently airing on national television.
SMIRNOFF No. 21 vodka is available at retailers nationwide in
1.75L, 1L, 750mL, 375mL, 200mL, and 50mL bottles. SMIRNOFF No. 21
has a 40% ABV and a suggested retail price of $14.99 for a 750mL bottle (price varies by size).
SMIRNOFF vodka is made in America for people to enjoy responsibly;
no one likes "that guy" who overindulges.
Filthy No. 21 Martini
Recipe:
- 1.5 oz. SMIRNOFF No. 21 Vodka
- .5 oz. Dry Vermouth
- .5 oz. Filthy blend (olive/pickle brine)
Prep: Add SMIRNOFF No. 21, vermouth, and brine mixture in
mixing glass, fill with ice and stir to chill
thoroughly. Strain into chilled martini glass.
Garnish: 1 filthy olive
Glassware: 6 oz. martini
Ice: None
Red, White, & BOOM!
Recipe:
- 1 oz. SMIRNOFF Red White & Berry Vodka
- .75 oz. SMIRNOFF No. 21 Vodka
- .75 pineapple juice
- .25 oz. fresh lemon juice
- .75 oz. blueberry simple syrup
- Float Peychaud's bitters
Prep: Build in glass, add juices and blueberry syrup,
pack with ice, add SMIRNOFF Red White & Berry and SMIRNOFF No.
21, top with ice and dash with peychaud bitters (Drink will be
layered: red on top (Peychaud bitters), white in middle (clear with
vodka), and blue at the bottom (with juices and blueberry
syrup).
Garnish: 2 blueberries, 1 raspberry
Glassware: Collins
Ice: pebble ice only
About SMIRNOFF
The SMIRNOFF brand that boasts the
world's number-one selling premium spirit and the top-selling
flavored vodka in North America, traces its heritage back to
19th century Russia. As the most awarded vodka brand in the
world in the last 10 years in major international spirits
competitions, SMIRNOFF has always been known for quality and is
enjoyed responsibly in 130 countries around the world. For more
information, log on to www.smirnoff.com.
About Diageo
Diageo is a global leader in beverage
alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands
including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit
and Buchanan's whiskies, SMIRNOFF, Cîroc and Ketel One
vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and
Guinness.
Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and
the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and our products are sold in more
than 180 countries around the world. For more information about
Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us
at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking
resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and
ways to share best practice.
Follow us on Twitter for news and information about Diageo North
America: @Diageo_NA.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Michelle Sibley
Diageo
Michelle.sibley@diageo.com
646-223-2168
Alex Stathis
Taylor
astathis@taylorstrategy.com
212-714-5723
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