New vodka, more tequila

New Russian Vodka Arrives -- If you see one more vodka added to the bevy of bottles at your favorite liquor store, it might well be a new Russian import called Imperia. It is Russia's leading domestic seller that is going global. Suggested retail price for the 750ml bottle is $35, and will be available at various locations in New York, California, Florida, Texas, South Carolina, Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky and Nevada, with additional geographic distribution planned in the coming weeks, according to Shaw-Ross Importers International. Imperia is a winter wheat-based vodka, filtered four times.

Labor Unrest? -- We're not sure if this means workers at the Wyborowa vodka distillery in Poland are unhappy that beverage giant Pernod Ricard now owns their company after swallowing up Allied Domecq. But, whatever the reason, a group of Wyborowa workers has offered to buy the brand from the company. Chances of that happening are slim, but it could signal consumers to keep a wary eye out for anything that will affect the quality of the vodka.

Where's My Scotch? -- If you see spot shortages in the availablity of Glenmorangie scotch whisky, it's because it has changed its American distributorship. LVMH, which acquired Glenmorangie earlier this year, will begin marketing its flagship single malt brand in the U.S. through its Moët-Hennessy USA subsidiary. Brown-Forman had been handling distribution in the U.S., Canada, Europe and parts of Asia.

High In the Sky -- If you're planning a first-class trip on Virgin Atlantic Airways you can forget about fumbling with those mini-bottles the airline flight attendants sell. Virgin has partnered with the Bombay Sapphire gin people to create what may well be the first on-board cocktail bar. Passengers will be able to choose from a variety of drinks created by a Bombay-uniformed bartender for in-seat delivery or consumption at the bar. If the experiment goes well, the service will be added to other flights.

Tequila Sunrise -- Concern over the health of the blue agave plant in Mexico has been allayed somewhat by industry reports that the amount of tequila produced from the flower is at an all-time high and the crop no longer shows signs of over-harvesting. The blue agave, of the lily family, is grown for eight years and harvested only once, so tequila makers don't get many chances to get it right. In line with that news, consumers may consider, guilt-free, checking out the new portfolio of 1800 Tequila labels. The company, which has the No. 1 selling super-premium tequila, is offering the new 1800 Silver along with successful 1800 Reposado and 1800 Anejo. The 1800 brands come from blue agave grown in the volcanic soil of the Mexican highlands.

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