Svedka's sexually confusing robot "spokeswoman"— famous for ridiculous tag lines like "make your next trophy wife 100% titanium"— is losing her starring role as the vodka company's marketing mascot.

Although Ad Age reports she'll still be seen in the occasional social media campaign and marketing event, that sounds like the beginning of the phase-out process.

Diana Pawlik, Svedka VP of marketing, told Ad Age that even though she "worked very hard for us, and she's played a very key role ... right now the focus is about the character of the flavor and the character of the experience from enjoying and indulging in the new flavors."

The new ads will highlight orange cream pop and strawberry colada flavors with images of colorful humans — no titanium in sight! — in bikinis and sunglasses.

Sigh.

The Svedka robot, named one of Business Insider's 10 sexiest brand icons ever, was first introduced in 2005 by New York agency Amalgamated.

She was created by Stan Winston, the special effects supervisor and makeup artist behind "Terminator,""Jurassic Park," Iron Man," and "Avatar."

In spite a reprimand for violating the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States' restriction on "graphic or gratuitous nudity," degrading women, or "sexually lewd" language, the company was still bought by Constellation Brands for $384 million in 2007 and experienced an uptick of sales following the robot's introduction.

2007 was also the year it pulled an ad with the tagline, "Gay men still prefer Svedka over sex with women."

In spite of inciting complaints, the robot has been the focal point of Svedka's marketing strategy for almost a decade. We'll see if the new campaign lasts.

SEE ALSO: Pepsi's Most Successful Viral Video Ever Is Completely Fake

Please follow Advertising on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »

In the past couple of weeks, the issue of gay rights in Russia has gone global, with a surprisingly effective Buzzfeed listicle, a New York Times editorial, and now Dan Savage of the Stranger taking on the problem.

Savage — the man who ruined Google for Rick Santorum— has been perhaps the most proactive American advocate for Russian gay rights. He is spearheading a movement that calls for a boycott of Russian-owned vodka brands, in particular Stolichnaya and Russian Standard, hoping to hurt Russian businesses with the aim of influencing Russian domestic policy. The boycott is first targeting bars that cater to a homosexual crowd, and the widespread use of the #DumpStoli and #DumpRussianVodka hashtags on Twitter suggests the program is a success so far — the Atlantic Wire reports that bars from Vancouver to London are taking part.

It's a commendable course of action, but there may well be a better plan right under our noses.

At the very least, the boycott has been wildly successful at bringing attention to what was once an under-covered topic. Gay rights in Russia are a problem — Moscow has banned gay pride festivals for 100 years, "gay propaganda"was recently banned by the Russian Duma, and verbal and physical bullying of gay men and women in Russia appears to be shockingly accepted.

But is a boycott of Russian vodka really the best way for foreigners to influence the situation? Two good articles suggested separate reasons why it may not be:

1. Writing for Buzzfeed, Louis Peitzman calls the boycott "misguided and dangerous." Peitzman's argues that boycotting Stoli — a brand that has actually been pretty supportive of LGBT causes— implies a broad anti-Russian stance that is unproductive "slactivism" at best, and downright nationalistic at worst.
2. In Russia! Magazine, Mark Adomanis points out that the idea that Russian businessmen— such as Yuri Scheffler, the owner of the company which controls Stolichnaya — could influence Vladimir Putin or the Duma is a fundamental misunderstanding of the relationship between the oligarchs and the government in Russia. The latter controls the former, not vice versa. "Does anyone remember Mikhail Khodorkovsky?" Adomanis writes, referring to the former Yukos oligarch who has been languishing in jail for ten years. "Have we already forgotten that the Russian government doesn’t take kindly to political activism by the oligarchs?"

Both are persuasive arguments. A boycott of Russian vodka seems unlikely to hit the people who actually control legislative power in Russia. Worse still, it would play into lazy notions of nationalism — an "us-versus-them" dynamic that helps the supporters of Russia's anti-gay laws (of which there are many) portray LGBT causes as a corrupt, foreign influence.

LGBT campaigners in Russia seem to confirm this. Nikolai Alekseev, a gay rights activist who has campaigned for years to hold a Moscow Gay Pride parade, called the boycott a "symbolic gesture doomed to failure."

"To be honest, I don’t see the point in boycotting the Russian vodka,' he told Gay Star News last week. "It will impact anyone except the companies involved a little bit. The effect will die out very fast, it will not last forever."

Is there a better plan? A proposed boycott of the Sochi Winter Olympics of 2014 makes considerably more sense. The Russian government is clearly banking on using the games as a showcase for a sleek, modern Russia — hence the incredible $51 billion price-tag (twice as much as the next most expensive winter games) and Putin's personal interest in the project. Sure, this plan is also nationalistic, but it would seriously hurt Russia's ruling elite.

We also should not forget, however, that there is already a process for punishing Russian officials who hurt human rights — the Magnitsky Act. So far 18 Russian officials are known to be on the U.S. blacklist, facing visa bans and asset freezes. While many are accused of direct involvement in the trial and subsequent death of hedge fund lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, other are involved in different human rights offenses, and there's no reason that anti-gay Russian officials couldn't be added.

Some LGBT groups in Russia have voiced support for some kind of blacklist measure. "Just three or four persons on the visa ban list of the EU, USA, UK and several other countries will dissuade other Russian politicians to follow this path," Alekseev told Gay Star News last week, while Spectrum Human Rights, a group that tracks homophobia in Russia and Eastern Europe, has started a petition to add two anti-gay rights Russian officials added to the Magnitsky list (the petition currently has over 7,500 supporters).

William Browder, a key supporter of the law (and one-time employer of Sergei Magnitsky), told Business Insider, "I can't think of a more appropriate use of this legislation than to sanction Russian officials who are actively going after LGBT rights."

The Magnitsky Act clearly angered the Russian elite — likely prompting what appeared to be a retaliatory ban on adoptions of Russian orphans by U.S. parents, and Russia's very own list of sanctioned U.S. officials. It also made clear that the law wasn't about punishing Russians in general, only a select few who had abused human rights.

Ultimately, if people want to really influence domestic policy in Russia, perhaps it's time to move beyond boycotts and into real international action.

Join the conversation about this story »

Gay bars around the world are boycotting Stoli vodka to protest Russia's anti-gay laws. 

But the boycott unfairly targets a private company that does support gay rights, the CEO of Luxembourg-based SPI Group told Bloomberg Businessweek. 

There are actually two companies that produce the vodka: A state-owned Russian company and SPI group, which sells the liquor in more than 100 countries.

CEO Val Mendeleev explained how his company has supported LGBT rights through the years. Bloomberg reports:

"The gay community 'is one of the active consumers of Stoli," Mendeleev says. To reach this group, Stoli, under SPI, produced a documentary series called 'Be Real: Stories From Queer America' in 2006, for instance. And in search of LGBT ambassadors for the brand, Stoli has been holding a series of events in U.S. cities since July 9 called the Most Original Stoli Guy."

Mendeleev also notes that Stoli's home page and Facebook page display rainbows. 

The boycott started after columnist Dan Savage published this story about why he was boycotting Russian vodka. 

Since then, the movement mobilized on Twitter under the hash tag #dumpstoli.

But the boycott has also garnered criticism and suggestions for better ways to protest.

SEE ALSO: 19 Fast Food Hacks That Will Change The Way You Order

Join the conversation about this story »

If you look at Grey Goose's advertising since its inception in 1997, the message has been less about the product itself than the elegant, sexy people who drink it and the cool, fancy parties at which they imbibe. 

But the brand's latest campaign from Team WPP's Paris and New York offices seeks to change that by focusing on the ingredients and craftsmanship that differentiate a vodka you sip in martini at a swank cocktail party from one you mix with orange juice and guzzle out of a plastic bottle on your way to Delta Kappa Epsilon.

For its "Fly Beyond" campaign, Grey Goose sought to tell the story of how French cellar master François Thibault created a luxury vodka for the American market using distilled wheat from Picardy, France, and spring water from Cognac. But rather than just telling the story in its latest TV ad, Grey Goose brought it directly to New York last week with an immersive installation experience that turned a West Village storefront into a quaint French bakery that offered passersby free coffee and pastries made from the same wheat used in the brand's vodka.

Grey Goose being Grey Goose, of course, the experience was not complete without an extravagant speakeasy party going on behind the bakery's back door. We went to see it for ourselves, and here's what we found:

By day, the Boulangerie Picardie looked like any other West Village cafe.

Friendly baristas gave out free coffee and pastries baked with wheat from the Picardy region of France.

But at night, behind this door...

Pop quiz: what do vodka, tequila, gin, and rum have in common?

A) They are all ingredients in a delicious (read: terrible) cocktail sometimes called "Adios"

B) They are all categories in prestigious tasting events like the San Francisco World Spirits Competition

C) They are all products where price has very little correlation with quality

D) All of the above

If you answered D, you are correct!

The alcohol industry's greatest trick is getting us to pay top-dollar for lousy booze.

We tend to assume the priciest liquor is the best, but it's all hogwash.

Don't believe me? Take a look at this chart:




There's essentially zero correlation between price and quality.

Okay, but what do we mean by "quality?" We compiled ratings and awards from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, and the Beverage Testing Institute. We rated each bottle based on its performance at these competitions. Unlike grocery-store consumers, who tend to believe more expensive liquor tastes better, the experts at these competitions taste each bottle blind. They have no idea what the price of the liquor is, and can give a more unbiased rating as a result.

Granted, a few familiar premium vodkas—like Zyr—clock in about where you'd expect: higher priced ($32), higher quality (98 rating). But this is the exception. There are far more so-so options with high price tags (Belvedere: 80 rating, $34) and hidden gems at dirt-cheap price points (Plantation Vodka: 98 rating, $13). By the way: the popular Grey Goose vodka hasn't ever won a San Francisco World Spirits Competition medal! It's 100% marketing, zero percent taste.

While no liquor category is as scammy is vodka, you'll notice the same trends largely hold true for gin, tequila, and rum:

Gin

Scam-ometer: High

Tequila

Scam-ometer: Medium-High

Rum

Scam-ometer: Medium

But what about whiskey? Whiskey is the one spirit with a modest correlation between price and quality. In other words, it really does pay to spend a bit more on an Irish, Scotch, or America bourbon. Here's the graph, with the blue line indicating the correlation.

So next time you're at your local liquor store, cut back your budget and look for something cheap. Unless, of course, you're buying whiskey.

SEE ALSO: You Should Start Drinking Flavored Gin

Join the conversation about this story »

The Sriracha craze is invading a new realm: alcohol. 

Phillips Distilling Company just announced the launch of UV Sriracha Vodka, the first alcohol inspired by the hot sauce to hit the market. 

The vodka is infused with a blend of red and green chilis, garlic, and vegetables. 

According to Phillips' director of research and development, Jim Aune, "UV Sriracha is not too hot, not too spicy and the ideal vodka to punch up a bloody mary or any savory drink...The hot stays mainly on the front of the tongue. It is buffered by the green pepper so the spice comes through, without offensive heat."

The launch of the new flavor comes just days after a judge ordered the closing of the Irwindale, Calif. factory that manufactures the sauce. Neighbors had complained of strong smells that caused headaches and irritated eyes. 

It's still unclear if the factory's closing will affect the price and availability of the popular hot sauce, but at least sriracha fans can enjoy its taste in vodka form now. 

Join the conversation about this story »

LONDON (Reuters) - A quarter of all Russian men die before they reach their mid-fifties and their passion for alcohol - particularly vodka - is largely to blame, according to research published on Friday.

A study of more than 150,000 people found extraordinarily high premature death rates among male Russians, some of whom reported drinking three or more bottles a week of the potent clear spirit.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, deaths among heavy drinkers were mainly due to alcohol poisoning, accidents, violence and suicide, as well as diseases such as throat and liver cancer, tuberculosis, pneumonia, pancreatitis and liver disease.

"Russian death rates have fluctuated wildly over the past 30 years as alcohol restrictions and social stability varied under presidents Gorbachev, Yeltsin and Putin, and the main thing driving these wild fluctuations..was vodka," said Richard Peto of Britain's Oxford University, who worked on the study.

The researchers, including David Zaridze from the Russian Cancer Research Centre in Moscow, noted that whereas British death rates between age 15 and 54 have been falling steadily since 1980, mainly because so many people there have stopped smoking, Russian death rates in this age range have fluctuated sharply - often approximately in line with alcohol consumption.

Under Mikhail Gorbachev's 1985 alcohol restrictions, alcohol consumption fell by around 25 percent - and so did the death rates, they said. And when communism in Russia collapsed, alcohol consumption went up steeply, as did death rates.

More recently, since Russian alcohol policy reforms were introduced in 2006, consumption of spirits has fallen by about a third and so has the risk of death before age 55, the researchers said - although that risk is "still substantial".

For this study, published in the Lancet medical journal, researchers asked 151,000 people how much vodka they drank, and whether they smoked, then monitored them for up to a decade.

Around 8,000 of them died during that time, and the results showed much higher risks of death in men who smoked and who also drank three or more half-liter bottles of vodka a week than in men who smoked and drank less than one bottle a week.

Zaridze described the relationship between vodka and deaths as a "health crisis" for Russia, but stressed it could also be turned around if people were to drink more moderately.

"The significant decline in Russian mortality rates following the introduction of moderate alcohol controls in 2006 demonstrates the reversibility," he said.

"People who drink spirits in hazardous ways greatly reduce their risk of premature death as soon as they stop."

(Editing by Mark Heinrich)

Join the conversation about this story »

CNBC's anchor Carl Quintanilla is in Sochi covering the Olympic Games. Of course, he's also covering the vodka market.

During one of his segments, he slammed back four vodka shots in 13 seconds and managed not to puke. Impressive. 

Check it out: (Start at the 50 second mark)  

Join the conversation about this story »

EU leaders will hold their first detailed discussion next week of specific steps they can take against Russia if Ukraine's elections are not free and fair, including restrictions ranging from luxury goods imports to an oil and gas ban.

A two-page document setting out three scenarios - low-intensity, medium-intensity and high-intensity sanctions - was circulated to member states last month and will form a basis of discussion at a leaders' summit on May 27.

Under the first, low-intensity scenario, according to details from the document provided to Reuters, theEU would impose restrictions on imports of Russian luxury goods including diamonds, precious metals, furs, vodka and caviar.

In terms of exports, the EU could restrict the sale of fertilizers, chemicals, tires and vessels to Russia, although components for the steel and nuclear industry would be excluded. There would also be restrictions on arms imports and exports.

At the toughest, high-intensity end of the scale, the EU is considering capital-market restrictions, a potential prohibition on new investment in Russia, the strict application of EU regulatory rules on any Russian assets held in EU companies, and ultimately a complete ban on imports of oil and gas fromRussia.

Banning oil and gas would have a powerful impact on the economy. The EU imports around 30 percent of its energy needs from Russia at a total cost of about 130 billion euros in 2013, according to European Commission figures. Several countries are nearly entirely dependent on Russian energy.

The measures under consideration by the EU are what have been dubbed "stage three" sanctions, following asset freezes and travel bans on Russian and Ukrainian individuals - the first step - and restrictions on some companies.

However, while the EU has repeatedly said it is prepared to move to stage three sanctions if Russiadestabilizes eastern Ukraine or interferes with presidential elections on May 25, there is no unanimous backing for such a move.

Some countries with close trade and energy ties with Russia, such as Italy, Greece and Germany, are worried about the potential impact on their economies of stricter sanctions, and others, such as Cyprusand Austria have close financial links.

Unless there is unanimous backing for stricter sanctions, the EU will not be able to move ahead - a hurdle that has been frustrating for the United States, which is keen for Europe to move further in imposing restrictions on Moscow.

At their summit on Tuesday, leaders will discuss a list of sanctions that combines elements from the low-intensity, medium-intensity and high-intensity categories, one diplomat said.

"A basket of concrete measures has already been prepared ... and it takes measures from all three scenarios, including sanctions in the financial, energy and arms sectors," said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Caviar, Arms, and Oil

The middle scenario laid out in the document includes restrictions on trade and investment related to financial services and on the free movement of capital, as well as an import ban on coal, restrictions on maritime and road transport and a pause in investment in the Russian energy sector.

Germany's Deutsche Bank said in a research note that Europe could afford to impose tough sanctions on Russia, arguing that the impact on GDP would not be excessively damaging.

"The Ukraine crisis and further sanctions will not be inconsequential for the profile of the European recovery, but when looking at the distribution of costs, it seems that the West can afford to be tough towards Moscow," it said.

Even if sanctions force Russia's economy to contract by 10 percent, the impact on Germany - its largestEU trading partner - would be minimal, knocking about 0.5 percentage points off 2014 growth, Deutsche Bank said.

Nonetheless, EU member states remain highly concerned about the possible blowback from tough sanctions on Russia, and diplomats have said they do not want to provoke another economic crisis after years of debt turmoil.

That suggests that while sanctions will be a key topic at Tuesday's summit, reaching a unanimous position on further tough measures remains some way off and may never happen if Russia steps back and Sunday's elections in Ukraine are calm.

Join the conversation about this story »

A New York City Republican Party official reportedly tried an unusual excuse for allegedly taking a bribe: He was too drunk to realize what was going on.

According to the New York Post, former Queens GOP Vice Chairman Vincent Tabone's lawyer argued in court Thursday that his client was "so boozed up when he took the cash that he thought he was being paid for legal consulting services."

 "[Tabone] had six or seven vodka tonics without eating," the lawyer told the jury in federal court. "He was hoping to be retained ... as a real estate lawyer or a political consultant."

The lawyer further claimed tapes will show Tabone "could barely talk" when he took the cash.

Tabone is accused of taking part in an unsuccessful scheme aimed at dispensing bribes to get eccentric Democratic State Senator, Malcolm Smith, into the New York City Republican mayoral primary. Smith and other officials are also facing charges.

Join the conversation about this story »

Advertisements for Sobieski Vodka have begun appearing in U.S. cities with this catchy slogan: "Why Edward Snowden wishes he'd sought asylum in Poland."

The former National Security Agency contractor was granted temporary asylum in Russia after leaking secret U.S. government details and is now both a household name and a marketing tool.

The advertisement has been spotted by Twitter followers on many surfaces, like this lawyer who saw a billboard on Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California.

#SunsetStrip billboard: Does #EdwardSnowden have a #RightOfPublicity claim for vodka ad using his name? pic.twitter.com/maXUhiz03e

— Corey Field, Esq. (@copyrightnotice) June 15, 2014

This person saw the ad on a taxi in Miami.

Edward Snowden used on polish vodka ad on Miami taxi #infiltrate2014pic.twitter.com/vjquibb8O0

— Karim Nathoo (@karimnathoo) May 20, 2014

Here it is as a wallscape in Dallas, Texas — this time with a couple extra words.

Edward #Snowden— selling vodka in Dallas. HT @janxmaslightspic.twitter.com/o4QhXysgJN

— A.M.H. (@alimhaider) June 8, 2014

And at a Chicago bus stop. 

Walking the streets of Chicago I was confronted by this tacky @Sobieski_Vodka#Snowden ad. #NoThanksLeeleepic.twitter.com/kdKQyIuxay

— Erik (Poop) Schut (@ErikTLA) May 27, 2014

Finally, on the train.

I guess Edward Snowden liked Vodka. Seen on the train on my way home from school. via /r/funny http://t.co/xJpHQ9g3V3pic.twitter.com/w7P9uIgldp

— levone W (@levoneW1) May 31, 2014

The advertisement is part of a multi-million dollar marketing campaign from Imperial Brands, the American importer and marketer of the Polish vodka brand, reported Food & Beverage Magazine. 

"Sobieski proudly differentiates itself from the general lack of substance — whether in liquid or marketing campaigns — embraced by so many vodkas today," Imperial Brands Vice President of Marketing and Business Development Timo Sutinen told Food & Beverage Magazine. "We offer a superior product at superior value and don't need to generate appeal with contrived gimmicks. Because of that, we have a lot of fun sharing our point of view with the world, and this campaign is a great example."

SEE ALSO: Edward Snowden Will Soon Be A Comic Book Star

Join the conversation about this story »

Whether you're shooting back shots or sipping a cocktail, good vodka goes down smooth.

Our friends at FindTheBest helped us find the 10 best vodkas on the market.

To rank the vodka, they considered expert reviews and awards from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, the 2013 International Wine & Spirit Competition, and the Beverage Tasting Institute.

10. Serebryaniy Zamok ($5)

Russia has a lengthy history with vodka, and the word even means "little water" in Russian. Serebryaniy Zamok is an extremely cheap Russian-made vodka that is clear and crisp, with an alcohol by volume percentage of 40.

9. Sibirskaya Strong ($5)

Another vodka from Russia, Sibirskaya Strong is, as the name implies, slightly stronger with an ABV of 45%. The vodka is made only from natural products, with fine wheat and fresh water used in the distilling process. 

8. Sun Liquor UNXLD ($29)

Sun Liquor UNXLD Vodka is a U.S.-made alcohol manufactured in Seattle. They distill their product five times total, which helps contribute to a very pure vodka.

7. Svedka Colada ($13)

Svedka is a popular choice of alcohol here in the U.S., even though the brand is based in Sweden. Svedka Colada in particular is a winning vodka, with coconut flavoring infused with pineapple and other tropical tastes. 

6. Rain Organics Cucumber Lime ($21)

Sazerac Company in California manufactures this flavorful cucumber lime vodka, with an ABV of 35%. This Rain Organics vodka is made from fermented corn instead of the usual wheat, and it is distilled seven times for ultimate purity.

5. Effen Cucumber ($32)

Effen Cucumber is a Netherlands-based product, with premium wheat from Northern Holland as its foundation. It is a cucumber-flavored vodka and is slightly more expensive than average.

4. Exclusiv ($20)

Originated in Moldova, Exclusiv Vodka is an unflavored product made from distilled wheat. The product is simple and crisp, great either plain or mixed.

3. Froggy B ($20)

Froggy B is French imported vodka that is clear and pure after being distilled six times. Wine Enthusiast Magazine describes it as "Relatively neutral on the palate with a clean, citrusy touch on the finish."

2. Grand Teton ($19)

Grand Teton is the only potato-based vodka on the list so far, and it is distilled 20 times for an extremely clean and smooth product. It is a U.S.-made vodka, with an ABV of 40%.

1. Smugglers' Notch ($27)

With the finest grains and ingredients straight from Idaho, Smugglers' Notch is a clear, neutral vodka with just a hint of underlying flavor. 

SEE ALSO: The 10 Best Bottles Of Scotch On The Market

Follow Us! On Instagram

Join the conversation about this story »

Belvedere, the luxury vodka brand owned by the LVMH Group, is partnering with the next movie in the James Bond franchise, “Spectre.”

Harnessing Bond’s penchant for vodka martinis and his iconic “Shaken, not stirred” line, Belvedere becomes the official vodka of the movie, which is due for cinematic release next November from Sony Pictures Entertainment.

The news will be something of a relief for Bond fans: In previous movies the spy had been seen (implausibly) drinking Heineken and (more plausibly) Smirnoff. Fans tend to forget he also drank Red Stripe in the first movie, Dr. No. The arrival of Belvedere will therefore pull Bond upmarket a bit.

Sitting down with Business Insider at a suitably secretive London location this week (think "spies," that's all we're allowed to say,) Belvedere Vodka president Charles Gibbs told us the partnership marks the brand’s “biggest” marketing push to date, although he declined to divulge financial details. It is hoped the partnership will raise awareness of the brand globally and highlight Belvedere vodka's quality credentials.

To kick off the partnership, Belvedere has created two (very large) 1.75l limited edition bottles, which it will showcase at a launch party at London's Film Museum tonight (December 15.)

The MI6 bottle pays homage to 007's HQ, swapping the signature Belvedere blue ink with the color of green ink used by MI6 officials to sign documents. Belvedere has also replaced the iconic Belvedere Palace that appears on its bottles with an etching of the MI6 building. Only 100 of this bottle will be made, but they won’t be available to buy. Instead Belvedere plans to gift them to “Bond aficionados” and put them up for charity auctions.

Here's the MI6 bottle:

The second, more flashy bottle is called the 007 Silver Saber. The metallic bottle lights up, thanks to an in-built LED system. It will be available on sale next year "in selective distribution."

Here's the 007 Silver Saber:

Next year, the campaign will ramp up with TV, cinema, digital ads, additional special packs and events planned. As the film is still in production, Gibbs could not confirm exactly what role Belvedere will play in Spectre. Gibbs also turned coy when asked whether there was the possibility of partnering with one of the other brands paying for product placement in the film (Aston Martin is the only other brand confirmed to appear so far, although that doesn't seem a likely fit.)

The main appeal of the partnering with the Bond franchise was its global reach beyond its core base of 25 to 40-year-old customers, but Gibbs also hopes the partnership will allow the aspirational Belvedere brand to "break through the clutter" of marketing messages from big-spending alcohol brands by associating with a "moment in popular culture."

The martini story also allows Belevedere to authentically talk up the provenance of its ingredients. The vodka is made from Dankowskie Rye and blended with own water from its own source in Poland, all key messages the brand hopes will hit home with lapsed drinkers as well as those new to the brand. It is hoped that making Belvedere Bond's choice for a vodka martini will also encourage bartenders to push the product to their cocktail lists.

LVMH, which also owns the Moët Hennessy brand, saw a 7% drop year on year in reported revenue in the first 9 months of 2014 to €2.63 billion. At the time of reporting, the company said the trend was reflective of a declining cognac market in China. It did not split out separate figures for Belvedere, but said the brand had "sustained volume growth."

SEE ALSO: Every Time You Sang Along To 'Frozen,' You Capitulated To Disney’s Carefully Orchestrated Marketing Plans

Join the conversation about this story »

Vladimir Putin is putting a cap on the soaring vodka prices now that Russians are switching over to moonshine, reports the state-owned TASS news agency.

It's unclear how the caps will be employed, but they're coming.

Vodka prices have increased in Russia partially due to the current economic crisis. 

The country is struggling with a devalued ruble (which has dropped 45% against the dollar this year) and high inflation, which hit 10.4% on Wednesday.

And now that vodka prices are up because of the struggling economy, people are trying to find new, cheap ways of getting their hands on spirits — aka with moonshine.

But Putin doesn't want Russians starting to drink more and more bootlegged spirits.

"Illegal vodka, all sorts of surrogate spirits of this kind start popping up when the legal products are overpriced," Putin said during a meeting of the State Council and the Council for Culture.

One reason why Putin doesn't want Russians to increase their consumption of bootlegged spirits, in part  because of Russia's large problem with alcohol — especially for men.

"We have to fight [alcoholization] in sane ways,"he said on Tuesday.

25% of Russian men die before their 55th birthday — a problem that is partially attributed to alcohol consumption. The risk of dying before 55 is exacerbated by those "who said they drank three or more half-liter bottles of vodka a week."

By comparison, only 10% of US men die before their 55th birthday, and only 7% of men in the UK do.

However, it's also interesting to note that Putin's announcement about capping vodka prices coincided with the day that survey results showing growth in "protest moods" in Russia.

SEE ALSO: Putin's Extraordinary Path From Soviet Slums To The World's Stage

Join the conversation about this story »

Everyone's heard a thing or two about Putin and the USSR.

But few people have heard anecdotes about real life in Russia and the former Soviet Union.

So Business Insider put together a list of stranger-than-fiction facts about Soviet pop stars, military classes in high schools, a lake that could kill you. 

And that's just the beginning.

In the Soviet Union, high-school students had to learn how to assemble and take apart an AK-47 to graduate.

There was a course in school called "начальная военная подготовка" (beginning military training), in which students had to learn how to assemble and take apart an AK-47 under a time limit.

Students also learned how to shoot a rifle and march, several people who attended high school under the Soviet Union told Business Insider.

This was a graduation requirement.

You can go see Vladimir Lenin's actual body today. For real.

You can go check out Lenin's embalmed body from the hours of 10 a.m to 1 p.m. in the Lenin Mausoleum in the Red Square.

(Except on Mondays and Fridays, sorry.)

His body has been on display for 90 years at this point, since 1924.

Source: Moscow.info

A female Russian politician proposed that "each female citizen of Russia will be able to receive by mail the genetic material of the President" to have a baby.

Chairwoman of Parliamentary Commission on Women's Affairs, Children and Family Yelena Borisovna Mizoulina reportedly said:

"The essence of my proposition is simple. Each female citizen of Russia will be able to receive by mail the genetic material of the President, get pregnant from him and have a baby. These mothers will be receiving special allowances from the government."

Source: Trust (Russian), New York Observer (English)

Back in 1939, Winston Churchill famously remarked that Russia was "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma."

For most people, his words ring true to this day.

Although Russia is the largest country in the world and has the eighth-largest GDP, little is widely known about the nation and its culture.

To help you out with that, we've put together a handy little infographic with 10 of the craziest facts about the Russian language, culture, and politics.

But if that's not nearly enough crazy facts about Russia for you, you can also check out...

SEE ALSO:  30 crazy things you didn't know about Russia

SEE ALSO: 15 unbelievable facts about Russia

Join the conversation about this story »

American whiskey is taking over the world. 

Vodka still has the biggest market share of the three big hard liquors in the US, but growth in whiskey is booming rapidly catching up.

Vodka sales, by volume, were up 1.6% in 2014. Tennessee whiskey and bourbon sales by volume were up 7.4% in the same period, according to the Distilled Spirits Council, the industry's trade association.

And when it comes to exports, all people really want is American whiskey.

Here's a chart from the DSC:

People in the US and abroad are developing a greater taste for whiskey, but the exports also has to do with the weird naming rules that whiskey has. For instance, Champagne can only technically be made in the French region of Champagne, bourbon can only be made in the US. It's the same with Scotch in Scotland and Irish whiskey in Ireland. 

Each of those kinds of whiskeys are made a little bit differently and have a relatively distinctive taste. At least that's what their producers will tell you. So there's less supply of each kind. As people around the world develop a taste for American whiskey, they have to import it from the US.

Vodka and rum, on the other hand, can be made anywhere in the world. They may taste a little bit different, but so far American producers haven't convinced the rest of the world that our spirits other than whiskey are really worth importing. 

Figuring out how to convince people of that is potentially worth billions.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: What Makes Vintage Whiskeys Worth Thousands Of Dollars

One out of three cocktails ordered in the US contain vodka, a spirit that pours in $20 billion annually in sales, according to Victorino Matus, author of "Vodka: How a colorless, odorless, flavorless spirit conquered America."

One of the first vodka-based cocktails, the screwdriver, is made from two ingredients: vodka and orange juice.

In his book, Matus explains how the screwdriver got its name.

Decades ago, American oil workers in the Persian Gulf discreetly added vodka to their orange juice while on the job.

Lacking a spoon, the workers decided to stir the drink with a screwdriver.

SEE ALSO: 5 Classic Cocktails That Everyone Should Know How To Make

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: A lawyer in Florida has come up with an ingenious way for drivers to evade drunken-driving checkpoints

Believe it or not, but the food I ate in Belarus was better than the food I ate in Rome.

I know what you're thinking.

Rome. Italy. Land of pasta, wine and artichokes. How could it possibly have worse food than a post-Soviet republic known for tractors and potatoes?

As it turns out, Rome's reputation as a beautiful tourist go-to is exactly why its food wasn't up to par. And vice versa for Belarus.

Rome's museums were way better than its pastas

Since Rome is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world, it's not surprising that pretty much every eatery there is a tourist trap.

Although the food offered at these restaurants is good, you end up overpaying for what you are actually getting. Tellingly, virtually no Europeans ate at any of these spots; it was mostly American, Chinese and Russian tourists.

As it turns out, in Rome, what we were paying for wasn't the food itself, but rather the fact that we were eating it in Rome. You're not just eating a margarita pizza; you're eating in on the Piazza Navona next to the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi.

(And, if you're a social media addict like I am, you are also paying for the opportunity to Instagram the fact that you ate Italian food in Rome.)

Even a great hole-in-the-wall restaurant — which our Roman friend told us "didn't lower its standards, even once the tourists came"— left something to be desired. The artichokes and home-made pasta was delicious, but the meal certainly wasn't mind-blowing and definitely not worth the price.

Don't judge a country's dumplings by its communist past

Belarus, on the other hand, isn't even close to being a major tourist destination. 

Although the country has significantly improved since the fall of communism in the 90s, it's still far from being a house-hold name. Consequently, when you eat there, you don't pay a premium for "eating in Belarus!"

In fact, it's actually quite the opposite. In order to improve their reputations, restaurants (and hotels and spas, etc.) in Belarus have to be so good, that the few plucky tourists who cross the borders will later go home and tell everyone how great everything was.

While the pizza, pasta, artichoke triumvirate made up pretty much Rome's entire restaurant scene, Belarus' high-end restaurants had far more variety and richer tastes.

Fatty cold cuts; wild white mushrooms; grilled trout, halibut, and sturgeon; sour cherry-filled dumplings; pickled cabbage (similar to kimchi); black caviar; salo; cow tongue wrapped in pig ears (don't knock it til you try it!); Porcini mushroom soup with truffle butter; potato pancakes; the list goes on.

And let's not even get started on the alcohol selection.

Most notably, several places had Samogon (moonshine) in surprisingly delicious flavors such as black current and cherry, and even the at-your-own-risk horseradish option. Equally as important, there was a surprisingly good selection of Bavarian beers on tap at some pubs.

It's exactly because we all know that Rome is a beautiful, wonderful, sophisticated European tourist destination that we are willing to overpay crazy amounts to eat decent food there. After all, you're not paying for the food — you're paying for the experience of eating in Rome.

But if you're looking for a truly insanely delicious meal, Belarus will not disappoint.

(And if you do ever get there, don't forget to try cow tongue wrapped in pig ears. It's unreal.)

SEE ALSO: 30 crazy things you didn't know about Russia

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 7 amazing maps that show how important Canada is

Vodka may not be your liquor of choice for drinking, but what about making an ice pack or treating dandruff?

The European liquor has amazing capabilities such as killing bacteria, drying without an odor, and binding essential oils to water. This means it can help with everything from making insect repellents to soothing a toothache.

So forget cocktails and shots — there's a whole other reason to buy that bargain bottle of vodka.

Here are 37 things you didn't know you could do with vodka:

MEDICINAL 

Cure stinky feet: Soak a washcloth in vodka and rub them on your feet. The vodka is an antiseptic and will destroy any fungus or bacteria, and it will dry odorless.

Make an ice pack: Make a quick and easy ice pack by mixing two cups of water with a half cup of vodka in a Ziploc freezer bag. The vodka will keep the water from completely freezing, creating an easy, bendable ice pack you can inexpensively replace or refill.

Treat dandruff: Rinsing with vodka after shampoo and conditioner can help clear away any product build up and flakes. One blogger recommends mixing one cup of vodka with two teaspoons of rosemary and letting it sit for a few days, then straining. Keep the mixture in the shower.

DIY mouthwash: The Discovery Channel show "MythBusters" confirmed that vodka can be used as a mouthwash. Combine one cup of vodka with nine tablespoons of cinnamon and keep the concoction sealed for two weeks before using.

Soothe an earache: An at-home remedy for an earache or infection is to combine a shot of strong vodka and honey. Heat the mixture to help dissolve the honey and apply a few drops every four hours or so. Keep the concoction warm when applying for some added relief.

WARNING: Do not do this if your earache also has signs of pus or bleeding, or you have a fever, since all of these are signs you'll need antibiotic treatment.

Numb a toothache: Alcohols such as whiskey and vodka can help reduce a toothache. Soak a cotton ball in vodka and then place it on your tooth and hold it inside your mouth. You can also swish vodka around in your mouth to numb the pain if you don't mind the taste.

CLEANING 

Stain remover: Vodka can be used as a stain remover for grass, ink, lipstick, and other oil-based stains. Soak the area in vodka, rubbing with a clean toothbrush to dislodge grime if necessary, before rinsing thoroughly and throwing the item in with the regular wash.

Clean your eyeglasses: Vodka works as a lens cleaner since it won’t leave streaks. Pour a little on a microfiber cloth and rub on glasses to get rid of dust, fingerprints, and grime.

Remove rust from screws: Soaking screws in vodka for a few hours will clear away any rust they’ve accumulated. Wipe away rust after soaking.

Clean kitchen surfaces: Combine one part vodka with two parts water to spray on countertops and tables, shine the kitchen sinks, and clean any other surfaces. For really tough stains, let the mixture sit for 20 minutes before wiping down with a clean rag.

Shine chrome: If your bathroom fixtures have hard water or soap scum stains, polish them up with a clean cloth soaked in vodka — it will cut right through the grime.

Remove tarnish from jewelry: Soak silver jewelry or gemstones in vodka to leave them sparkling. You can also pour vodka on a clean cloth to wipe dirt or tarnish from jewels by hand. Finish by buffing with a clean rag. 

Clean bathroom surfaces: Spray undiluted vodka on the bathtub, tile, and shower walls, and let sit for 20 minutes. Wipe down with a damp rag or sponge, and brush any remaining mildew away with a scrub brush. The smell will evaporate when dry.

Help clean dishes: Add a splash of vodka with your soap while soaking dishes in the sink — it will help cut through the grease and give your glasses a streak-free shine. 

Remove sticky goo residue: If you have a price sticker or sticky tag that you want to get rid of, pour vodka on a rag and rub the adhesive for around a minute. The goo will come right off.

DEODORIZING 

Make your own reed diffuser: Reed diffusers are easy to DIY — all you need is water, a binding agent (like alcohol or rubbing alcohol), and essential oils. The vodka will bind the essentials oils to the water and the original smell of the vodka will completely dissipate.

Remove odor from shoes: Combine water and vodka in a spray bottle and then mist on the inside of your shoes after wearing. The vodka will get rid of odor-causing bacteria and the smell will disappear once they're dry. You can also add an essential oil to the mix for an extra boost of freshness.

DIY room freshener: Since vodka’s odor disappears as it dries, combine high-proof vodka, water, and essential oils in a spray bottle for an easy DIY Febreze.

Deodorize clothes: Using a spray bottle, mist vodka on clothes, concentrating on the interior and exterior of the garment. Hang to dry in a well-ventilated area. The vodka will kill the bacteria and doesn’t leave a scent as it dries. Just make sure to spot test first. 

Clean windows and glass: Combine a cup of vodka, one-third cup of white vinegar and a half a teaspoon of liquid soap. Mix in a bucket with a half gallon of water and stir to combine before pouring into bottles. Spray on windows and glass and then dry with a lint-free cloth or crumpled up newspaper.

BEAUTY

DIY astringent: You can use vodka as an astringent for your face. Dip a cotton ball in vodka and wipe. It will kill bacteria and tighten your pores, but make sure to moisturize afterwards since it can dry out skin significantly.

DIY eye packs: Soak makeup sponges in vodka and water before freezing in plastic wrap. The vodka will prevent the sponges from freezing completely and will make easy DIY-cold-eye packs for under the eye.

Make hair feel cleaner: Add a shot of vodka to your shampoo — the vodka will help remove the hard water minerals from your hair, making it feel lighter and cleaner. Just be sure not to overuse since it can strip your hair of natural oils if used too often.

DIY hairspray: Instead of buying hairsprays with tons of chemicals, make your own with vodka. Boil 1.5 cups of water, two tablespoons of white sugar, one tablespoon of vodka, and 10 to 15 drops of an essential oil together. Once cool, pour into a spray bottle and use.

FOOD

Vodka-infused gummy bears: For a grown-up twist on a classic candy, you can soak gummy bears in vodka for a few days and let the alcohol dry. The bears will look normal, but taste like alcoholic versions of their formerly sweet selves.

Make candy-infused vodka:Skittles, Jolly Ranchers, and Starbursts can all be transformed into candy-infused vodka in a few simple steps. Sort the candy by type, soak in the vodka, filter with a coffee filter (multiple times if necessary), and bottle.

Make booze-soaked fruit:Strawberries, pineapple, and watermelon all make delicious “drunken fruit” recipes. These are great for topping a dessert or snacking on responsibility. 

Make gin: Many gin distillers start the process with a flavorless grain-alcohol base, which is essentially vodka. That means you can DIY your own gin by soaking cheap vodka with spices and add-ins like juniper, coriander, and more, and then straining with a funnel and cheesecloth. There are also gin-making kits on the market you can buy.

DIY vanilla extract: Vodka makes a good base for a DIY vanilla extract. Split open the vanilla beans lengthwise and place them in a jar submerged in vodka. Infuse them for a month and then strain out the pods and seeds with a coffee filter. 

Penne alla vodka: This delicious pink Italian sauce — made with tomatoes and cream — also uses a cup of vodka (hence its name). The vodka releases the flavors in the tomatoes and will keep the sauce stable, too. See a classic recipe here.

Flaky crust: Adding chilled vodka to pie crust can actually make it flakier and more delicious. Pie lovers will be shocked by the difference a few drops can make.

MISCELLANEOUS

Band-Aid removal: Take a vodka-soaked cotton ball and apply to the sides of the Band-Aid. This will ease the pain of removal as the vodka breaks down the adhesive.

Clean engine parts: Vodka can be effective as a cleaner for car parts that have carbon on them, like spark plugs. Use a cheap, high-proof vodka and rub with a clean rag.

Kill weeds: If you’re out of weed killer or don’t use it on principle for environmental reasons, you can fill a squirt bottle with vodka and apply to the weeds instead. This works best for weeds in sunny areas since the vodka and sun will work together to kill the plant.

Insect repellent: Essential oils mixed with vodka will work well as bug repellents. Add one-eighth of a cup of vodka with one-eighth of a cup of apple cider vinegar, one-eighth of a cup of water, and 80 drops of mixed essential oils like eucalyptus, lemons, peppermint, lemon, cinnamon, or cloves. Shake well and apply often. 

Keep flowers fresher for longer: According to flower experts, you can add a little bit of vodka to your vase to make your cut flowers last longer. Just make sure to dilute it significantly first.

Disinfect razors and keep them sharp: By placing your razor in a cup of vodka, it will disinfect the razor and keep it from rusting. Make sure to rinse before use.

Did we miss your favorite thing to do with vodka? Let us know in the comments!

SEE ALSO: 43 genius things you can do with a sponge

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: These Food Hacks Will Make Your Life Much Easier