SAN FRANCISCO, CA (April 21, 2008) — Consider the martini. When Ian Fleming wanted the world to know that James Bond was a man of remarkable style, he made him a martini drinker – and a persnickety one, at that. While the origins of the cocktail are murky, one story holds that the first man to try the drink was mega-rich John D. Rockefeller at the then-posh Knickerbocker Hotel in 1910 New York. In fact, the very shape of its glass – designed to keep the drink cool by keeping one’s hands on the stem – has become a symbol of sophistication and elegance.

No cocktail imparts quite the level of luxury as the finest martini; nor is there quite so much discussion of exactly how the very best ones should be made. To get the expert angle on this inimitable cocktail, the makers of Jean-Marc XO® Vodka, called by connoisseurs the finest vodka ever made, decided to ask 100 bartenders at top clubs and restaurants across the country on what makes a great martini… a great martini.

Here’s what they said:
• The Modern Martini – Ian Fleming changed martini-making forever back in the 60’s when James Bond announced his preference for vodka. Gin was the original martini spirit. Overwhelmingly, the bartenders who responded to the Jean-Marc XO survey said they vast majority of the drinks they make are created with vodka (90%), followed by gin..
• Shaken or Stirred – does it make a difference? Yes, it does, according to the experts: 58% of respondents said shaking is the only way to create the ideal martini. Just 16% prefer their martinis stirred, while 22% believe there’s really no difference. Anthony Dias Blue, writing in The Complete Book of Spirits, notes that shaking is especially favored by those who “relish the vibrant shimmer of tiny ice particles floating on top of the elegant drink.” Experts recommend at-home bartenders “shake for 20 seconds” for best results.
• How dry? When asked to describe how they use the vermouth, 38% reported that they coat the glass and pour out the remainder; 39% said they leave it in the bottom of the glass. How much is enough? As noted, for 38%, it’s “a coating,” for another 20%, it’s “a few drops,” for 11%, it’s “a whisper,” and for 8%, it’s a half-ounce or more. Sixteen percent say they don’t use any vermouth at all. Salon.com may have the most creative suggestion for adding the vermouth: fill a small perfume mister with vermouth and use it to spritz the glass with a fine mist.
• The Classic Martini Glass – was designed not just for elegance, but to keep the hands away from the cocktail and thus keep it colder. Seventy-one percent of the bartenders in the JMXO survey underscore the importance of serving the cocktails icy cold: they always serve the drinks in chilled glasses. Of them, half prefer to use a refrigerator (52%) to keep the glasses cold, while the other half (48%) actually store their glasses on ice.
• Not on the Rocks – 90% of the bartenders report that their customers are purists, preferring their cocktails straight up, while just 6% say they serve most of their martinis on the rocks.
• The Final Flourish – When it comes to the garnish, 76% of the bartenders prefer to use the ubiquitous olive; 11% the lemon twist; 6% a lime twist; 4% a bleu cheese stuffed olive; 1% an orange slice. Purists may cringe, but when asked about the most unusual garnishes they’ve ever encountered a variety came to mind including: cucumber (5%), starfruit (4%), basil (3%), anchovy (3%) carrot (2%), pickle (2%), rosemary (2%), jalapeno-stuffed olives (1%) and a variety of flowers.

For more than a century, the martini has been a cocktailing icon, and on one issue virtually every bartender can agree: the one essential requirement for a perfect cocktail of any kind is the quality of the ingredients used to make it. Describing the brand as “superlative…one of the most remarkable vodkas we’ve ever seen…a must-try that is truly unique,” the Beverage Tasting Institute recently awarded Jean-Marc XO Vodka an unprecedented score of 97 Points, solidifying its reign as the finest, most-exclusive vodka in the world today. T

The Jean-Marc XO taste sensation is distinctive. Its floral bouquet tantalizes the nose. On the palate, it is complex & elegant with warm wheat flavors, a silky texture and an exceptionally long finish.

We humbly suggest it for the most sublime of all martinis – even passing muster with modern-day Mr. Bond’s.

About Jean-Marc XO Vodka
Handcrafted by Master Distiller Jean-Marc Daucourt in the Cognac region of France, award-winning Jean-Marc XO marries cutting edge French spirits and winemaking techniques to create an extraordinary vodka possessing a floral bouquet, complex and elegant wheat flavors, a silky texture and very long finish. To achieve this perfection, Jean-Marc XO is distilled nine times in very small batches in French copper Alambic stills. Jean-Marc XO is the only vodka to ever to receive the Five Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences. Please enjoy responsibly.

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Contact:  pr@skyy.com

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (March 13, 2008)- Jean-Marc XO® is a true connoisseur’s vodka, a handcrafted masterpiece and a rare achievement in the world of luxury beverages. Produced in the Cognac region of France, Jean-Marc XO (JMXO) marries cutting edge French spirits and winemaking techniques with age-old care and craftsmanship to create an extraordinary vodka experience.

Describing the brand as “one of the most remarkable vodkas we’ve ever seen…a must-try that is truly unique,” the Beverage Tasting Institute recently awarded JMXO an unprecedented score of 97 Points, solidifying its reign as the finest, most-exclusive vodka in the world today. The Jean-Marc XO taste sensation is distinctive. Its floral bouquet tantalizes the nose. On the palate, it is complex & elegant with warm wheat flavors, a silky texture and an exceptionally long finish.

To create his masterpiece, Master Distiller Jean-Marc Daucourt spent seven years developing the perfect recipe for JMXO before releasing it to the market in 2004. Inspired to produce a vodka that can be enjoyed without the infamous after-burn, Jean-Marc evaluated both the very best ingredients available and the most innovative distillation processes possible.

After sampling over one hundred varieties of wheat, Daucourt carefully selected a blend of four of the finest wheat grains available in France, Ysengrain, Orvantis, Azteque, and Chargeur, each with its own distinct flavor. To perfectly capture the subtle taste profiles of the grain, he chose to use only pure spring water filtered naturally through Grande Champagne limestone. As the final pièce de résistance, JMXO is distilled a time-consuming nine times through 200 year-old modified Alembic French copper stills, traditionally used for Cognacs.

In order to create as pristine and smooth a spirit as possible, Daucourt decided to borrow an innovative technique from First Growth winemakers in nearby Bordeaux that micro-oxygenates the vodka after distillation.

To finish, the vodka is charcoal-filtered through Limousin oak, using special Daucourt family techniques learned over generations of spirits-making. The painstaking process takes five weeks from start to finish. At its end, each bottle is individually numbered to provide each consumer with his or her one-of-a-kind handcrafted experience.

Recognized for excellence industry-wide, Jean-Marc XO was the first and only vodka awarded the renowned Five Star Diamond Award by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences. To best appreciate the extraordinary qualities of this special spirit, it is recommended to serve Jean-Marc XO shaken in a very dry martini, on the rocks, or neat in a Cognac glass.

For more information, visit www.jmxo.com. Available wherever fine spirits are sold; suggested retail price: $60.

About Skyy Spirits, LLC
Skyy Spirits, LLC is the US-based wholly owned subsidiary of Gruppo Campari and the definitive marketer and distributor of super-premium and luxury spirits brands in North America. Launched in 1992 with the introduction of its flagship brand, SKYY Vodka, Skyy Spirits has grown exponentially, building a portfolio unrivaled in its quality, innovation and style, making it a top choice among distributors, retailers and consumers. Skyy Spirits manages Gruppo Campari’s portfolio in the US of such leading brands as SKYY Vodka, SKYY90, SKYY Flavors, Campari, Cabo Wabo Tequila, Ouzo 12, X-Rated Fusion Liqueur and Jean-Marc XO Vodka. Skyy Spirits is also the exclusive US distributor of Cutty Sark Scotch Whisky, The Glenrothes Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Bowmore Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Auchentoshan Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Glen Garioch Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Flor de Caña Rum, Carolans Irish Cream, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, Irish Mist Liqueur, Midori Melon Liqueur, ZEN Green Tea Liqueur and The Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky.

Skyy Spirits was founded and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Please enjoy Skyy Spirits brands responsibly and in moderation.

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 Contact:  pr@skyy.com