SKYY VODKA HISTORY
The history of SKYY® reads like the American dream. Founded in 1992 by an engineer with no spirits experience, a tiny SF start-up revolutionized the industry and emerged virtually overnight to create the largest domestic super-premium vodka brand in the United States.
SKYY was developed on a singular vision: to create an exceptionally smooth vodka. Pioneering an innovative, state of the art quadruple-distillation, triple-filtration process, SKYY redefined industry quality standards. Through relentless attention to detail, SKYY had finally produced a vodka with the fewest impurities among leading brands.
Before launching his invention into the marketplace, the engineer wondered what to call the vodka he’d created. Glancing out of his window at a spectacular blue sky in San Francisco, he knew he found the perfect name – SKYY. By adding the extra ‘Y” he had a unique name he could trademark. The brand went on sale in 1992.
At first, SKYY Vodka was offered in clear, utilitarian bottles which were the industry norm. Then, in 1993, SKYY decided to improve its packaging, and again, broke all industry standards by sourcing the now-signature cobalt blue bottle – the vodka category’s first “style” packaging.
SKYY received immediate accolades for taste and quality. Word-of mouth fueled rapid growth, and early press coverage of SKYY told the amazing story of the engineer and his company’s top-quality vodka. The trade began to recognize SKYY as an industry leader: “Hot Brand,” “Brand of the Future,” and the “Blue Chip” awards acknowledged SKYY as one of the most prestigious brands in the business.
Recognizing the company’s enormous promise, an industry-savvy management team was assembled. A partnership soon followed with Italy’s Gruppo Campari extending SKYY’s global reach and facilitating future growth and success.
Skyy Spirits is now wholly owned by Gruppo Campari and is a top ten spirits company in the US with a full portfolio of super-premium and luxury brands including vodka, tequila, rum, whiskies, cordials, liqueurs and distinctive Campari brands. SKYY Vodka now sells over three million cases worldwide and remains one of the fastest-growing brands in the industry.
