Estonian Imported Vodka Company Has Reason to Remember World Trade Center

It was more than 25 years ago that Joel Goldberg and Frank Ragusas dream to own their own importing business began while working at Ragusas family retail liquor store located in the World Trade Centers shopping plaza. Today, both men are partners in the Stön Spirit Co., having successfully introduced their flagship product, authentic Estonian vodka called Stön, to the New York metro area during 2002. Ironically, their dream became a reality last September, just days before those same towers were brought to the ground on September 11, 2001. The events of September 11th now overshadow the earliest days of Stön Vodka, but the significance of the World Trade Center their lives and those who encouraged them to chase their dream will never be forgotten.

STÖN Vodka
1121 Estate Drive
Ossining, NY 10562
URL: http://www.STONvodka.com

For Immediate Release

Contact: Stephen Gilberg -- STÖN Spirits Co.
Tel. 914.238.2111
Email: pr@stonvodka.com

Estonian Imported Vodka Has Reason to Remember World Trade Center

It was more than 25 years ago that Joel Goldberg and Frank Ragusas dream to own their own importing business began while working at Ragusas family retail liquor store located in the World Trade Centers shopping plaza. Today, both men are partners in the Stön Spirit Co., having successfully introduced their flagship product, authentic Estonian vodka called Stön, to the New York metro area during 2002.

The two met while working in 1975 at Twin Towers Wines & Spirits, a store owned by Franks father Lou. Goldberg was not a new comer to the beverage retail business, as his father had also owned a store in New York City for more than 30 years. What these two youngsters discovered while working at the store was that one day they wanted to create their own business utilizing the knowledge and experience they learned from thousands of business-people and tourists that traveled through the store on any given week. Ironically, their dream became a reality last September, just days before those same towers were brought to the ground on September 11, 2001.

During the years Joel and I worked together at my fathers store, we were able to talk to and learn from some great business-people and interact with tourists from all corners of the world," says Ragusa. We often sought out our customers ideas and benefited from their guidance and advice. The start of our dream began when a regular customer explained to us that whatever we set out to do in life, we should own for ourselves. To us this meant selling beverage alcohol, and as our customer recommended, owning the brand and selling it to everyone else," explains Ragusa.

We thought Franks father would have the store forever and wed be able to sell our line through him," explains Goldberg of the store that was sold in 1988. We received final confirmation on September 8th that we could begin importing Stön Vodka into the United States and distributing it in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Florida. The events of September 11th now overshadow the earliest days of Stön Vodka, but the significance of the World Trade Center in our lives and those who encouraged us to chase our dream will never be forgotten. We have participated in a variety of benefit events and continue to donate to organizations and funds to support those families and friends closely effected."

Stön comes from the geographic cradle where vodka was born - the crossroads of Finland, Russia, Poland and Estonia - a new vodka of remarkable purity, smoothness and character. Stön Vodka is the only major authentic vodka imported to the United States from the little known land of Estonia - a country of vast story tale forests, and pristine lakes fed by ancient glaciers and a newfound freedom.

Estonia's great vodka making tradition began before Peter the Great, in the 14th century. Ever since then, Estonians have been saying, "Terviseks!" (cheers!) and enjoying some of the finest vodka in the world. In fact, during the time of the Czars when Estonia was under Russian rule, the country exported so much vodka that more than 10% consumed in the entire Empire came from the famed Estonian distilleries.

Stön's creators, Joel Goldberg and Frank Ragusa, first discovered Estonian vodka on a Baltic cruise, which docked in an Estonian port. "We wanted to know what the locals were drinking," says Goldberg. "Everyone seemed to be enjoying the same beverage: a clear, strong vodka that had a smooth taste and was amazingly free of impurities. We found out that it was a vodka from the oldest distillery in the country, Remedia, now the distillery producing Stön Vodka."

Stön debuted in four US markets: New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Florida and is imported by the Opici Import Company. With its distinctive taste, impeccable pedigree and designer bottle, the demand for other markets is quickly catching on.