McCashins Brewery Buys 26000 Vodka Brand

From: McCashin’s Brewery

McCashins Brewery Buys 26000 Vodka Brand

International award-winning Nelson vodka brand 26000 Vodka has been bought by McCashin's Brewery in Stoke for an undisclosed sum.

Ken Telfar and Warryn Bermingham started 26000 Vodka in 2006, working from an old shed on Mapua wharf in Nelson.

In 2007, they moved to the old Anchor Shipping and Foundry Company building on the Nelson waterfront. They recently sold their shares in the company to other shareholders, who then sold the brand to McCashin's.

An application filed yesterday in the High Court at Auckland to put the company, called Wakefield Quay, formerly 26000 Vodka, into liquidation would have no impact on the product's new direction, Mrs McCashin said.

"We only bought the brand off the old company, not the whole company. The liquidation issue is with the previous owner," she said.

The vodka is made from triple-distilled grain and ancient artesian water, and comes in pure crystalline, natural raspberry and lemondrop and lychee infused varieties.

Mrs McCashin said there have been some issues with the infusions changing colour, but rather than add artificial colouring as suggested, the preference was to educate the consumer that it is a natural product and that natural fruits will fade over time, but the vodka did not lose its flavour.

The product was named for the water used in its making, which was drawn from a Tasman district aquifer that dates back 26,000 years. The age of the water has been verified by Geological and Nuclear Science (GNS).

The crystalline vodka has just won a bronze medal at the 2009 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, backing up from last year, when it won a silver and two bronze medals.

ENDS

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