Finlandia(R) Vodka Launches a Charity Water Bottle Project

LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In honor of the 40th anniversaries of both Earth Day and Finlandia Vodka, Finlandia is releasing limited edition charity water bottles featuring designs by Klaus Haapaniemi, a world-renowned Finnish graphic artist dubbed as one of the most important rising stars in illustration and design.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100422/CL91169 )

"As a Finnish artist and proud of my heritage, it was a pleasure to partner with Finlandia on this project to benefit so many great environmental charities," said Haapaniemi. "I hope my designs bring color and fantasy to Finlandia and glamorize the nature and the wildlife of Finland."

Each design represents one of Finlandia Vodka's core elements: the Midnight Sun, untouched nature, six-row barley and pure glacial spring water. These one-liter SIGG® water bottles will sell for $28 U.S. and Finlandia will divide all profits among four global environmental projects selected to promote sustainability beyond the brand's distillation footprint. This cause-marketing program is an early step in a new, concerted effort to explore sustainability and the brand's harmony with nature.

From left to right: "The Very Tired Rooster" representing the Midnight Sun, which shines for 73 days straight in the north of Finland; Untouched Nature represented by a Norse mythological character, "Ratatosk", the red squirrel; Six-row barley featuring "The Cranes" walking in the barley field;  Representing Pure Glacial Spring Water, "Thiaridae" freshwater snail.

"The Finlandia brand is honored to offer these unique water bottles with designs from Klaus Haapaniemi, a truly brilliant artist," said Jennie Meador, global associate creative director for Finlandia Vodka. "His designs have brought our brand stories to life. And, with proceeds going to such great charities, this program really respects the nature of the Finnish spirit of sustainable living. As a Finnish brand, we strive to be in harmony with nature and the money raised will help provide for some tremendous projects around the globe."

These limited edition Finlandia water bottles will be available on May 3 for purchase at www.finlandiawaterbottle.com.

About Klaus Haapaniemi

Finnish-born, now London-based, artist Klaus Haapaniemi became interested in illustration after seeing some well-designed Russian animations on TV when he was only eight years old. After graduating from Lahti Design Institute, he lived in Italy where he worked as a key print designer for Diesel and Diesel Stylelab. Klaus' long list of clients include print collections for Clements Rieiro, Cacharel, Marimekko and Levis, plus an ever-expanding range of his own published books, ceramics and wall tapestry collections.

About Finlandia

Finlandia Vodka is a product with a global reputation for its unique Nordic heritage and its crystalline natural spring water, a legacy of the Ice Age. Finlandia's unparalleled quality can be attributed to only the finest natural ingredients: pure glacial spring water and six-row barley, which offers the highest quality starch and the lowest possible content of natural oils, delivering a crisp, clean taste.

Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE: BF-B) is a producer and marketer of fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel's, Southern Comfort, Finlandia Vodka, Canadian Mist, Fetzer, Korbel, Gentleman Jack, el Jimador Tequila, Tequila Herradura, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord, Tuaca, Woodford Reserve, and Bonterra. For more information about Brown-Forman, please visit our website at www.brown-forman.com

Enjoy The World’s Finest Vodka(TM) Responsibly.

Finlandia Vodka Worldwide Ltd., Helsinki, Finland. Finlandia Vodka, 40% Alc./Vol. Imported by Brown-Forman Beverages, Louisville, Kentucky USA

SOURCE Finlandia Vodka, Brown-Forman