No.9711   February 20. 2007

Suntory Announces Launch of L’ÈCRIN
—Select Premium French Vodka—

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The premium French vodka L’ÈCRIN, from Suntory Limited, hits the shelves on Tuesday, March 20.

In recent years, more and more Japanese have been reaching for premium brand spirits with an eye toward the discriminating pleasure of the best ingredients and most careful attention to process. Taking its name from the French word for jewelry box, L’ÈCRIN is premium French vodka. Meticulous attention is paid to every stage of production, from the ingredients used and the creation process to the packaging – hand-selected wheat and water from France is distilled for five consecutive rounds and then packaged in an elegant pearl luster bottle.

• Tasting Notes
Only the kernels of the highest-quality wheat harvested from the Paris valley, one of the most fertile grain belts in France, go into L’ÈCRIN vodka. These kernels are distilled for five consecutive rounds in stills specially designed for wheat to create an extremely smooth vodka. Made from a consummate blend of celebrated Charente water from this southwest region of France, L’ÈCRIN has a distinctive vodka taste with a touch of mellow fruitiness.

▼Product Name, Volume, Suggested Retail Price, Alcohol Content

L’ÈCRIN

700ml

4,000 yen

40%

*Prices given here do not prevent retail shops from setting their own shelf prices.

▼Product Category    Liquor

▼Launch Date    Tuesday, March 20, 2007