The Gold-Medal Winning Product Has Been Featured in Film, Television, and National Publications -- Major Names Include: ABC News, Playboy, Maxim Cigar Aficionado, and Robb Report Among Others
LOS ANGELES, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 05/26/09 -- Marani Brands, Inc. (OTCBB: MRIB) announced today that it has entered into an exclusive import and distribution agreement with Fuente Marketing Ltd., a British Virgin Islands company, to import the unique, award-winning spirit sensation, Cigar-in-the-Bottle (http://www.cigarinthebottle.com) to the United States.
Cigar-in-the-bottle is currently distributed both off-premise and on-premise in various states across the country, as well as in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
The very essence of sophistication and ultra-luxury, Cigar-in-the-Bottle is exactly what its nomenclature suggests: A cigar encapsulated inside a bottle of an award-winning spirit. Using a special, custom-designed humidifier, a world-famous Fuente Forbidden X cigar, even more exclusive than Fuente's Opus X, is encapsulated in the Grand Pommier XS spirit, producing a mystifying illusion that the cigar is suspended in the Calvados spirit. This awe-inspiring illusory experience is trumped only by the reality of the spirit's award-winning flavor.
Grand Pommier XS is a Calvados spirit, an apple brandy, named for the legendary Pere Magloire Calvados Distillery in Normandy, France whose master distillers have been cultivating hundreds of varieties of trees bearing the region's world-renowned apples. Unlike most spirits, which are often distilled with additives, Calvados is made pure using a special double distillation process. The uniquely natural spirit is aged in French oak casks and then blended to create a bouquet of tantalizing aromas.
In 2005 and 2006 Grand Pommier XS Calvados was awarded "Double Gold," the highest and most prestigious medal awarded to a spirit at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the largest and most prestigious competition of its kind. Hundreds of spirits from more than 40 countries participate in the competition each year. In addition to "Double Gold," Grand Pommier XS was named "Best Calvados," beating all other brands, including the 2004 Best Calvados winner. Also, of the nearly 600 spirits, only 12 received "Best of Show" honors including Grand Pommier XS, putting the spirit on the exclusive list with famous spirits such as Hennessy Paradis Extra Cognac, Tanqueray Gin and Grand Marnier.
In addition to extraordinary distinctions in the blind taste tests, the patented Cigar-in-the-Bottle featuring Grand Pommier XS was awarded the Gold Medal in the Packaging Competition, elevating Grand Pommier XS Calvados to Triple Gold status.
Since its introduction, Cigar-in-the-Bottle has become a sensation in the world of ultra-luxury spirit products. Cigar-in-the-Bottle has been covered by numerous top-notch media outlets -- from television news programs like ABC news and CigarTV -- as well as numerous lifestyle and industry magazines including Playboy, Maxim, Cigar Aficionado, Robb Report, Cigar Insider, Player, Cigar Magazine, among others.
"We are pleased to add Cigar-in-the-Bottle to our expanding portfolio of multiple gold medal-award-winning products," said Marani CEO Ara Zartarian. "Our growth strategy has been to consistently identify unique synergistic lifestyle-branded spirits, beer and wine products that can easily fit within our distribution network while simultaneously offering the greatest opportunity to expand that network in a way that benefits the portfolio as a whole. We are confident that our relationship with Cigar-in-the-Bottle will provide substantive rewards for our Marani shareholders."
About Marani Brands, Inc.
Marani Brands, Inc. develops, positions, markets and distributes fine wine and spirit products in the United States as well as international markets. Its signature product, "Marani Vodka," is an ultra-premium vodka manufactured exclusively for Marani in Armenia. It is made from late-harvest Armenian winter wheat, distilled three times, filtered twenty-five times and then, through a proprietary process, is aged in oak barrels lined with honey and skimmed dried milk to give it its unique taste. Marani Vodka was awarded the Gold Medal in the prestigious International Spirit Competition, held in San Francisco, California, in both 2004 and 2007 and the coveted Star Diamond Award by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences in 2008 & 2009. Marani Vodka can be found in over 1,500 off-premise and retail locations and more than 900 premium on-premise venues across the nation. Please enjoy Marani brands responsibly and in moderation.
Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements made in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. This forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions, including, among others, presently known physical data concerning size and character of reservoirs and economic recoverability. Some of these expectations may be based upon assumptions or judgments that prove to be incorrect. In addition, operations involve numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Marani Brands' control, which could result in expectations not be realized or otherwise materially affect the financial condition, results of operation and cash flows. Additional information regarding these and other risks are contained in Marani Brands' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
For more information, press only:
Nina Kevorkian
Director of Communications
(818) 503-5200
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For more information on Marani Brands: http://www.maranispirit.com