| Grey Goose | |
| Type: | Vodka |
| Manufacturer: | Bacardi |
| Origin: | France |
| Introduced: | 1997 |
| Abv: | 40% |
| Proof: | 80 proof |
| Related: | List of vodkas |
| Variants: | L'Orange, Le Citron, La Poire, Cherry Noir, Le Melon |
Grey Goose is a brand of vodka produced in France. It was created in the 90s by American businessman Sidney Frank, who sold it to the multinational company Bacardi[1] in 2004. The Maître de Chai for Grey Goose is François Thibault, who developed the original recipe for the vodka in Cognac, France.
Grey Goose was created by Sidney Frank Importing Co (SFIC). Sidney Frank, founder/CEO of the company, developed the idea in the summer of 1997. SFIC partnered with cognac producer François Thibault (a French Maître de Chai, or, Cellar Master) in France to transition his skills from cognac to vodka production.
The company selected France due to the country's culinary history and it was to differentiate itself from other vodkas produced in Eastern Europe. The company also developed its distinctive smoked glass bottle, featuring French geese in flight and delivered its product in wooden crates similar to wine.[2] [3]
In 1998, the Beverage Testing Institute reviewed Grey Goose Vodka, which was the highest-scoring brand with a 96.[4] In 2001, Grey Goose released its first flavor, L’Orange, followed by Le Citron in 2002.[5]
The company was eventually sold by Sidney Frank to Bacardi for a reported US$2.2 billion in 2004. That year, Grey Goose was the best-selling premium brand vodka in the United States,[6] selling more than 1.5 million cases that year.[7]
In 2018, Grey Goose partnered with Jamie Foxx for a nine-part online series called Off Script.[8]
The wheat used in the creation of Grey Goose vodka is grown in Picardy, France. It is distilled in the Northeast of Paris, then sent to Cognac, France. Once received, the distillate is blended with a mix of spring and bottled water. Grey Goose uses soft winter wheat,[9] sown in October and harvested in August, which provides it with four additional months of growth in comparison to summer wheat.
Even though Grey Goose distills its vodka from wheat, it is gluten-free.[10] The distillation process removes the gluten from the final product.[11]
During the distilling process, Grey Goose uses enzymes to break down carbohydrates into fermentable sugars. The fermentation takes place continuously over six cascading tanks, producing a 20-proof beer. The wash is then distilled into spirits using a five-step process. The water used in the vodka comes from a natural spring 150 meters (500 feet) below the blending facility in Cognac, which is lined with limestone, providing calcium-rich spring water. That water is then filtered to remove impurities. After the filtration, the vodka is bottled in a plant. Grey Goose vodka is bottled with a replaceable cork rather than a screw-top cap.[12] [13]