The Virginia ABC Has Gone to the Dogs

Pearisburg, VA, July 08, 2009 --(PR.com)-- When life gives you lemons, put a twist in your Martini. In 2007, M. K. Zeppa and Kerry Schmelzer noticed the economic slowdown was starting to take a bite out of their niche market giftware business, Zeppa Studios. The couple decided to dust off one of their crazier product ideas, a vodka named in honor of their favorite dog, and pursue its development in earnest. Two years later, the first bottles of Black Lab™ Vodka are now available to Virginians by special order from the local ABC stores. (product # 952378)

How does one go from designing and producing gift items with a decidedly canine theme to being in the spirits business? “You have to think outside the bottle...or maybe that’s inside the bottle,” explains artist/designer M. K. “It has a quirky logic to it. Vodka is the most popular liquor in the world. Labs are the most popular dog in the world. So, Black Lab™ Vodka hits the stores with its own built in fan base, Lab owners, sportsmen, dog people in general.”

M. K., inspired by her first Lab, “Gator”, created the artwork, a Black Lab and duck decoys in the marsh, that graces the Black Lab™ Vodka bottle. It utilizes a favorite vodka bottle concept...seeing the design through the bottle...but instead of the usual clear or frosted look, the design features the orange glow of dawn or dusk. It won’t get lost in the vodka aisle and makes a stunning gift.

After the design was settled on, the trick was to find a vodka worthy of the bottle. “The taste tests were hard, but somebody had to do it.” notes M.K. At last, the team settled on a blend from a domestic distillery who won the Gold Medal from the Beverage Tasting Institute in 2008 and Black Lab™ Vodka was off the drawing board. Now, it’s available exclusively through the Virginia ABC. “After all, Virginia is for Lab Lovers!”

Waterdog Spirits, LLC is the parent company of Black Lab™ Vodka, “the premium vodka distilled and bottled in small litters” and blacklabvodka.com the brand’s informational and interactive website. Waterdog Spirits, LLC would like to encourage everyone to be a responsible Lab lover.

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