US: Russian Standard acquires vodka.com

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 15 December 2006

Russian Standard has snapped up the Internet domain name vodka.com for US$3m.

The vodka company, owned by Russian billionaire Roustam Tariko, bought the name from an undisclosed seller via Web domain brokering company Sedo.com.

The purchase, confirmed yesterday (14 December), is seen as part of Tariko's assault on the US vodka market.

Last month, Russian Standard signed a deal with India's UB Group allowing the companies to distributes each other's products in their respective markets.

The purchase is thought to be one of the dearer domain name acquisitions, although it pales compared to the sale of Sex.com earlier this year, for a rumoured $12m.

Sectors: Spirits

Companies: UB Group