View source for SKYY vodka

{{Short description|Brand of vodka}}
{{redirect|Skyy}}
{{Infobox drink
|name = SKYY
|image = Skyy Vodka - logo (United States, 1992-2021).svg
|image_size = 180px
|type = [[Vodka]]
|manufacturer = [[Campari Group]]
|origin =  [[United States]]
|introduced = 1992
|discontinued =
|proof = 80
|related = [[List of vodkas]]
}}

[[File:Skyy Bottle.png|thumb|SKYY vodka]]

'''SKYY vodka''' is an American vodka spirit produced by the [[Campari America]] division of [[Campari Group]] of [[Milan]], Italy, formerly SKYY Spirits LLC.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Skyy Spirits Changes Name to Campari America |date=January 11, 2012 |publisher=Campari America |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120111006073/en |via=Business Wire |access-date=July 5, 2023 |archive-date=June 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617141612/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120111006073/en |url-status=live }}</ref> SKYY Vodka is 40% [[alcohol by volume|ABV]] or 80 [[alcoholic proof|proof]], except in Australia and New Zealand where it is 37.5% ABV / 75 Proof and in South Africa where it is 43% ABV / 86 Proof. Its creator, [[Maurice Kanbar]], claims the vodka is nearly [[Congener (alcohol)|congener]]-free due to its [[distillation]] process. That is why the popular company slogan is "Vodka so filtered - we even took the Russia out of it".{{fact|date=January 2021}} The bottle is a [[cobalt blue]] with a clear, adhesive label. In 2008, SKYY expanded the SKYY Vodka line with seventeen new flavors, referred to as SKYY Infusions. These SKYY Infusions are made with fruit.

==Brand ownership history==
SKYY vodka was originally sold by SKYY Spirits LLC, established in 1992 by [[Maurice Kanbar]].  In 2009 SKYY Spirits LLC was acquired by [[Campari Group]], and in 2012 was renamed Campari America.<ref>{{Cite news |last=<!--no byline--> |date=January 11, 2012 |title=Skyy Spirits Is Renamed Campari America, Signs 18-State Deal With Southern Wine & Spirits - Shanken News Daily |work=Shanken News Daily |publisher=M. Shanken Communications, Inc. |location=New York City |url=http://www.shankennewsdaily.com/index.php/2012/01/11/2216/skyy-spirits-is-renamed-campari-america-signs-18-state-deal-with-southern-wine-spirits/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120116214133/https://www.shankennewsdaily.com/index.php/2012/01/11/2216/skyy-spirits-is-renamed-campari-america-signs-18-state-deal-with-southern-wine-spirits/ |archive-date=January 16, 2012}}</ref>  It is now a wholly owned subsidiary of [[Gruppo Campari]], and markets not only the [[vodka]] line, but other Campari products as well.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Campari finalises acquisition of Wild Turkey, world's top premium Kentucky bourbon whiskey|date=May 29, 2009|publisher=Gruppo Campari|url=http://www.camparigroup.com/en/press_media/press_releases/press_release174055.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627022103/http://www.camparigroup.com/en/press_media/press_releases/press_release174055.jsp|archive-date=June 27, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Our Company|website=Campari America|url=http://campariamerica.com/our-group/|access-date=2015-07-26}}</ref>

==Manufacturing==
Production and bottling of the product was initially outsourced to Frank-Lin Distillers Products in [[San Jose, California]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.billingsgazette.com/newdex.php?display=rednews/2005/05/14/build/business/40-booze-bottler.inc|date=May 14, 2005|title=Booze bottler mixes ag past with tech present|publisher=Billings Gazette|location=Billings, MT|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100912155621/http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_ecd406b6-d5cc-545c-a84d-74eddff43708.html|archive-date=September 12, 2010|agency=Associated Press|url-status=dead}}</ref> Bulk [[ethanol]] was delivered in [[Tank car|railroad tank cars]] to Frank-Lin's [[railroad siding]] near the San Jose rail yards. The ethanol was mixed with filtered and [[deionized water]], flavoring was added, and the product was [[Bottling line|bottled]] using a 42-head US Bottlers Machinery Company filling machine to ensure uniform product level.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.packagingdigest.com/articles/200110/66.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018134019/http://www.packagingdigest.com/articles/200110/66.php|archive-date=2006-10-18|title=Bottle and case coders identify liquor products|last=Mans|first=Jack|date=October 2001|publisher=Packaging Digest}}</ref>

The ethanol was purchased from MGP Ingredients of [[Atchison, Kansas]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pjstar.com/news_bibo/x1816440766/Bibo-Coal-fired-boiler-raises-environmental-worries|title=Coal-fired boiler raises environmental worries|last=Bibo|first=Terry|publisher=Journal Star|date=July 11, 2008|location=Peoria, IL|access-date=October 4, 2010|archive-date=November 20, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120042307/http://www.pjstar.com/news_bibo/x1816440766/Bibo-Coal-fired-boiler-raises-environmental-worries|url-status=dead}}</ref> a bulk ethanol producer for beverage, industrial, and fuel applications.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mgpingredients.com/05_alcohol_solutions.htm|date=August 1, 2008|title=MGP Ingredients, Inc. - Alcohol Solutions}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> MGP uses [[wheat]] as a feedstock for the process. The distillation plant is in [[Pekin, Illinois]] and is currently powered by natural gas, but [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] approval has been requested to convert the plant to burn coal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yosemite.epa.gov/r5/il_permt.nsf/2f3e96d539c4a2a28625666b0063b9a1/57daf10bae926f7285257458007029e0!OpenDocument|title=Permit Record - MGP Ingredients of Illinois, Inc.|author=Illinois Environmental Protection Agency|date=July 14, 2008}}{{dead link|date=July 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

After the acquisition of the brand by Gruppo Campari, production was moved to Campari facilities.

==Awards==
The unflavored SKYY won silver medals{{when|date=July 2015}} at the [[San Francisco World Spirits Competition]].{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

==Donations==
In 2025, SKYY {{emdash}} previously a platinum sponsor of New York City's [[Heritage of Pride]] annual Pride Week {{emdash}} scaled back its commitment.<ref name="nyt-stack-25">{{cite news |last1=Stack |first1=Liam |title=Nervous Corporate Sponsors Retreat from New York Pride |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/nyregion/nyc-pride-sponsors-trump-tariffs.html |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2025-05-21 |archive-date=2025-05-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250521194523/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/nyregion/nyc-pride-sponsors-trump-tariffs.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Bibliography==
*''Secrets from an Inventor's Notebook'', Maurice Kanbar, Penguin Books, 2001, {{ISBN|0-14-200056-6}}

==External links==
* [http://www.skyy.com/ SKYY Vodka website]
{{Alcoholic drinks}}{{Vodkas}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Skyy Vodka}}
[[Category:American vodkas]]
[[Category:Campari brands]]
[[Category:Cuisine of the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:Culture of California]]