The best vodka with the best ingredients continues to align itself with the best organizations
The New Jersey State Golf Association is pleased to announce a partnership with Punzoné Organic Italian Vodka.
Punzoné Vodka, the exclusive vodka of the NJSGA, will be presented at future NJSGA hosted events throughout the year, beginning with the Golf Summit on April 5.
Punzoné is the only organic vodka to win the coveted International five-star diamond award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences five years in a row, Punzoné represents vodka’s new standard. Uniquely crafted from organic wheat grown exclusively in the Piemonte region of Italy, Punzoné’s quality is unmatched.
“It’s nice to add such a high-quality product like Punzoné as a partner to the NJSGA. It is a great brand for the NJSGA and its member clubs,” said NJSGA executive director Kevin Purcell.
“Partnering with the NJSGA is a fantastic alignment for us because it speaks of our customers – a high-end, sophisticated clientele that appreciates quality. In golf clubs and country clubs we have an opportunity to grow our brand and speak to the right customer in alignment with an organization we can grow with and do wonderful things with in the state of New Jersey,” said founder Frank Guerrera.
Guerrera is the entrepreneurial brain behind Punzoné. He is a first generation Italian American from New York City. In 2007, after several years in the finance industry, Guerrera decided to form Punzoné and threw his heart and soul into the formation of his company and into finding the right partners.
It took more than six years and an arduous amount of work to break into an industry primarily led by conglomerates, but after paying painstaking attention to every detail of the business, Guerrera pushed the limits and his perseverance and precision has brought Punzoné to market today. Punzoné officially launched in July 2012. Guerrera lives in New York City with his wife and three small boys.
He is a member of Battleground Country Club in Manalapan.
“I am a chef and love to entertain at my home. I got tired of wine and cocktails. So I created a drink people referred to as my punch. Punzoné loosely translates to “punch” in Italian. People went crazy over this punch. I started introducing this homemade cocktail in which I mixed wine, blood oranges and vodka and some secret ingredients,” Guerrera, 42, said.
“Subtly, I was seeing what it would take to put this product on the shelf. I spoke to some significant people in the industry. I felt this blend is incredibly unique. But in doing my research, I noticed how difficult it is to penetrate the spirits market.
“I decided if I were to do it, I would use the finest ingredients in the world, and would do it organically. I felt I was way ahead of curve in the organics industry. I finally decided to develop the brand in Italy in 2009.
“My journeys out there were to find the right manufacturing partners for my formulation, and to align myself with people who have the ability to scale production if we were going to do this successfully.”
Guerrera now has three vodka products on the market, distilled from organic Italian wheat and organic grapes grown in Italy.
His signature blends consist of 3 uniquely crafted products:
Ultra-Premium Punzoné Vodka 80 proof: This is uniquely crafted in a five-column distillation system from organic Italian wheat grown in North West Italy and precisely blended with pristine waters from the Italian Alps, ensuring that no unnatural additives taint its superior organic excellence. Unmistakably smooth, Punzoné’s 80 proof Vodka has character like no other ever created. The nose is subtle, the taste distinctively soft and the finish cool and refreshing.
Punzoné Blood Orange Sangria Vodka 34 proof: Punzoné signature Blood Orange “Originale” is an organic Italian blend of Punzoné vodka, red Sangiovese grape sangria and Calabrian blood orange. Sangria Vodka is masterfully crafted in Italy to enjoy straight on the rocks, shaken and chilled as a martini or as the perfect ingredient to a fresh cocktail creation.
Punzoné Lemon Sangria Vodka 34 proof: Punzoné signature Lemoncino (NOT LEMONCELLO®) is a delicate organic blend of Punzoné vodka, white Chardonnay grape Italian sangria and natural Sicilian lemon. It is masterfully crafted in Italy to enjoy straight on the rocks, shaken and chilled as a martini or as an ingredient to any fresh cocktail creation.
The retail price, on average, is $34.99 for the one-liter bottle (the only size offered currently). Visit their website: www.punzone.com
In a blind taste test, Punzoné won a double gold medal and was ranked No. 1 in its category and named “Organic Vodka Of The Year” by Bar Business Magazine.
All three are USDA Certified organic, GMO free and distilled to remove gluten. The first case sold in July, 2012. Today, Punzoné it can be found on shelfs of retailers like Whole Foods, Shop-Rite Liquors, Fairway, Stew Leonard Markets and others. The product can be ordered online at worldofliquor.com
For more info about the New Jersey State Golf Association, visit: www.njsga.org
