A Canada-based Keralite woman ventured into liquor production and produced a nutmeg-flavoured Vodka.
Steffy Joy Puthushery, a native of Ernakulam, went to Canada in 2018 in pursuit of her higher studies. After completing her business management course in 2019, Steffy obtained permanent residency in the largest province of the country, Ontario.
After her husband Laiju Varghese, an IT professional, landed in Canada with their children, Steffy, who had learned the trick of the trade from her businessman father, decided to launch her venture.
“Here in Canada, drinking alcohol is a normalised part of the food like a cup of coffee. Responsible drinking is a way of life here. I thought why don’t we embark upon such a business? Hence, after talking with my husband, I decided on the dream project of Vodka,” Steffy, a mother of three, told CNN-News 18.com from Canada.
The project commenced the production of vodka in 2021, however, things were not easy, Steffy said, adding that every step in opening a business in Canada shall proceed through a legal format.
“However, the investment in this sector as well as the risk factor is less compared to India,” Steffy stated.
After registering the company one has to obtain a license from the government.
“This is a major difference from India. All in the business of alcohol, from those who bill for the sale at a shop, to those who serve at a bar and those who manufacture, they should be well aware of the rules and regulations about the same. Even if it is a glass of beer, they must be aware of who can get a drink how much can be consumed or whether they can drive a vehicle after the drink. For that, they have to get a certificate called Smart Serve certificate after learning rules and regulations for the responsible consumption of alcohol,” Steffy added.
The Smart Serve Certificate is issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). After obtaining it, a licence from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, (LCBO) is needed to produce alcohol. LCBO, a corporation authorized to distribute alcohol in Ontario operates under the Legislative Assembly through the Ministry of Finance.
After acquiring all the legal formalities, Steffy’s venture is now operating on a leased distillery in Toronto in an area of around 5000 square feet employing 12 local people.
Though the vodka is produced in Canada, almost everything associated with the drink has a whiff of Kerala. It is made according to a recipe given by experts in India with the major ingredient being the extract from the aril of nutmeg spice grown in Kerala.
“We thought of many other flavours. However, we wanted to start with nutmeg. In Kerala, the land of spices, nutmeg is considered as a medicine,” said Steffy’s husband, Laiju, adding that the nutmeg flavour would bolster the spirit with more value.
“Naming the Vodka was a bit difficult task. Many names were considered but finally settled on Rooster as it is considered a symbol of success in many parts of the world,” said Steffy.
Hence, the Vodka christened Rooster hit the market on January 2, 2024, with an official launch by the Canadian football player Iain Hume, who is fondly called ‘Hyoomettan’ by Keralaites as he joined Kerala Blasters Football club associated with ISL.
It comes in bottles of 750 ml and contains 40% alcohol. The product, currently available online will be in the CBO stores in three months.
It will also be available in the duty-free shop at Kochi airport (CIAL) soon, as negotiations have been completed, said Laiju who added that more flavours would join the list.
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