Beam Global Spirits & Wine and Russian Standard® Vodka Partner in Canada

Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. [Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO)], a global leader in premium spirits and owner of Canadian Club® Canadian whisky and Russian Standard® Vodka, Russia’s number one premium vodka, announce the commencement of distribution of Russian Standard® in Canada. Canada thus becomes the 12^th international market where Beam Global will be the exclusive distribution partner of Russian Standard Vodka.

Russian Standard®, which is exported to more than 60 markets, has enjoyed stellar growth, surpassing the two million case mark in just 10 years. IMPACT magazine ranked Russian Standard the fifth "Fastest Growing Premium Spirit Brand” for the past five years. With the addition of Russian Standard, Beam Global strengthens its portfolio of Canadian favorites like Canadian Club® Canadian whisky and Alberta Premium® Canadian Rye Whisky.

"We are pleased to welcome Russian Standard® Vodka to the Beam Global portfolio in Canada,” stated Philip Mills, Managing Director Europe and Canada, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. "This premium Russian vodka enhances our spirits portfolio and joins legendary brands like Canadian Club®, Alberta Premium® and Jim Beam®. We are confident that Russian Standard will continue to enjoy significant growth in Canada with the attention of the dedicated Beam Global sales and marketing team in Canada.”

"Russian Standard® is proud to launch in Canada and to bring Russia’s number one premium vodka to Canadian vodka connoisseurs,” said Leonid Yangarber, CEO of Russian Standard, North America. "Russia Standard is authentically Russian, produced, distilled and bottled in Russia with 100 percent Russian ingredients. We believe that with the Beam Global distribution model, Russian Standard will grow quickly in the Canadian market as it is introduced to discerning Canadian consumers.”

In addition to Canada, Beam Global distributes Russian Standard® Vodka in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and the Philippines.

About Russian Standard Vodka:

Russian Standard® Vodka is the global leader in authentic Russian premium vodka. The Russian Standard vodka portfolio dominates the premium segment in Russia with a 60 percent market share and sales of over 2.1 million cases in 2008 in Russia and more than 60 export markets across Europe, the U.S. and Asia. Roustam Tariko, the founder of Russian Standard, introduced Russian Standard Original in 1998 as the first authentic Russian premium vodka. Russian Standard vodkas are made with only the finest Russian ingredients, conforming to the formula for vodka established in 1894 by famed Russian scientist Dmitri Mendeleev for Russia’s Czars. Two years after launch, sales of Russian Standard Original surpassed all imported premium vodkas on the Russian market, leading to broad international expansion and the launch of Russian Standard Platinum in 2001, IMPERIA Vodka, the company’s luxury brand, in 2004, and Russian Standard Gold in 2008. www.russianstandardvodka.com

About Beam Global Spirits & Wine:

Inspiring conversations around the world, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. is building brands people want to talk about. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for our brands, including Jim Beam® Bourbon, Sauza® Tequila, Canadian Club® Whisky, Courvoisier® Cognac, Maker’s Mark® Bourbon, Laphroaig® Scotch Whisky, Cruzan® Rum, Larios® Gin, Whisky DYC®, Teacher’s® Scotch Whisky, DeKuyper® Cordials and Liqueurs and Knob Creek® Bourbon. Beam Global Spirits & Wine is part of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO), a leading consumer brands company. For more information on Beam Global Spirits & Wine, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.

© 2009 Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc., Deerfield, IL

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