Kai Vodka

Ask someone in the liquor industry if there is room for another vodka, they will surely tell you no way! Now if you ask an entrepreneur, they will surely tell you absolutely! That’s the difference between entrepreneurial thinking and plain old corporate industry experience. The liquor entrepreneur understands that opportunity is out there, you just have to find it. Sometimes experience can blind you.

Marcus Bender, serial entrepreneur and founder of Kai Vodka, has continuously seen and acted upon opportunity since 1981 when he got into the beverage business, importing and distributing Hinano, the Beer of Tahiti. In 1983, he started up Pure Hawaiian Sparkling water. In 1990, he purchased Hansen Beverage Co. In 1994, he founded Hawaiian Natural Water Co., took the company public in 1997, and created the market for the Hawaiian Springs brand in Japan, Thailand, Korea, Taiwan and Kuwait. In 2001, he acquired Brew Moon Micro-Brewery and Restaurant, sold it in 2007 to focus full time on developing Kai Vodka.

It is rare to find such an extraordinary entrepreneur with such consistent entrepreneurial drive and success in the beverage business. Marcus Bender is someone every entrepreneur should study and learn what it takes to succeed in an industry dominated by large corporate giants.

KAI vodka is distilled from a rare Yellow-Blossom Rice grown in Vietnam’s small villages along the North Red River Delta. It is handcrafted in small batches making this spirit a truly unique micro liquor. The distillation techniques are over 600 years old. Nearly three pounds of rice are used to make each 750ml bottle of Kai vodka.

“The word ‘kai’ has positive meaning throughout Asia. The word means ‘pleasure’ in Japan and ‘happy gathering’ in China. In fact the word has multiple meaning even as one moves through different cultures of Asia. It’s a word that unifies and brings people together, just as a good spirit would. The feedback from consumers is that they love its smooth, unique taste and the fasionable bottle that captures the east-meets-west-spirit.” -Marcus Bender

Kai offers a gluten free 70 proof flavored vodka infused with the flavor and aroma of ripe, sweet Asian Lychee, a tropical essence of the Vietnamese lychee fruit. Kai Lychee is the only lychee fruit flavored vodka out on the market.

Creating an entrepreneurial venture involves putting together a team with the same vision. Marcus found the motivation and enthusiasm among his long-time friends Jim Stevens, former Chief Operating Officer of Coca-Cola, and Richard Turner, former President of Allied Domecq PLC.

The best part of being an entrepreneur is when the passion and love is shared with family. Marcus Bender’s daughter, Amy Bender, joined the company as Business Relations Manager handling entry into new markets, managing relations with distributors, retailers, individual consumers, and executing several sales and marketing initiatives. MicroLiquor met up with Amy at the 2010 Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America trade show in Las Vegas where she was passionately promoting Kai vodka.

KAI vodka is bottled in an absolutely stunning, sexy and seductive modern package. MicroLiquor likes the 750ml bottle the most as it has a commanding presence. The 50ml is so beautiful that it would be perfect to give away at a wedding or anniversary party.

The story of KAI is quite impressive. The taste of KAI is more impressive.

The feeling of KAI Vodka is Feng-Shui.

Kai Vodka Cocktails

www.kaivodka.com