In fall 2013, SLT UK and Edrington supported a pilot study in Kyrgyzstan using 10 remote sensor research cameras to photograph and count snow leopards in the important Sarychat-Ertash Nature Reserve. The following spring, they enabled the launch of a full study using over 30 cameras. This is the first long-term, systematic survey of snow leopard populations in Kyrgyzstan! The first-ever snow leopard population monitoring program in Kyrgyzstan was made possible by Snow Leopard Vodka 4) Handicrafts and Women Empowerment Personally, I love drinking Snow Leopard Vodka in a dry martini, garnished with rosemary; what we call a ‘ Conservation Martini’. Another favorite of mine – and of Prince Harry’s, too – is the Bagheera. Read the full press release here: http://snowleopard.org/anti-poaching-heroes-honored-on-world-wildlife-day Snow Leopard Vodka helps empower wildlife rangers in Kyrgyzstan 2) Dzud relief in Mongolia of the profits from each bottle will go to the Snow Leopard Conservation projects and the goal is one million dollars per year. Sparrow is confident it will achieve that amount because of the partnership with Edrington Group; Orjan started to climb down the ledge, and I had my camera trained on the area where the carcass was, hoping the cat might be hiding there… and then, to our total surprise, a snow leopard came out of a small cave a mere two metres below us! He attempted to live up to his moniker of “the ghost of the mountains” by disappearing over the ledge; but in the process, he literally almost bumped into Koustubh. Aztai, the cat Stephen Sparrow came across in Mongolia

I was with Koustubh and Orjan, two SLT researchers. We were about 100 yards from a fresh ibex carcass, on top of a high ridge, thinking the snow leopard that must have killed the ibex might still be near. It was this desire to help that brought Stephen to Mongolia – and face to face with Aztai – this spring. Snow Leopard has gained exceptional traction in focus markets like South Korea and the USA and is well positioned to increase its global market share in other premium vodka markets," says Joe Magnacca, President and Chief Executive Officer for Next Frontier Brands. "We will continue to build brand equity and strategically scale globally." Snow leopards have historically been one of the least studied of the big cats. In 2008, Snow Leopard Trust and out partners launched the first long-term study of snow leopards in Mongolia’s South Gobi. Since that time, we’ve been placing GPS collars on snow leopards to learn more about their behavior and habitat use. A male snow leopard named Aztai was the longest-studied wild snow leopard in history and the first cat to wear a GPS collar in this study. Stephen Sparrow was able to catch a glimpse of Aztai in the field. To date, the Snow Leopard Trust has been able to collar a total of 20 snow leopards– more than all other such studies put together. Stephen Sparrow was able to snap a picture of Aztai during his visit to MongoliaTake a tall glass, add a muddled slice of lemon, a spoonful of crushed ice, a teaspoon of Pastis, a good dash of chilled Snow Leopard Vodka and a layer of basil leaves, then top that off with Ginger Beer.”

Pairing his entrepreneurial talent with his passion for wildlife, he founded Snow Leopard Vodka, a premium spirit whose proceeds would go to conservation projects. Riding his bicycle from door to door, Stephen tirelessly sold bottle after bottle of his boutique vodka to bars and restaurants, slowly growing its reputation. The next step: growing the brand

Snow Leopard vodka was first produced in 2006 in small batches. At Polmos Lublin, an over 100 years old distillery 125 miles from Warsaw, the vodka undergoes a 6-stage distillation process through a continuous column still using natural spring water drawn from an artesian well. The spirit is then filtered twice over charcoal, producing soft yet full bodied tasting vodka with a distinctive nutty taste from the spelt. The master distiller is Joanna Dawidowicz who has 30 years’ experience in making award winning vodkas.

Snow Leopard Vodka is also made in Poland, at the century-old Polmos Lubin Distillery. It takes natural spring water from a well at the distillery, and uses six distillations for purification. Nevertheless the vodka is claimed to retain what is most distinctive about spelt – a nutty taste. Taken straight from the freezer, a good sniff reveals a strong scent of vanilla. My wife found the same, very strongly. She has a much better nose than I do, but for both of us vanilla was the only scent coming through. Here’s a ‘top-10’ highlight of great impacts Snow Leopard Vodka has made for these cats 1) Anti-Poaching RewardsThere, he had his encounter with Aztai – ”a huge privilege”, as he calls it. A well-deserved reward, one might add. A cold drink when the work is done One simple and cool recipe you can make using vodka - The Conservation Martini, a reminiscent ofthe white wild cat. I’ve been interested in the snow leopard, and its fate, ever since reading Peter Matthiessen’s wonderful book The Snow Leopard many years ago. There are thought to be between 4,000 and 7,500 of these beautiful animals left in the wild, spread across 12 different countries in Central Asia. They’re extremely elusive, and David Attenborough has called them ‘the Holy Grail of wildlife’.

In India and Pakistan, sales from Snow Leopard Vodka are supporting over 60 Nature Clubs in local schools. These clubs reach out to and educate their peers on nature and wildlife conservation. For instance, in June 2015, one Nature Club in India helped school children learn about how ‘the Earth is heating up’. Our field staff introduced the basic concepts of greenhouse gases and climate change with examples from their local regions to the children in classes 6 to 8. Himalayan Nature Clubs allow students with an interest in wildlife and nature to learn more and inspire others. 8) Predator-proof Corrals For many kids, going to camp is a transformative experience. During the summer months, the Snow Leopard Trust hosts hands-on education camps for children ages 10-14 to bring them closer to nature. Camp activities focus on raising awareness about local biodiversity, landscapes, and the need for conservation. A particular favorite of Stephen Sparrow’s since Snow Leopard Vodka’s founding, the camps have reached incredible results: Since 2006, we’ve been able to hold camps every year in northern India, reaching over 1,100 children. Kids learn to appreciate and value nature in eco camps supported by Snow Leopard Vodka 7) Nature ClubsLong before his meeting with Aztai, Stephen Sparrow had resolved to invest his boundless energy into saving these endangered cats. The Snow Leopard Trust is the biggest organisation working to save these endangered animals, and ex-drinks industry man Stephen Sparrow set up the UK branch of the organisation after hearing of the snow leopard’s plight on a visit to the Himalayas.To help fund the project, Sparrow also established Snow Leopard Vodka, donating 15% of the company’s profits direct to The Snow Leopard Trust UK. Snow Leopard Vodka About Snow Leopard Vodka What’s unusual about the vodka – apart from the fact that it supports a wildlife charity – is that it uses spelt grain. This ancient grain was known to have been around as long ago as 5,000BC, was farmed by the ancient Egyptians, and today in Europe is sparelycultivated, mostly in Central Europe and northern Spain. Only a few other vodkas use spelt, partly because the grain is about five times as expensive as normal grains. Other vodkas using spelt include Konik’s Tail and V-One Vodka, both made in Poland. He decided to travel freely and towards the end of his expedition, ending up in Nepal. That’s where he heard a lot about the snow leopard and decided to research on the animal that he thought was a mystical creature. After learning about the danger snow leopards faces from animal poaching and farmers that kill them in retaliation to the loss of their herds, Sparrow decided to help the conservation of this endangered species. He started talking to the Snow Leopard Trust on ways to contribute, with the aim of making a significant and worthwhile difference. So when the low funded conservation for an almost extinct beautiful cat became the unmistakable choice, Sparrow went all out. I have a lifelong commitment to snow leopard conservation. I hope we’ll have reached a tipping point in the brand’s growth in five years or so. Once we’ve secured the long term business success of Snow Leopard Vodka, I’d like to devote more time to being involved in the snow leopard conservation work itself – just continuing to help.” Helping however he can