I launched Imperia at the Statue of Liberty because I wanted to use something symbolic. I like American society because it always wants to do something new and better.
I believe there is not any big difference between any consumer business, whether it's a bank or insurance or vodka or chocolate, whatever it is.
I don't very much distinguish when I'm working. I do what I like to do: the time changes and my activity changes.
Russians really needed a product that would be not as strong as vodka and not as feminine as cheap sparkling wine, so Martini was a good solution.
Considering that Americans are now moving away from whiskey, moving away from brown spirits in general, I believe that they will all join Russians who drink vodka straight. They will sip it like cognac.
I started like many young Russian people in the beginning of perestroika when it seemed that everything was possible.
