Valley Vodka Inc., a Western Massachusetts-based company founded by Paul Kozub, takes the first steps on “The One Way Tour.” This walk is approximately 100 miles long from Hadley to Boston. Mr. Kozub will stop at bars and restaurants along his route to allow vodka drinkers to taste his award-winning vodka, while also raising money for Homes For Our Troops.
“I started V-One Vodka just over five years go in the basement of my home and personally sold it to area restaurants and package stores. It was this ‘hand selling’ that was key to our early success because I was able to showcase my vodka as the smoothest of all the luxury brands. In just a short time, V-One Vodka has become one of the top selling luxury vodkas in Western Massachusetts, and now I want the rest of the state to try it,” said Kozub.
Valley Vodka Inc. was founded by Kozub in 2005 when he was 27, after leaving a successful career as Vice President of small business loans at TD Bank. His business start-up was a way of honoring his recently deceased Polish grandfather and his entrepreneurial father.
The “One Way Tour” will also raise money for the Homes For Our Troops in Taunton, Mass. This organization helps those who have given to and have returned home with serious disabilities and injuries. Donations of money, building materials, and professional labor for building a home are given to the immediate families of these severely injured servicemen and servicewomen.
“When we started V-One Vodka, our launch party supported the Wounded Warrior Program. I have an affinity for our service people and wanted to help raise money for another good cause. Homes For Our Troops seemed especially important to me here in Massachusetts and nationally.”
V-One Vodka won the “Double Gold” medal at the World Spirit Competition in San Francisco in 2010, beating out 256 other vodkas and adding the vodka to a list of other international honors.
