He might have become a professional telephone installer, truck driver

or granite miner, jobs he once held as a young man. But fate had a

different plan in mind for Markku Raittinen. Instead, the man many

consider a walking “vodkapedia”—someone who knows everything

there is to know about vodka—holds what may be the most enviable

job in the world. He is the Master Taster for Finlandia Vodka.

Markku oversees the production and also approves, after personally

tasting, every batch of Finlandia Platinum, ensuring the superior

quality of the world’s finest luxury vodka.

Markku—an adventurous “people person”—is also the Taste Trainer

for Finlandia. As manager of the global Taste Training Programme,

he not only trains staff members and brand ambassadors on how to

conduct vodka tasting events, he also carries out special tastings for

media, trade representatives, bartenders, and consumers.

So it’s no surprise that during his 21 years with Finlandia, Markku has

traveled to more than 150 cities in 68 countries. Or that he’s “taste

trained” more than 25,000 people. Along the way, Markku takes time

to enjoy his favorite hobbies, photography and pursue a special interest in vintage cocktail shakers.

But whatever he’s doing and wherever he is, Markku follows his own

personal and professional motto: “Whenever there is Finlandia on the

table, there are no strangers—only friends.” Of course, telephone

installers and truck drivers and granite miners can use that motto,

too. And many do. But they probably can’t say that they were a gold

medalist in the only Cocktail Olympics ever held.

Markku can. Just ask him about it.