Tom of Finland vodka has just been released in the United Kingdom. The homoerotic artwork of artist Touko Laaksonen is celebrated in a new film, and the special vodka has been created in conjunction with the film.
The Organic Vodka (40% ABV) is a new super-premium spirit distilled in Finland from organic wheat and rye.
The creators of the vodka told Drinks International that they’d designed the flavours of the drink to match the values of the illustrators work.
“We wanted to create a super premium Finnish vodka that truly embodies Tom of Finland – something bold, daring, flirtatious and playful, just like the artist’s renowned work,” said Olli Hietalahti, CEO of Spirit of Tom.
A percentage of profit from each bottle will be donated to the Tom of Finland Foundation, a charity dedicated to promoting tolerant attitudes towards sexuality and the preservation of erotic art.
The biographical film Tom of Finland, directed by Finnish director Dome Karukoski to tell the story of the artist’s extraordinary life. It will screen in Perth as part of the Scandinavian Film Festival.
The film depicts how after suffering from the trauma of WWII, Touko Laaksonen finds no peace at home in Finland, a country where homosexuality is illegal.
With the help of his sister, Touko finds work in an advertising agency, but becomes worn down by his inability to express his desires. So he spends his nights drawing his fantasies instead; men with strong jawlines, clad in uniform and – frequently – leather. The sketches eventually draw worldwide attention, though not without an escalating risk of persecution.
The artists distinctive work is now held in galleries around the world and is instantly recognisable both within and beyond the queer community.
The film is screening at Cinema Paradiso in Northbridge on July 22, 26 and 30.
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