After 14 years of research, scientists at a Japanese whisky manufacturer say they have finally created blue roses.

Suntory said they are now in the process of testing the initial batch of the genetically-modified blue roses in the United States and Australia.

A spokesman for Suntory, Atsuhito Osaka said the roses could be commercially available in Japan by 2009, which they expect to command a premium price.

While a rose has no blue pigments, scientists at Suntory claim they have identified the gene behind blue pigment in pansies and transplanted that into a rose.