Two of the most popular vodka brands in the UK face contrasting fortunes.
Vodka is mostly known as a Russian spirit and is associated with co*cktails like the Moscow Mule. But one brand we may think of as Russian is actually made around the world and not in the country, but another definitely is produced in Russia.
A search on major supermarket sites including Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, and Co-op show that Russian Standard Vodka is not in stock, but Smirnoff is.
Read more:Martin Lewis issues warning to direct debit bill payers
As you may have guessed by now, the reasons for this are to do with Russia invading Ukraine and boycotts of products made in Russia. Supporting those brands, the theory goes, supports the Russian war effort through fundraising.
Why you can get Smirnoff in supermarkets but not Russian Standard vodka
Smirnoff has its roots in Russia. Its distillery was founded by Pyotr Arsenievich Smirnov in Moscow in 1864. But after the Russian Revolution the brand was sold and moved to the USA, as vodka production in the then Soviet Union was nationalised. Now owned by Diageo, Smirnoff vodka is produced around the world, including the UK and Ireland, but not in Russia.
Smirnoff has also ceased exporting to Russia.
A Smirnoff spokesperson told Reuters: "Our priority is the safety of our people in Ukraine and the wider region."
One of Smirnoff's main rivals in the UK vodka market is, or perhaps was, Russian Standard vodka. Supermarkets have pulled Russian Standard from shelves, due to the brand's links with Russia, where it is still made, in St Petersburg.
"Made only in St. Petersburg, Russian Standard Original adheres faithfully to Dmitri Mendeleev’s 1894 principles for the creation of vodka," reads Russian Standard's website
"Created by combining state-of-the-art distillation techniques with time honored traditions and crafted using the finest ingredients of winter wheat and water of glacial origin, Russian Standard Vodka is the benchmark for excellence in the homeland of vodka."
A spokesperson for Co-op said: “In response to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces and as a sign of solidarity with the people of Ukraine we’ve taken the decision to remove from sale Russian-made Vodka."
Russian Standard Vodka is still on sale from some UK retailers, including Amazon, which is advertising bottles for £16. It is likely many retailers, including corner shops and off-licenses, still have stock that they bought before the invasion.
Go here for the latest news on the cost of living
Story Saved
You can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.
FAQs
Sainsbury's, Aldi, Asda and Waitrose have all announced they will axe Russian products amid the war in Ukraine. Sainsbury's will remove Russian Standard vodka and Karpayskiye black sunflower seeds from its shelves.
Is Smirnoff vodka actually Russian? ›
A Russian name doesn't mean a vodka is Russian-made. Smirnoff is named after Vladimir Smirnoff who fled from Russia during the country's revolution, but it's owned by British company Diageo (ticker: DEO) and is made in the U.S., Canada, and many other countries—but not Russia.
Is Russian Standard vodka still available? ›
On 11 March, U.S. president Joe Biden issued an executive order blocking U.S. imports of key Russian products, including vodka, and banning exports of high-end goods to Russia. In the United Kingdom, the supermarket chains Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Co-op Food and Aldi removed Russian Standard vodka from their shelves.
Is Russian Standard vodka actually made in Russia? ›
And while Russian Standard is indeed made in Russia, other Russian-sounding brands such as Stoli and Smirnoff are today produced in Latvia and the United States, respectively.
Who has stopped selling Russian Standard Vodka? ›
The governors of Ohio, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Utah ordered boycotts of Russian-style vodkas, products that account for a tiny fraction of the US vodka market. In Canada, the Ontario liquor control board made a similar decision on Friday, removing all Russian-made products from its 679 stores.
What vodka brand is not Russian? ›
But the most popular vodkas in the U.S. – including Smirnoff, Ciroc, Tito's, Absolut, Svedka, Grey Goose, SKYY and New Amsterdam – are not made in Russia.
Is Russian Standard Vodka sold in the US? ›
Justice banished Russian-produced brands Beluga Vodka, Hammer & Sickle Russian Vodka, Moskovskaya and Russian Standard from liquor store shelves. However, non-Russian-produced vodka brands using Russian brand names were exempted. Ivey also specifically exempted merely “Russian-themed” products.
Where is Smirnoff vodka made in the USA? ›
Smirnoff is owned by the British company Diageo and is manufactured in Illinois. Smirnoff was mistakenly targeted for boycotts during the Russian invasion of Ukraine; however, despite its Russian origin, the brand is owned by British company Diageo and for the US market is manufactured in Illinois.
Where is Smirnoff vodka made now? ›
The world's number one vodka
Smirnoff has been in America since 1934 and today, is proudly made in the US, Canada, Great Britain, Italy, Australia, Jamaica, Brazil, Argentina, India, Indonesia and Kenya.
What is the best vodka in the world? ›
The winners included Dirty Devil Vodka (Canada), 93/100 points; Ramsbury Single Estate Vodka (UK), 93/100 points; Yacht Life Vodka (USA), 93/100 points; Meili Vodka Batch 01 (USA), 93/100 points; Krooked Tusker Distillery (USA), 92/100 points; Longleaf Distilling Company, Longleaf Vodka (USA), 92/100 points; Georgian ...
Russian Standard Corporation (Russian: Корпорация «Русский Стандарт») is a holding company owned by the businessman Roustam Tariko. It holds the stock of the following companies: Russian Standard Company, the producer and distributor of Russian Standard Vodka.
What vodka do Russians drink? ›
Among some of the most loved bottles that come from Russia include Beluga Noble Vodka, which is known for its citric taste that comes with hints of oats and honey and spicy finish, Russian Standard Vodka, famous for being one of the most reliable bottles of vodka on the market at a highly competitive price point, and ...
What country makes the best vodka? ›
Norway. Norway has a long history of producing vodka and the country is known for its high-quality vodka brands. From modern distilleries to centuries-old processes, Norwegian producers have perfected the art of distilling some of the world's finest vodka.
Is Grey Goose vodka made in Russia? ›
Grey Goose is a brand of vodka produced in France. It was created in the 90s by American businessman Sidney Frank, who sold it to the multinational company Bacardi in 2004. The Maître de Chai for Grey Goose is François Thibault, who developed the original recipe for the vodka in Cognac, France.
What tastes similar to Russian Standard Vodka? ›
Zirkova. Zirkova is another vodka brand you might think is Russian, but actually hails from Ukraine. This vodka is famous for its amazingly smooth, mix-friendly taste as well as the fact that it's so beautifully filtered.
Where is Russian Standard Vodka bottled? ›
Bottled in Russia, at our distillery in St. Petersburg. All according to the highest standards of vodka production.
What is the name of the Russian Standard Vodka brand? ›
Names like Russian Standard, Stoli® Vodka, and Beluga are among the most popular Russian vodkas on the market.
What Russian vodka changes name? ›
The Soyuzplodoimport bottle label features the words "Stolichnaya Vodka" in gold cursive script over a drawing of a Moscow landmark, the recently rebuilt Hotel Moskva. In March 2022 the Stoli Group changed the name of its vodka to its nickname, Stoli, as a "direct response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine".
