Stolichnaya Vodka is a well-known brand in the vodka industry thanks to its rich history and stellar reputation. Moreover, Stoli Vodka remains one of today’s global bestsellers.
If you want to know what makes Stoli Vodka stand out, you have to consider Stoli Vodka’s origins. Just where is Stoli Vodka made? I looked into it, and here is what I found!
Where Is Stoli Vodka Made?
Stoli Vodka was originally owned by the Soviet Union and made in Russia. Since the Soviet Union’s collapse, Stoli Vodka has been produced both in Russia and Latvia by two entities, namely SPI Group and the Russian state. SPI Group produces their Stoli Vodka in Riga, Latvia, while the Russian state produces theirs in the Kaliningrad region.
In case you are curious to learn more about Stoli Vodka’s country of origin, who makes Stoli Vodka, and how Stoli Vodka came about, keep reading!
Is Stoli An American Brand?
Stoli Vodka is not an American brand and never has been. Additionally, Stoli Vodka has no known distillery and bottling facilities in America.
Is Stolichnaya Still Made In Russia?
Stoli Vodka is not entirely made in Russia today. Most of the work involved in producing Stoli Vodka is done in Riga, Latvia, in a distillery called Latvijas Balzams.
However, the wheat and rye used to make Stoli Vodka is grown in Tambov, Russia, and partially distilled at the Talvis facility before being shipped to Latvia.
Nevertheless, there is a Stoli Vodka version owned by the Russian state, which is made in the Kaliningrad region of Russia.
Ultimately, whether Stoli Vodka is made in Russia depends on which version of Stoli Vodka you are drinking.
Should Stoli Vodka Be Considered A Russian Brand?
Since Russia established antigay laws in 2013 and consumers boycotted Russian brands to protest it, Stoli Vodka has made it clear that Stoli Vodka is not a Russian brand.
Since Stoli Vodka is primarily produced in Latvia, Stoli Vodka is considered a Latvian brand.
This clarification was made following the campaign to boycott Russian vodka, particularly Stolichnaya Vodka because it originated in Russia.
Additionally, around 90% of Stolichnaya Vodka’s shares are primarily owned by a Russian billionaire, Yuri Shefler, which only adds to the confusion of consumers.
Furthermore, the Russian state owns a version of the Stoli Vodka brand, which can still be mistaken for the more popular Stoli Vodka from Latvia in spite of the different bottle designs.
Is Stoli Made In Latvia?
Stoli Vodka is produced mainly in Latvia. While the grains used for Stoli Vodka are sent to Latvia partially distilled, the rest of the work to produce the final product is done in Latvia.
Where Is Stoli Distilled?
Stoli Vodka is partially distilled at the Talvis facility in Russia before Stoli Vodka is sent to Latvijas Balzams in Riga, Latvia, to be diluted to proof.
As for the Russian state-owned Stoli Vodka, it is distilled in the Kaliningrad region where the ITAR Distillery is located.
Where Is Stoli Vodka Bottled?
Stoli Vodka is bottled in Latvijas Balzams, where there is a bottling facility for both Stoli Vodka and Elit, which was formerly called Stolichnaya Elit.
Nonetheless, it is not clear whether Latvijas Balzams also produces the bottles for all Stolichnaya products.
Additionally, there is no mention as to where the Russian state-owned Stoli Vodka is bottled, but it is possible that Russian state-owned Stoli Vodka is both bottled and distilled in the ITAR Distillery.
Where Is Stoli Vodka Sold?
Stoli Vodka is sold all over the world, although there is no mention of which countries Stoli Vodka distributes directly to and has the biggest sales volume.
Furthermore, the type of Stoli Vodka sold in certain countries varies depending on the court ruling regarding the rightful owner of the Stoli Vodka brand.
In countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, the SPI Group who distills in Latvia had to stop selling their Stoli Vodka.
However, SPI Group still has the rights to sell Stoli Vodka in 13 EU member states, some of which are Denmark, the UK, and Spain.
Where Does Stoli Vodka Get Grain?
Stoli Vodka gets its grain from Tambov, Russia. Nonetheless, there is no mention of which estates produce the grain that Stoli Vodka uses, and where in Tambov they are located.
Where Is Stoli Vodka’s Water Source?
SPI Group, the company that produces Stoli Vodka in Latvia, uses Latvian water to dilute Stoli Vodka.
Meanwhile, the Russian state-owned Stoli Vodka uses artesian water collected from Samara City in Russia.
Who Makes Stoli Vodka?
Stoli Vodka is produced by two entities. Originally, Stoli Vodka was owned by the Soviet Union, but since its collapse, many lawsuits have been filed to determine Stoli Vodka’s rightful owner.
Currently, the SPI Group owned by Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler produces the Stoli Vodka that is distilled and bottled in Latvia.
As for the Stoli Vodka made in Russia, it is owned by the Russian state and produced through a local distillery.
Who Distributes Stoli Vodka?
Stoli Vodka is in partnership with numerous distributors all over the world. Currently, those named are the American distributors in Stoli Group’s USA distribution network.
Some of them are Young’s Market Company, Breakthru Beverage Group, Johnson Brothers, Empire Merchants, Great Lakes Wine & Spirits, and Republic National Distributing Company.
When Was Stoli Vodka Made?
Stoli Vodka does not have a conclusive birth date due to the many confusing factors about its origins.
Some say Stoli Vodka was made in 1901, the same year the Moscow State Wine Warehouse No. 1 was opened and where Stoli Vodka was originally produced.
However, there is reason to believe that Stoli Vodka was produced sometime between 1944 and 1948.
While Stoli was confirmed to be in production in 1948, Stoli Vodka’s label goes years back from 1946. Additionally, Stoli Vodka had a trademark registration in 1938.
Take a look at our related articles to discover where Tito’s Vodka is made, where Smirnoff Vodka is made, and where Tahoe Blue Vodka is made.
Conclusion
Stoli Vodka originated in Soviet Russia, but since the Soviet collapse in 1991, there have been disputes as to who owns Stoli Vodka.
Currently, Stoli Vodka is produced both in Russia and in Latvia, and the Russian-produced Stoli Vodka is owned by the Russian State, while the SPI Group owns the Stoli Vodka in Latvia.