Putin’s Back Door for Whisky, Cognac Gives Distillers a Headache
- Pernod halts Russia exports of Absolut days after restarting
- Remy, Diageo spirits on sale in Russia against makers’ wishes
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International spirits brands that halted supplies of premium liquor to Russia have lost control over whether their stock is sold there, thanks to a government scheme allowing drinks imports without the trademark owners’ consent.
Products like Diageo Plc’s Johnnie Walker whisky and Remy Cointreau SA’s Remy Martin cognac are widely available in Russia, even though the distillers stopped exporting to the country after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.