‘Putinka’ Manufacturer To Produce Belarusian Vodka Instead Of British Whiskey

We are talking about ‘Kanaplianka’.

The Moscow-based Kristall plant, which produces Putinka vodka and has noticeably reduced production in 2023, is looking for new options to utilise its capacity.

Now the enterprise may start bottling vodka ‘Kanaplianka,’ which is part of the portfolio of the Belarusian JSC ‘Minsk Krystal,’ writes Kommersant.

In April, the Russian Kristall plant received a declaration of conformity for producing vodka ‘Kanaplianka Radnikovaya’ and ‘Kanaplianka Traditional’, according to the register of Rosakkreditation. The brand ‘Kanaplianka’ is part of the portfolio of ‘Minsk Krystal’ of the structure ‘Minsk Krystal Group’.

For Belarus-based Krystal, the contract may allow for lower production costs for the Russian market, but developing distribution of the brand will require investment.

In 2023, Moscow-based Kristall produced 65,700 litres of alcoholic beverages, down 54.9% from a year earlier. Until 2022, a significant share in the production structure of Kristall in Moscow was occupied by White Horse and Bell's whisky brands of British Diageo, which left the Russian market after the outbreak of war in Ukraine. An additional volume of 5,000-10,000 dal per month could support the distillery's business.

In 2023, according to Rosalkogoltabakkontrol, Belarus accounted for 85.9% of all vodka imports to Russia.