stolichnaya

The name Stolichnaya is pronounced in Russian {{IPA|ru|stɐˈlʲit͡ɕnajə||}}.{{cite book|last1=Dickson|first1=Rebekkah|title=Private Communication}} The word is the adjectival form of столица (stolitsa), meaning "capital city".{{cite news|access-date=2008-10-05|date=1991-06-02|work=The New York Times|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CEFDF123BF931A35755C0A967958260|title=Summer Places: The Super Vodkas|author=William Grimes}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2003/jul/31/architecture.artsfeatures|newspaper=The Guardian|title=Do not disturb|author=Jonathan Glancey|date=Jul 31, 2003}}

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".{{cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/stolichnaya-vodka-changes-brand-name-stoli-russian-born-billionaire-founder-2022-3|title=The Russian-born billionaire who founded Stolichnaya vodka is changing the brand's name|author=Grace Kay|work=Business Insider}}

As of 2007 fermentation of Stolichnaya starts with Russian winter wheat and rye grains and pure glacier water and takes about 60 hours. Once fermentation is complete, the resulting liquid is distilled four times, to a strength of 96.4% alcohol by volume (ABV). That spirit is diluted to bottling strength using more glacier water. It is then filtered through quartz sand and activated carbon and, finally, through woven cloth.{{cite web|access-date=2008-10-05|date=2007-10-08|url=http://www.wineandalcohol.com/alcohol/stolichnaya-vodka|title=Stolichnaya Vodka|publisher=Wine and Alcohol|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009021745/http://www.wineandalcohol.com/alcohol/stolichnaya-vodka|archive-date=2008-10-09}}{{Update inline|date=September 2024}}

SPI, the company controlled by Yuri Shefler, produces Stolichnaya in Latvia at Latvijas Balzams, using Latvian water but alcohol from a distillery in Tambov, Russia.{{cite news|title=Facing Fury Over Antigay Law, Stoli Says 'Russian? Not Really'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/08/world/europe/facing-fury-over-antigay-law-stoli-says-russian-not-really.html|access-date=September 8, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 7, 2013|author=Andrew Higgins}} In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, SPI announced that they would begin sourcing all of their alcohol from Slovakia instead of Russia.{{cite news|title=Stoli vodka announces rebrand|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/05/business/stoli-vodka-rebrand-russia/index.html|access-date=March 22, 2022|newspaper=CNN|date=March 7, 2022|author=Ramishah Maruf}}

Stolichnaya has its origins in the Moscow State Wine Warehouse No. 1 which was opened in 1901 by the authorities to ensure higher quality vodka production.

There is confusion about the actual birth date of Stolichnaya vodka. The earliest confirmed production date is 1948, but the label design clearly predates 1946.{{citation |date=2008-05-27 |author=Владимир Ульянов |publisher=PopSop |title=Водка Stolichnaya: как все начиналось}}{{Full citation needed|date=December 2024}} It is likely that it was created by V. G. Svirida around 1944.{{cite web|access-date=2010-05-28|date=2004-05-12|author=Ольга Деркач|title=Водка "Столичная"|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2294471|publisher=Огонек}} However, there is a trademark registration dated 1938, which is sometimes quoted as another birth date.{{cite web|url=http://spimport.ru/brands/products.php?id=12|publisher=СоюзПлодИмпорт|title=Водка "Столичная"|trans-title=Vodka "STOLICHNAYA"|language=ru|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026105545/http://spimport.ru/brands/products.php?id=12|archive-date=26 October 2010}}

In 1953, Stolichnaya was introduced at the international trade show in Bern and received a gold medal. Before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the product was made at a distillery in Lviv, Ukraine, for export, and the distillery, in the early 1990s, had a joint venture established with the Edgar M. Bronfman associated firm Seagram.{{cite news |last=Perlez |first=Jane |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/27/business/a-mean-political-hangover-for-seagram-in-ukraine.html |work=The New York Times |title=A Mean Political Hangover for Seagram in Ukraine |date=27 January 1994 |access-date=15 October 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250430213949/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/27/business/a-mean-political-hangover-for-seagram-in-ukraine.html |archive-date=30 April 2025}}

In 1972, the PepsiCo company{{efn|To assist the PepsiCo company with the complexities of importing and exporting with the USSR, Pepsico acquired the 1934 founded importing firm Monsieur Henri Wines (MHW), which had extensive experience with imports into and exports from the USSR,{{cite news |url=http://alcoonline.ru/news/4947/29/chast-I-ictoriya-sozdaniya-brenda-stolichnaya-Stolichnaya/d,sample_news |title=Часть I. Иcтория создания брэнда СТОЛИЧНАЯ (Stolichnaya) |trans-title=Part I. History of the Stolichnaya brand |language=ru |work=«alcoonline.ru» |date=22 October 2010 |access-date=26 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809232926/http://alcoonline.ru/news/4947/29/chast-I-ictoriya-sozdaniya-brenda-stolichnaya-Stolichnaya/d,sample_news |archive-date=9 August 2011}} and made it a wholly owned subsidiary.{{cite news |last=Poe |first=Cassidy |url=https://www.mhwltd.com/the-mhw-story/ |title=The MHW Story |work=MHW formerly named Monsieur Henri Wines, Ltd. (www.mhwltd.com) |date=15 July 2022 |access-date=25 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250425190137/https://www.mhwltd.com/the-mhw-story/ |archive-date=25 April 2025}}{{cite news |url=https://www.mhwltd.com/john-beaudette-president-and-founder/ |title=John Beaudette President and Founder: Bio |work=MHW formerly named Monsieur Henri Wines, Ltd. (www.mhwltd.com) |date=April 2025 |access-date=25 April 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250425190951/https://www.mhwltd.com/john-beaudette-president-and-founder/ |archive-date=25 April 2025}}{{cite news |url=https://foodchainmagazine.com/news/mhw-ltd/ |title=MHW Ltd: In good spirits |work=FoodChain Magazine (foodchainmagazine.com) |date=30 October 2018 |access-date=25 April 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250425191651/https://foodchainmagazine.com/news/mhw-ltd/ |archive-date=25 April 2025}}}}{{efn|The 1969 created VTO "Soyuzplodoimport" ({{langx|ru|ВТО«Союзплодоимпорт»}}) dealt with vegetable products such as tea, coffee, cocoa beans, and, of course, Soviet alcohol including both champagne and vodka. In 1966, the Ministry of Foreign Trade ({{langx|ru|Министерство внешней торговли}}) divided the commodity flows between VTO "Soyuzplodoimport" and "Prodintorg" ({{langx|ru|"Продинторг"}}) which dealt with agricultural products of animal origin.}} struck a barter agreement with the government of the Soviet Union, in which PepsiCo was granted exportation and Western marketing rights to Soviet alcohol, namely, Stolichnaya vodka and Nazdorovya champagne from Abrau-Durso,{{cite news |url=https://www.abraudurso.ru/about/ |title=«Абрау – Дюрсо»: О нас. О КОМПАНИИ |trans-title=Abrau-Durso: About us. About the company |language=ru |work=«Абрау – Дюрсо» (www.abraudurso.ru) |date=April 2025 |access-date=25 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250424211437/https://www.abraudurso.ru/about/ |archive-date=24 April 2025}}{{cite news |last=Bunina |first=Maria |url=https://www.gw2ru.com/business/3872-how-us-exchanged-pepsi-for-vodka-stolichnaya-champagne-nazdorovye |title=How the U.S. exchanged Pepsi for Soviet sparkling wine Nazdorovya and Stolichnaya vodka: Despite the myth, Russians have no toast, Nazdorovya! ("To health!"), which is often depicted in Hollywood films. But that didn't stop the export to the West of a sparkling wine with the same name. |work=Gateway to Russia (www.gw2ru.com) |date=4 March 2023 |access-date=26 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250425165648/https://www.gw2ru.com/business/3872-how-us-exchanged-pepsi-for-vodka-stolichnaya-champagne-nazdorovye |archive-date=25 April 2025}} in exchange for importation and Soviet marketing of Pepsi-Cola.{{cite news |author=RashNUG |url=https://dzen.ru/a/ZME7Kz_FAAe96ehZ |title=Как появилась "Пепси-Кола" в Советском Союзе и причем тут Новороссийск? |trans-title=How did Pepsi-Cola appear in the Soviet Union and what does Novorossiysk have to do with it? |language=ru |work=Дзен (dzen.ru) |date=26 July 2023 |access-date=25 April 2025 |archive-url= |archive-date=}}{{cite news |last=Prial |first=Frank J. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/06/04/archives/wine-talk-the-champagne-and-caviar-can-now-both-be-russian.html |title=WINE TALK |work=The New York Times |date=4 June 1975 |access-date=25 April 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250425172444/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/06/04/archives/wine-talk-the-champagne-and-caviar-can-now-both-be-russian.html |archive-date=25 April 2025}}{{efn|In 1938, the Pepsi Cola Company registered the right to exclusive use of the trademark in the territory of the Soviet Union with the Trademark Registration Bureau of the People's Commissariat of Trade of the USSR.}}{{efn|After losing the 1960 United States presidential election, Richard Nixon, who became a partner at Mudge Rose Guthrie Alexander & Ferdon and was close to PepsiCo's CEO Donald Kendall, gained employment as an attorney representing Pepsico's interests.{{cite news |url=https://www.nixonfoundation.org/2020/09/remembering-donald-kendall/ |title=Remembering Donald Kendall |work=Richard Nixon Foundation |date=22 September 2020 |access-date=26 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250424214113/https://www.nixonfoundation.org/2020/09/remembering-donald-kendall/ |archive-date=24 April 2025}}{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2014/08/05/a-look-back-richard-nixon-s/67060992007/ |title=A look back: Richard Nixon's presidency |work=The Palm Beach Post |date=5 August 2014 |access-date=26 April 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250424214013/https://www.palmbeachpost.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2014/08/05/a-look-back-richard-nixon-s/67060992007/ |archive-date=24 April 2025}}}} This was the first cooperation of food production between the United States and the USSR during détente which began on 1 June 1972 after Richard Nixon returned from a summit in Moscow in late May 1972.{{cite news|url=http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=267835&area=/insight/insight__economy__business/|title=Pepsi's comeback, Part II|access-date=2007-07-21|author=Robert Laing|newspaper=Mail & Guardian|date=2006-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102090229/http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=267835&area=/insight/insight__economy__business/|archive-date=2 November 2007}} This exchange led to Pepsi-Cola being the first American consumer product to be produced, marketed and sold in the USSR.{{cite web|url=http://www.pepsico.com/PEP_Company/History/index.cfm|title=PepsiCo Company History (1972)|publisher=PepsiCo, Inc.|access-date=2007-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081103012833/http://www.pepsico.com/PEP_Company/History/index.cfm|archive-date=2008-11-03}}{{efn|Although Pepsico wanted its bottling plant located at the resort town of Sochi, inadequate water supplies near Sochi caused the bottling site to be at the Novorossiysk brewery "Pino" ({{langx|ru|новороссийский пивзавод "Пино"}}) which began producing Pepsi-Cola for the USSR on 31 May 1974. In the 1970s, Novorossiysk received its fresh water shipments on tankers from Tuapse. Although the Troitsky Group water pipeline (TGV) ({{langx|ru|«Троицкий групповой водопровод» (ТГВ)}}) was established in 1971, the Troitsky Group water pipeline (TGV) brought fresh water from artesian wells through the mountains to Novorossiysk much later.{{cite news |author=RashNUG |url=https://dzen.ru/a/ZME7Kz_FAAe96ehZ |title=Как появилась "Пепси-Кола" в Советском Союзе и причем тут Новороссийск? |trans-title=How did Pepsi-Cola appear in the Soviet Union and what does Novorossiysk have to do with it? |language=ru |work=Дзен (dzen.ru) |date=26 July 2023 |access-date=25 April 2025 |archive-url= |archive-date=}}{{cite news |url=https://kuban.rbc.ru/krasnodar/freenews/5f3fb8d59a7947f2758d38d1 |title=Троицкий водопровод до 2024г. реконструирует четверть скважин |trans-title=Troitsky water supply will reconstruct a quarter of wells by 2024 |language=ru |work=«РБК» (www.rbc.ru) |date=21 August 2020 |access-date=26 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250425201743/https://kuban.rbc.ru/krasnodar/freenews/5f3fb8d59a7947f2758d38d1 |archive-date=25 April 2025}} Additional plants in Moscow and Leningrad were producing Pepsi later and, by 1989, PepsiCo had 21 factories in the Soviet Union. As of 2017, the original Soviet era PepsiCo plant in Novorossiysk brews and bottles Novoross beer ({{langx|ru|пиво «Новоросс»}}).{{cite news |url=https://gorod-novoross.ru/vopros.php?id=96 |title=История производства Пепси-колы в Новороссийске + фото |trans-title=History of Pepsi-Cola production in Novorossiysk + photo |language=ru |work=Города Новороссийска (gorod-novoross.ru) |date=28 August 2017 |access-date=26 April 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250425173922/https://gorod-novoross.ru/vopros.php?id=96 |archive-date=25 April 2025}}}} Directly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Stolichnaya vodka continued to be produced for export in several of the post-Soviet states, including Ukraine. The bottles retained their Soviet-era labels.

During the dissolution of the Soviet Union, steps were taken to transform state-owned Stolichnaya producer VO Sojuzplodoimport (later VVO Sojuzplodoimport) into a privately held company.{{ECLI|ECLI:NL:GHSGR:2012:BX1515}} Since the early 90s, the personnel of the vodka factory and control of the trademarks had been managed by VAO Sojuzplodoimport (later: VZAO Sojuzplodoimport). In 1997 they were transferred to ZAO Sojuzplodimport which, in turn, sold them to the SPI (Spirits) group in 1999.

The SPI Group is a private company chartered in Luxembourg, founded and owned by Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler, that distributes a wide variety of Russian spirits, having purchased a number of former Soviet brands and operations. Stoli Group USA is a unit of SPI Group that markets Stoli vodka. While FKP produces in Kaliningrad, Russia (for the Russian market and the Benelux market), SPI Group distributes and produces from Latvia. FKP Sojuzplodoimport and the SPI Group have been in dispute over the ownership of various trademarks since 2003.{{cite web|url=http://www.law360.com/articles/256/russia-vows-to-fight-for-vodka-trademarks|title=Russia Vows to Fight For Vodka Trademarks}}

Since 2003, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Stolichnaya trademark has been the subject of dispute between distributors, predominantly the SPI Group and Russian state-owned Sojuzplodoimport.{{cite news|access-date=2008-10-05|date=2004-11-21|author=Abigail Townsend|title=Who's Stoli now? Allied Domecq in Russian dispute|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/whos-stoli-now-allied-domecq-in-russian-dispute-533977.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/whos-stoli-now-allied-domecq-in-russian-dispute-533977.html |archive-date=2022-05-25 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Independent|location=London}} The SPI group has held the rights from the legal successor as a result of a privatisation, while the Russian government holds that the privatisation has never been fully effected.

In August 1991, the Soviet patent office revoked the Soviet state-owned company's right to use the Stolichnaya name in Russia. However, in 2002, a Moscow court ruled, on appeal, that as a result of the incomplete privatisation, the Russian government should get back the rights to the Stolichnaya brand name from SPI Group since SPI had not obtained the rights from the legal holder.{{cite news|access-date=2007-07-21|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1794734.stm|publisher=BBC |date=2002-02-01|title=Russia toasts Stolichnaya victory}} An appeal by SPI to the European Court of Human Rights was rejected.{{cite web|work=HUDOC|url=http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/app/conversion/pdf/?library=ECHR&id=001-80956&filename=001-80956.pdf&TID=ihgdqbxnfi|title=judgement}}

In 2014, the Oberlandesgericht (OGL, "higher regional court") of Linz decided that FKP could not base its request on the nullity of the privatization/transformation, as that possibility had a term of limitation of 10 years according to the applicable law in Russia (if the term of limitation defense had been actively relied upon), and thus FKP could not claim that SPI had not obtained the trademarks from the owner.{{cite web|work=ieforum.nl|url=http://www.ie-forum.nl/backoffice/uploads/file/Oberlandesgericht%20Linz%2015_12_2014,%20IEF%2014547%20(FKP%20Sojuzplodoimport%20tegen%20Spirits%20International%20BV).pdf|title=Verdict|date=15 December 2014|access-date=11 August 2015}}

In 2020, the Austrian Oberste Gerichtshof (OGH, "Supreme Court of Justice") – the highest civil court in Austria – upheld the 2014 decision. SPI has therefore exhausted all options in the Austrian justice system.{{cite web|work=bindergroesswang.at|url=http://www.bindergroesswang.at/presse/news/2020/oghentscheidetrechtskraeftigimstolichnayamarkenrechtsstreit/|title=OGH entscheidet rechtskräftig im Stolichnaya Markenrechtsstreit|date=29 April 2020|access-date=23 July 2020|archive-date=23 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723114629/https://www.bindergroesswang.at/presse/news/2020/oghentscheidetrechtskraeftigimstolichnayamarkenrechtsstreit/|url-status=dead}}

In the Benelux countries (Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands), SPI has been the distributor, but use of the trademarks was challenged in 2006 by the FKP Sojuzplodoimport. In 2015 a Dutch court held that, according to Russian and Soviet law (and a term of limitation had not been invoked regarding the transfer), the privatisation had not taken place, and that Benelux law and (when provisions were insufficient) Dutch law applied to the transfer of the trademarks. the court ruled that SPI had obtained the trademarks in bad faith from an entity that wasn't the legitimate owner. The trademarks should be transferred back to FKP Sojuzplodoimport and SPI could not use the term "Russian" on its vodka.{{ECLI|ECLI:NL:RBROT:2015:2044}}

After the verdict, SPI stopped distribution of Stolichnaya and started selling "Stoli" with the motto "Same Vodka. Different label". That was forbidden by a Dutch judge in July 2015, on the grounds that it infringed the rights of FKP Sojuzplodoimport.{{ECLI|ECLI:NL:RBDHA:2015:9255}} FKP Sojuzplodoimport planned to start selling Stolichnaya in the Netherlands on 1 September 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.nu.nl/ondernemen/4102758/rechter-verbiedt-stoli-wodka-in-benelux.html|title=Rechter verbiedt Stoli-wodka in de Benelux|work=NU|date=2015-08-07}}

The Benelux trademarks were seized in March 2024 to enforce a $50 billion arbitration claim by former shareholders of the oil company Yukos against the Russian Federation.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/dutch-supreme-court-denies-russian-appeal-against-seizure-vodka-brand-names-2024-03-22/|title=Dutch Supreme Court denies Russian appeal against seizure of vodka brand names|work=Reuters|date=2024-03-22|accessdate=2024-04-27}}

File:Revolution, Newcastle upon Tyne, July 2015.JPG in 2015]]

SPI Group holds the rights to several Stolichnaya trademarks in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Denmark, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Spain, Cyprus, Poland, Norway and Iceland. In a lawsuit before the Court of The Hague, FKP Sojuzplodoimport sought an order to have the trademarks returned to it from several SPI companies. The Hague court assumed jurisdiction based on two Brussels Regime instruments: Brussels Regulation 44/2001 (for the EU countries) and the 2007 Lugano Convention (Norway, Iceland). It ruled that, because the dispute did not relate to trademark validity (for which national courts have jurisdiction) but to trademark registration, it did have jurisdiction, because a main defendant was located in the Netherlands. To evaluate the validity of the trademarks, it would use the national law of the trademarks concerned.{{ECLI|ECLI:NL:RBDHA:2015:7293}}

PepsiCo had been the distributor of Stolichnaya based on an agreement with the Soviet government. The change in control of the trademarks and production facilities led to several lawsuits over which company could market vodka under the Stolichnaya name in the United States. On November 20, 1992, a US federal judge ruled that PepsiCo could maintain the exclusive right to the name in the United States, because allowing others to market under the name would bring a "risk of irreparable harm" to the trademark.{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CEEDC1339F933A15752C1A964958260|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=2007-07-21|date=1992-11-20|title=Company News; Judge Rejects Stolichnaya Trademark Suit}}

In 2009 William Grant & Sons signed an agreement with SPI Group to distribute Stolichnaya in the United States, taking over from PepsiCo. The William Grant & Sons distribution contract expired on December 31, 2013, and was not renewed, due to the desire of the SPI Group to manage its brand directly.[http://www.thebeveragejournal.com/spi-group-william-grant-sons-agree-not-renew-contract-stolichnaya/ SPI Group and William Grant & Sons Agree to Not Renew Contract for Stolichnaya] Retrieved July 25, 2013

In 2006 FKP Sojuzplodoimport brought an action against the owner of the mark Spirits International N.V., et al. in 2005.{{clarify|reason=2006 or 2005?|date=December 2022}} The district court dismissed almost all claims on a motion to dismiss, holding that the incontestable status of the registration meant that FKP Sojuzplodoimport couldn't challenge ownership. However, in 2009, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit overturned that decision, stating that FKP Sojuzplodoimport could challenge the validity of the assignment of the trademark.{{Cite web |url=https://propertyintangible.com/2010/10/invalid-assignment-isnt-incontestable.html |title=An Invalid Assignment Isn't Incontestable |access-date=2019-02-16 |archive-date=2019-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217142311/https://propertyintangible.com/2010/10/invalid-assignment-isnt-incontestable.html |url-status=dead }}

In 2011, after examining the grant given to FKP Sojuzplodoimport by the Russian government, the district court held, and the appeals court affirmed in 2013, that the Russian government had not transferred full ownership of the marks to FKP Sojuzplodoimport, so FKP Sojuzplodoimport wasn't the registrant of the mark. Since FKP Sojuzplodoimport had dismissed all claims except for infringement of a registered mark, it did not have standing and the case was dismissed.{{cite web|url=https://propertyintangible.com/2014/09/stolichnaya-case-still-alive-just-barely.html|title=Stolichnaya Case Still Alive, Just Barely|author=Pamela Chestek|work=Property, intangible |date=September 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923023130/https://propertyintangible.com/2014/09/stolichnaya-case-still-alive-just-barely.html|archive-date=September 23, 2014}}

FKP Sojuzplodoimport and the Russian government then signed a new document that assigned the trademarks to FKP Sojuzplodoimport in every way possible, and FKP Sojuzplodoimport filed a new lawsuit against Spirits International N.V. In 2014 the district court heard testimony from experts on Russian law and reached the conclusion that, under Russian law, FKP Sojuzplodoimport could only manage property, not own it and, therefore, FKP Sojuzplodoimport did not have standing.{{Cite web |url=https://propertyintangible.com/2014/11/over-again-for-stoli-but-just-for-now.html |title=Over Again for Stoli – But Just For Now |access-date=2019-02-16 |archive-date=2019-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217142257/https://propertyintangible.com/2014/11/over-again-for-stoli-but-just-for-now.html |url-status=dead }} However, in 2016, that decision was vacated by the Court of Appeals and the case went back to the district court.{{Cite web |url=https://propertyintangible.com/2016/01/stoli-is-back.html |title=Stoli Is Back |access-date=2019-02-16 |archive-date=2019-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217142308/https://propertyintangible.com/2016/01/stoli-is-back.html |url-status=dead }}

On December 2, 2024, Stoli Group USA announced that they had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection citing slowing demand for spirits, a cyberattack, and conflicts with Russia in court.{{cite news |last1= Valinsky|first1=Jordan |date=December 2, 2024 |title=Stoli vodka files for bankruptcy in the United States |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/02/business/stoli-vodka-usa-bankruptcy/index.html |work=CNN |access-date=December 2, 2024 }}

Stolichnaya is available in many varieties, including:{{cite web|access-date=2008-10-05|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/company-activities-management/product-management-branding/5208199-1.html|website=All Business |title=Stoli Razberi Hits One-Million-Case Milestone|date=2004-08-31}}

{{div col|colwidth=16em}}

• Stolichnaya 80 proof (red label)
• Stolichnaya 80 proof (Cristall or gold)
• Stolichnaya 100 proof (blue label)
• Stoli Blakberi (Blackberry)
• Stoli Blueberi (Blueberry)
• Stoli Citros (Citrus)
• Stoli Cranberi (Cranberry)
• Stoli Gala Applik (Apple)
• Stoli Ohranj (Orange)
• Stoli Peachik (Peach; formerly named Stoli Persik)
• Stoli Razberi (Raspberry)
• Stoli Strasberi (Strawberry)
• Stoli Vanil (Vanilla)
• Stoli White Pomegranik (White Pomegranate)
• Stoli Wild Cherri (Wild Cherry)
• Stoli Chocolat Razberi (Chocolate and Raspberry)
• Stoli Hot (Jalapeño)
• Stoli Sticki (Honey)
• Stoli Chocolat Kokonut (Chocolate and Coconut)
• Stoli Salted Karamel (Salted Caramel)
• Stoli Gluten Free

{{div col end}}

Several of these offerings have performed well at international spirits ratings competitions. For example, the Elit label was awarded a silver medal at the 2011 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.{{cite web|url=http://www.proof66.com/vodka/stolichnaya-elit-vodka.html|title=Proof66.com Summary Ratings Page for Stoli Elit|access-date=2012-10-21|archive-date=2012-11-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102221525/http://www.proof66.com/vodka/stolichnaya-elit-vodka.html|url-status=dead}}

Stolichnaya's chief rival Russian Standard questioned the SPI-produced Stolichnaya's Russian authenticity, because it is bottled in Latvia, not Russia. Stolichnaya's global distributor Pernod Ricard responded by insisting that it is an authentic Russian vodka, because nothing is added or removed during the bottling.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.russianstandard.com/corporation/press_center/press_coverage/24.smx|title=A new brand of Russian mogul|author=Brett Forest|date=November 2008|magazine=Vanity Fair|page=141|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715214729/http://www.russianstandard.com/corporation/press_center/press_coverage/24.smx|archive-date=July 15, 2011}}

In Eminem's 2010 music video for "Love the Way You Lie", Stolichnaya vodka was included in several scenes. The product placement began with actor Dominic Monaghan shoplifting a bottle of the vodka, after which he and actress Megan Fox drank from it on the roof of the liquor store.{{cite web| url = http://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2010/08/love_the_way_you_lie_with_me.html| title = Love The Way You Lie (With Me)| access-date = August 30, 2010| publisher = thelastpsychiatrist.com}}

Stolichnaya also advertises heavily during televised New York Yankees games, using digital banners behind home plate.{{cite web| url = http://gold.eventmatrix.com/EMCGWebTemplate/main.aspx?ProducerId=10225&EventId=10216| title = Stoli SMS| publisher = eventmatrix.com| pages = 1| access-date = 2012-01-04| archive-date = 2006-09-03| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060903234559/http://gold.eventmatrix.com/EMCGWebTemplate/main.aspx?ProducerId=10225&EventId=10216| url-status = dead}}

Roger Sterling, a main character in the American television series Mad Men, is also a fan of Stolichnaya, keeping a bottle in his office at all times.{{cite web| url = http://www.adweek.com/news/television/secret-product-placements-mad-men-100128| title = Secret Product Placements of Mad Men| date = 17 August 2009| access-date = July 24, 2014| publisher = adweek.com}} Sterling had the Stolichnaya sent from Greece.{{cite web|url=https://brandsandfilms.com/2010/02/not-the-stoli/|title=Not the Stoli|date=February 24, 2010|author=Erik}}

File:Pride in London 2016 - A drag performer dressed as Edina Monsoon from Absolutely Fabulous in the parade.png 2016]]

In July 2013 columnist Dan Savage joined gay bars and clubs in calling for a boycott of Stolichnaya and other Russian vodkas. The boycott was in response to anti-gay laws enacted by the Russian government.{{cite web|url=http://www.towleroad.com/2013/07/dan-savage-why-im-boycotting-russian-vodka.html|title=Dan Savage: Why I'm Boycotting Russian Vodka - Towleroad|work=Towleroad|date=2013-07-25}}{{cite news |title=Here's Why Gay Men Are Dumping Russian Vodka |first=Alexander |last=Abad-Santos |url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2013/07/heres-why-gay-men-arent-drinking-russian-vodka/67614/ |newspaper=The Atlantic |date=25 July 2013 |access-date=26 July 2013 |archive-date=27 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727175721/http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2013/07/heres-why-gay-men-arent-drinking-russian-vodka/67614/ |url-status=dead }}

In response, SPI, which has rights to the brand outside of Russia and produces it on its own separate from Russian FKP Stolichnaya, released a statement expressing their opposition to Russia's anti-gay policies, stating that, "Stolichnaya Vodka has always been, and continues to be, a fervent supporter and friend to the LGBT community."{{cite news| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wayne-self/of-savage-and-stoli-should-we-boycott_b_3659089.html | work=Huffington Post | first=Wayne | last=Self | title=Of Savage and Stoli: Should We Boycott? | date=2013-07-26}}{{cite news| url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathryndill/2013/07/30/stolichnaya-responds-we-have-no-influence-over-russias-government/ |title=Stolichnaya Responds: We Have No Influence Over Russia's Government | work=Forbes | first=Kathryn | last=Dill}}

SPI announced that the company would be making a donation to a group working on behalf of Russian LGBT activists.{{cite news| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/stoli-vodka-gay-boycott_n_3682365.html | work=Huffington Post | first=Michelangelo | last=Signorile | title=Stoli CEO Speaks Out On How Company Will Respond To Vodka Boycott | date=2013-07-31}} Company CEO Val Mendeleev also insisted that the company is "not a Russian company", whilst acknowledging that at the time the company operates a distillery in Russia.

• {{Portal inline|Drink}}
• {{Portal inline|Liquor}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://spimport.ru/index.php Official website] of state-owned ФКП «Союзплодоимпорт» (FKP "Sojuzplodimport")
• [https://stoli.com Official website] of SPI produced Stoli

{{Vodkas}}

{{Alcoholic drinks}}

Category:Vodka brands

Category:Russian vodkas

Category:Russian brands

Category:Soviet brands

Category:Products introduced in 1953

Category:Pernod Ricard brands

Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024