Glendale Scotch whiskey will begin production in Russia before the end of 2024

According to a Luding representative, bottling of the drink is planned to begin before the end of 2024 at the Kolomensky Wine and Cognac Factory in the Moscow Region. Previously, whiskey was produced exclusively in Scotland, he noted.

The production of Glendale whiskey in Russia will amount to 70 thousand bottles per month with the possibility of increasing the volume. Luding noted that the drink will be sold in the budget segment, but the exact price has not yet been revealed. Currently, the retail price of a 0.7 liter bottle of Glendale whiskey is 1.2 thousand rubles.

The director of the Research Center for Federal and Regional Alcohol Markets, Vadim Drobiz, emphasizes that demand for whiskey in Russia is increasing and sales increased by 26% in the first half of 2024. According to NielsenIQ, the leading brands in the Russian market are William Lawsons, Steersman and Fowler’s. Drobiz predicts a further increase in whiskey production in Russia to 10 million decaliters per year, but emphasizes that 90% of the drink is produced from imported raw materials.

Ladoga President Veniamin Grabar confirmed an increase in whiskey sales at the company of 68% in the nine months of this year. He also noted that whiskey consumption in Russia is changing: buyers are less interested in imported brands due to “patriotic considerations” and fear of “coming across a fake.” The secretary of the Alcopro guild, Andrei Moskovsky, told the publication that the Association of Scotch Whiskey Producers does not recommend its members cooperate with Russia. According to him, in 2025 direct contracts between Russia and Scotland will probably end due to the current hostile atmosphere. According to the expert, a significant part of the products already arrive in Russia through indirect routes that pass through France, Spain and other countries.

At the end of September, the Ladoga alcohol company (Tsarskaya vodka, Barrister gin and Fowler’s whiskey) announced that it had become a distributor of French Hardy cognac. The company expects to earn at least 70 million rubles a year. The first 8,000 bottles have already been imported to Russia and will go to the company’s stores, specialty boutiques and restaurants.