It’s official: Stolichnaya vodka is now just plain Stoli.
Yuri Shefler, the brand’s founder, announced the name change in a March 4 statement as a reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
As Stolichnaya, the product stood for a long time as the only consumer product from the Soviet Union widely available in the United States. But around 2000, production moved from Russia to Latvia, due in part to Shefler’s differences with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Despite its non-Russian provenance, Stoli vodka has been the target of reprisals since the start of the war, with several establishments ostentatiously pouring it out.
"While I have been exiled from Russia since 2000 due to my opposition to Putin, I have remained proud of the Stolichnaya brand," Shefler said. "Today, we have made the decision to rebrand entirely as the name no longer represents our organization. More than anything, I wish for 'Stoli' to represent peace in Europe and solidarity with Ukraine."
In addition, Stoli Group will contribute to World Central Kitchen, a non-profit that provides meals to victims of humanitarian disasters.
