Last week, the Sunday Independent reported Jameson products were for sale on a popular Russian alcohol website with stores in Moscow. Photo: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Before its invasion of Ukraine, Russia had emerged as a popular market for Irish whiskey
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Last week, the Sunday Independent reported Jameson products were for sale on a popular Russian alcohol website with stores in Moscow. Photo: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Pernod Ricard, which owns Ireland’s biggest-selling whiskey brand Jameson, has resumed supply of brands to the Russian market having previously suspended sales there in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Last week, the Sunday Independent confirmed various Jameson products were available on a popular Russian alcohol website with stores in the country’s capital city, Moscow.
Jameson is produced in Midleton, Co Cork, by Pernod Ricard-owned Irish Distillers, which is also behind other well-known whiskey brands, including Powers and Redbreast.
In response to questions from the Sunday Independent on the availability of Jameson in Russia, a spokeswoman for the company said: “Since the beginning of the war, our priority has always been the protection of our local employees in both Ukraine and Russia in strict compliance with all applicable regulations and sanctions.
Before its invasion of Ukraine, Russia had emerged as a popular market for Irish whiskey
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Before its invasion of Ukraine, Russia had emerged as a popular market for Irish whiskey
“Initially, this was possible through the sale of pre-existing stocks which were held in the market and imported prior to the war starting.
“These stocks have been depleted and therefore, in continued strict compliance with all applicable regulations, we are supplying stock to a level that permits us to ensure the welfare of our local team and the viability of the Pernod Ricard distribution subsidiary.”
In March 2022, just weeks after Russia’s invasion, Pernod Ricard told the Sunday Independent it had suspended all sales in Russia “until further notice”.
Before its invasion, Russia had emerged as a popular market for Irish whiskey.
According to the Irish Whiskey Association, Russia was once Ireland’s second-largest whiskey export market behind the United States, with 534,000 cases sold there in 2020.
Irish Distillers reported Jameson had grown sales in Russia by 19pc in its results for 2021.
Its half-year results to December 2022 show Jameson had sales of 6.4 million cases globally, up 11pc on the previous year.
