Spirits

Let’s Drink Ukrainian—Not Russian—Vodka

A breakdown of where our vodka actually comes from.

By Neal McLennan /

At times like these, being someone who spends my professional life deciding if a Cabernet is more menthol or more eucalyptus seems a bit of a lightweight pursuit. But even within the fluffy realm that I roam, there are small steps that can be made to show solidarity with our Ukrainian friends as they endure this terrible time.

For starters —Ukrainian Vodka. The only brand widely available in the Province is Nemiroff, which is distilled in Nemyriv in the Vinnytsia region of Ukraine southwest of Kyiv. My brother-in-law, Chris Dushinski, drinks it and it’s very solid and a dude with the last name Dushinski knows what’s what when it come to all things Ukrainian.

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As for Russian Vodka – the BCL has pulled it from the shelves. A note Smirnoff is not Russian and hasn’t been for ages. Most of it is actually made in Canada. Stolichnaya is a trickier one. The version we get here is actually made in Latvia—it’s still on the shelves— but it uses alcohol from Russia and is owned by Russian Oligarch Yuri Shefler. Do with such information as you see fit.