The authors of the study found that “Bacardi Martini” partnered in Russia with the brother of a deputy from the ruling party “United Russia,” who finances the training of combat drone operators. Previously, Bacardi drinks also began to be bottled at the Tula factory, associated with businessman Arkady Rotenberg, close to Vladimir Putin.
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They promised to leave, but stayed to get richer
In March 2022, a month after the start of the large-scale Russian invasion, Bacardi issued a statement condemning the attack on Ukraine and promising to stop exports to Russia and freeze advertising investments.
In 2023, the publication “The Bell” noted that shortly after the statement made world media headlines, the sentence about stopping exports and marketing expenses quietly disappeared from it. It remained only in the archived version of the page.
The promises to withdraw vanished, and the group’s subsidiary “Bacardi Rus” became one of the main beneficiaries of competitors’ withdrawal from the country – its revenues increased by 71% since the start of the large-scale war.
Bacardi not only continued importing finished products but also moved part of the bottling to Russia. Drinks began to be bottled at factories associated with Dagestan deputy Zaur Askenderov, who finances combat drone operator training. Two other group brands, including Bacardi OakHeart, are bottled for the Russian market at the Tula factory, co-owned by Arkady Rotenberg.
As journalists found out, recently the Russian company “Alvisa” produced the first industrial batches of Martini Bianco vermouth and Martini Fiero citrus aperitif. This is confirmed by reports submitted to the Russian alcohol and tobacco market supervision service, verified by The Insider.
The relocation of production of one of the world’s best-known vermouth brands to Russia was announced in October 2025, and production in the country began in July 2026.
Bacardi’s division in Russia – the company “Bacardi Rus,” whose ultimate beneficiary is Bermuda-registered Bacardi Limited – not only remained in this market but also took advantage of the withdrawal of Western competitors such as Moët Hennessy and Diageo.
As noted in the study, since the start of the large-scale Russian invasion, Bacardi Rus’s revenues increased by 71.45% – from 30.059 billion rubles in 2021 (about 346 million euros) to 51.537 billion rubles in 2025 (about 546 million euros).
Although the group promised to stop spending on advertising and marketing, in 2025 alone Bacardi Rus’s commercial expenses – for advertising, promotions, and brand popularization – amounted to 11.135 billion rubles (about 118 million euros).
Martini is one of the company’s best-recognized brands in Russia. Its products can be found both in specially arranged branded zones in Moscow retail chains and in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.
Pressed by tariffs
One of the main reasons for moving bottling to Russia is sharply increased tariffs. Since August 2024, a minimum tariff of 1.76 euros per liter applies to wine and vermouth from so-called unfriendly countries. If 25% of the customs value of the goods is a higher amount, that tariff is calculated instead.
The importer must also pay a 20% value-added tax, which is calculated on top of the tariff. Thus, for each liter of imported vermouth, the Russian budget receives at least 2.11 euros. By moving bottling to the Dagestan factory, Bacardi avoids these costs.
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Local production also provides the company with additional tax benefits. Russian producers using locally grown grapes can reclaim excise amounts. For still grape drinks, it is 108 rubles (about 1.2 euros) per liter.
Tariff pressure seems likely to increase. As reported by Kommersant, in May 2026 the Russian government announced plans to raise the tariff on strong alcoholic beverages from so-called unfriendly countries from 3 to 5 euros per liter of pure alcohol.
Spirit regions
Bacardi’s partner bottling Martini drinks belongs to the family of Zaur Askenderov, Chairman of the Dagestan People’s Assembly and head of the United Russia faction in the regional parliament. The politician also maintains close ties with oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, associated with the recently Ukrainian-strike-shaken Wildberries company.
After being elected to the Russian State Duma, Z. Askenderov formally withdrew from the list of beneficiaries of the company Alvisa. However, among the company’s co-owners remain his close relatives – brothers Kamil and Renat Askenderov, as well as the Gurarij family.
Z. Askenderov is one of the most active public supporters of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Since the end of 2022, he regularly supplies vehicles, equipment, and drones to Russian military units.
In 2023, on his personal initiative, the FPV drone operator practical training center “Technoliot” was opened at the Dagestan State Technical University.
The center openly states it is preparing “residents of the republic intending to participate in the special military operation” – the term used in Russia for the war in Ukraine.
They are promised to be provided completely free of charge with the specialty of unmanned aerial vehicle operator and given conditions to train in an environment as close as possible to combat conditions.
The Dagestan factory is not the only Bacardi partner in Russia bottling the company’s drinks under contract. Since 2023, the rum Bacardi Oakheart and gin Bosford have been bottled at the Tula spirit distillery “1911.” The raw materials are supplied by the same Swiss company Tradall S.A.
In summer 2025, the controlling 51% stake in the factory was acquired by Rosspirtprom. Its true beneficiary is considered to be Arkady Rotenberg – a close friend of Vladimir Putin and his former judo training partner.
In March 2022, Bacardi condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and promised to withdraw from the Russian market. However, after four and a half years, the company not only retained but increased its market share in this country. Moreover, it began industrial-scale bottling of its key brand drinks at factories associated with a deputy training future war participants and the business empire of Putin’s training partner.
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