A Russian alcohol producer linked to the Kremlin has received official permission to mass produce Dewar’s White Label whisky, a historic Scotch brand, according to reports. The Tula 1911 distillery, located approximately 150 miles south of Moscow in the village of Pron, obtained certification to bottle the Dewar’s label last month.

Dewar’s is owned by Bacardi, a Bermuda-based multinational, which has continued operations in Russia since the country’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Bacardi’s portfolio includes other brands bottled in Russia, such as William Lawson’s Scotch and Martini. Ukrainian authorities previously labeled Bacardi as an “international war sponsor” due to the tax revenue its Russian business contributes to the Kremlin.

Despite the ongoing conflict, there are no official restrictions on alcohol sales to Russia. However, the Scottish government, where Dewar’s is headquartered, has urged companies to sever commercial ties with the country in response to the war. A spokesperson for the Scottish government condemned the invasion and called on Bacardi and Dewar’s to cease trading with Russia, emphasizing ongoing efforts to block economic activities that support the Kremlin.

Nezir Sinani, executive director of B4Ukraine, an alliance advocating for business withdrawal from Russia, criticized the move to license Dewar’s production in Russia. He described it as “particularly shameful” that a prominent Scottish brand would be bottled there, urging companies that remain in Russia to recognize the consequences of funding the war economy.

The Tula 1911 distillery is partly owned by Rosspiritprom, a national alcohol company recently privatized. Independent Russian investigative journalists reported that Arkady Rotenberg, a billionaire oligarch and former judo partner of President Vladimir Putin, holds a 51% stake in Rosspiritprom.

Bacardi did not respond to requests for comment regarding the licensing arrangement. The development highlights ongoing concerns about foreign business operations in Russia amid the war in Ukraine and the complex interplay of global trade, sanctions, and corporate responsibility.