Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka

Smirnoff is one of the world's most recognized spirits brands, with a complex history that spans across Russia, France, and North America. Originally founded in Moscow in 1864 by Pyotr Arsenyevitch Smirnov, the brand rose to prestige as the official vodka supplier to the Russian Imperial Court. However, during the Russian Revolution of 1917, the Smirnov family was forced to flee, and Pyotr's son, Vladimir, eventually established a new distillery in France, where he adapted the family name to the more Western-friendly spelling, Smirnoff.

Today, Smirnoff is owned by the British multinational spirits giant Diageo. Because it is a global brand with immense production volume, it is manufactured in multiple countries to serve regional markets efficiently. Major production sites are located in the United States (notably Illinois) and the United Kingdom, but it is also distilled or bottled in countries like Italy, Ireland, Brazil, and India. Despite its historical Russian roots, Smirnoff hasn't been produced in Russia for decades and is now a central pillar of the London-based owner's international portfolio.