JSC “Kristall” (Kaluga)
The forth state vodka monopoly in Russia dates back to the nineteenth century. In the middle of 1899 a new state wine storehouse was built in the Kaluga province. The plant story begins on the 14th of July 1901 with a grand opening of the state wine sale and sanctification of the first wine storehouse. Nowadays the plant is one of the leading distilleries in Russia. Among its best known vodkas and liquers are “Gzhelka” and “Black Cristall”, “Rzhanaya”, “Pshenichnaya”, “Rjabinovaya na konjyake”, “Gzhelka s pertsem” (“Gzhelka pepper”) etc.
The plant is modernly equipped and has 6 automated Italian and German production lines. Vodka quality standards are observed at every stage of production, from production of raw sprit at the Ostrozhenskij distillery up to the packing process. First-rate sorts of rye and wheat are used for distillery and permanent time-proved suppliers of raw materials are engaged. This makes for the product taste identity by mass production.
In 2003 the enterprise obtained the European Quality System Certificate ISO 9000:2000.
Only premium rectificated “Lux” and “Extra” alcohol are used by vodka production.
Alcoholic beverages presented for tasting competitions have repeatedly claimed rewards at most prestigious Russian and international exhibitions. Since 1994 the JSC “Kristall” has claimed more than 200 rewards.
Kaluga plant “Kristall” is the core facility of the Commercial and Industrial group “Cristall”. The plant joined the group in 2003 and a new stage in its history began. Due to this strategic partnership the JSC “Kristall” managed to launch a whole bunch of new brands to the federal market as well as to promote local brands on its regional market.
In 1967 the plant began exporting its products. Among its most popular vodkas at that time were “Stolichnaya”, “Moskovskaya”, “Sibirskaya”, “Kubanskaya”, “Pertsovka”, “Ohotnichiya”, “Starka”, “Zubrovka”. Nowadays its products also go on export. The US sales company Doyna Michigan Company, purchased by the CIG “Cristall” is engaged in wholesale deliveries of vodka “White gold” in the USA and its promotion there. Genuine Russian vodka in the USA is inseparably linked with vodka “White Gold”.
