Introducing Pussy Riot Vodka and “The Putini”

The Russian punk band, Pussy Riot famously became part of international consciousness after two members of the band were arrested and jailed after a performance critical of Russian president Vladimir Putin. After serving nearly two years in prison the jailed members of the band were released on December 23rd in what has largely been seen as a political PR move leading up to the Olympic Games in Sochi.

For the first time since being released, the two formerly jailed members of the band are in New York today, sitting around a table with reporters at New York Times.

This obviously calls for a drink. But what? A “Putini” made with Pussy Riot Vodka, that’s what. Two Los Angeles-based artists, Gordy Grundy and Michael Delgado, have created an unaffiliated and completely satirical brand of vodka, complete with marketing and business plan and recipes, meant to parody the way “in which worthy causes are often highjacked [sic] for selfish motives.” The slogan: “American-made anarchy in a bottle.”

It’s hilarious until you realize how entirely possible it would be that a liquor brand, seeing the marketing potential of such a thing, would in fact come up with a Pussy Riot Vodka aimed at college-age kids on liberal arts campuses. More than a commentary on the “asymmetrical power of social media,” as they claim in their mission statement, it’s a poignant comment on the oft-ridiculous nature of liquor branding and marketing.

All said, the “Putini” is brilliant, but it is missing a few intangible ingredients. Like, a little totalitarianism. And some corruption. [Facebook/Pussy Riot Vodka]

Oh, and there’s a video:

“The Putini” via Pussy Riot Vodka on YouTube.