Українська
московитів
As the evenings grow warmer and music fills the air with springtime romance, it’s time for something special. Not an ordinary glass of wine, and not overly sophisticated mixes with exotic names — but something familiar, warm, and personal: a cocktail that brings the Ukrainian soul to life — in a drop of honey, in the tart accent of cherry, in a spark of mint or the bold character of horseradish.
“Mix the Ukrainian way” is not just a slogan — it’s a lifestyle. When instead of gin, you use a fragrant wormwood infusion, and instead of orange liqueur, an amber sea buckthorn one — made right here, from local fruits gifted by our generous land.
Let’s turn your home kitchen into a little bar — with a national accent and a modern twist. But it’s important to know how to combine familiar flavors in unexpected ways, crafting cocktails that taste like memories of your grandmother’s orchard, like a breath of the Carpathians, or an evening by the Dnipro River embankment. So, let’s embark on a flavorful journey — following the trail of inspiration, with Ukrainian liqueurs and syrups from Brandbar.
The Triumph of Locality: Ukrainian Flavor in Every Sip
What makes a cocktail unforgettable? Not just the proportions, the shape of the glass, or the ice slowly melting at the bottom. It’s the soul. Or as we say — a flavor that speaks Ukrainian.
Local ingredients aren’t just a passing trend. They’re a return to our roots — to berries ripened under the sun of Polissia, herbs gathered at dawn on the Kherson steppes, honey infused with the silence of apiaries. This is the foundation of a new cocktail culture, where every sip carries the spirit of the land and the sincerity of those who nurtured it.
Brandbar doesn’t just create liqueurs and syrups — it bottles real emotion. The cherry liqueur smells like a summer garden after the rain. The sea buckthorn — like a cozy scarf in autumn. The mint — like a crisp Carpathian morning. The honey — like mom’s kitchen in winter. These flavors don’t need to be invented — they already live in our memory, our childhood, our traditions. And now they can come alive in a new way — in a cocktail made with your own hands.
That’s the true triumph of locality: when you don’t imitate the world but mix it on your own terms. When you drink not the “international”, but what is yours — native, authentic, inspired.
The modern cocktail scene is experiencing a renaissance of local ingredients. The shift away from the exotic in favor of what the native soil gives us is a tribute to our culture and a support for local producers. Brandbar, with its elegant line of liqueurs and syrups, fits perfectly into this trend — unlocking endless possibilities for culinary and mixology creativity.
Apricot Sunrise – bright, refreshing, sunny, yet never overpowering. Like the first ray of sun on a Carpathian morning.
Let’s take:
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40 ml Brandbar Apricot Liqueur;
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80 ml dry sparkling wine;
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15 ml Brandbar Cucumber Syrup;
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2 ice cubes and a slice of fresh cucumber.
Add ice to a flute glass, pour in the liqueur, and gently top with sparkling wine. Do not stir — let them blend on their own. Garnish with a cucumber slice.
Minimalism and Elegance: Cocktails That Highlight, Not Hide, the Flavor
Some cocktails shout — with fireworks of ingredients, colorful umbrellas, smoke and sweetness. But there are others. The ones that speak softly. The ones that need no decoration, because they have what matters — a pure, recognizable flavor that doesn’t need special effects to shine.
True elegance lies in simplicity. One liqueur, a gentle accent of sweetness, a single ice cube slowly melting. Every drop in its place. Every aroma — a quiet phrase in a peaceful dialogue, not a loud monologue stealing all the spotlight.
Brandbar liqueurs and syrups are perfect for such mixes. They don’t need to be hidden — on the contrary, they deserve space to shine. Cherry liqueur — with a touch of lemon juice and soda. Or sea buckthorn — with a couple of ice cubes and dry sparkling wine. Like a classic little black dress or a crisp white shirt: restrained, yet refined and elegant. This kind of minimalism is not about absence — it’s about confidence in flavor. The belief that you need nothing more to impress. That a Ukrainian liqueur or syrup can be the soloist, not just the background.
Sometimes the best cocktail is simply a moment, where everything extra fades away. And in the glass — truth, taste, and quiet.
The trend of minimalism has also reached the cocktail world. Complex recipes with a dozen ingredients are giving way to drinks where each component plays a clear, meaningful role. Two or three carefully selected and balanced ingredients can create a flavor explosion that stays with you.
Cherry Calm – a velvety cocktail with a light tang and notes of post-rain summer.
You’ll need:
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50 ml Brandbar Cherry Liqueur;
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10 ml Brandbar Cherry Syrup;
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100 ml chilled soda water;
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2 tsp fresh lemon juice;
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Ice cubes.
Pour liqueur into a highball glass filled with ice, add lemon juice and syrup, and top with soda. Stir gently with a bar spoon. Garnish with a few fresh cherries or a cocktail CherryTwig with a stem.
A Trio of Flavors: Rediscovering Ukrainian Classics with a Modern Twist
Here are three more minimalist and elegant cocktails with Brandbar liqueurs that you can easily make at home. Each of them is a harmony of flavor — one local liqueur takes the lead while the others play supporting roles. These cocktails are like Ukrainian jazz: no clutter, just accents and atmosphere.
Mint Silence – fresh and clear like a Carpathian morning.
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40 ml Brandbar Crème de Menthe Liqueur;
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100 ml tonic water;
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Crushed ice.
Pour the liqueur into a clear highball glass over ice, add tonic, and stir gently to keep the bubbles. Garnish with mint leaves for aroma — and enjoy the gentle coolness and clarity of flavor.
Viburnum Twist – a bittersweet traditional chord. Deep and rich with a slight bitter note from viburnum. Herbal syrup adds sweetness, the spiced liqueur brings complexity, and a hint of cinnamon makes the flavor multifaceted.
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40 ml Brandbar Allspice Liqueur;
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80 ml viburnum infusion;
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10 ml Brandbar Mint Syrup;
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A pinch of ground cinnamon;
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Ice cubes.
In an old-fashioned glass filled with ice, add all ingredients in order. Garnish with frozen viburnum berries.
City Over the Dnipro – a fresh, grape-berry, elegant flavor. Like a quiet evening walk in Podil — unhurried, with a touch of soft romance.
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30 ml Brandbar Crème de Cassis Liqueur;
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50 ml dry white wine;
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10 ml sparkling water;
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Lemon zest and ice cubes.
In a wine glass, combine liqueur and wine, add sparkling water and ice, and garnish with lemon zest.
This trio is like short stories told in a glass. About mood, about experimentation, about what’s Ukrainian — and how it can be bold, new, and genuinely delicious.
Mix the Ukrainian Way: Taste That Lives in the Details
Every sip tastes like home. A memory of ripe cherries from your grandmother’s garden, the coolness of Carpathian rivers, the scent of dried herbs, the evening breeze from the fields. This is Ukraine — not just something you can see or feel, but something you can taste.
Brandbar’s liqueurs and syrups connect you to the local — without pretension, but with generosity and honesty. They invite you to become the author of your own cocktail. Not a bartender with a manual, but an artist guided by the heart.
To mix the Ukrainian way is not about fashion. It’s about freedom of taste, about play and tenderness, about honoring your roots. It’s when you’re home — and home tastes just right.