Tinctures collection by Sergei Yeroshenko and traditions of old Moscow

DCW Magazine goes on dispelling myths about Russian alcohol traditions. Common belief that Russians drink only vodka is far off. Recently we have published a big article about Polugar – Russian historical alcohol drink. But there is much more. Russia has rich and ancient story for alcohol traditions. Bread wines and grape wines, braga and nalivka, and tinctures, of course.

Russian tincture – what is that?

Tincture is a popular sort of alcohol drink around the world, but in Russia this is a special culture, a certain aesthetics of drinking and spending time. Due to the huge scales – from Northern tundra to Caucasus and steppes of Middle Asia – and due to the great diversity of local fruits, berries, plants and herbs, Russian tinctures is a large and separate category of alcohol drinks. Do you want to know more about Russian national tinctures and find the places to taste them? Than read the article below. Let’s go! 

According to Wikipedia, tincture is an alcohol drink, produced by means of infusion of strong alcohol with different types of fruits, medical and aromatic herbs, pits and spices. 

Where can you drink the tinctures in Moscow?

Almost every Russian bar has its own set of tinctures. Usually it is not super long list but there are the top positions popular among locals and curious foreign guests: horseradish, buckwheat and rowanberry. 

There are certain places where the cult of tinctures has special status. One should come there to understand the idea of alcohol history of this huge country. And probably understand its national idea as well. 

In Moscow there is such a place. It is called “Honest kitchen”. Collection of tinctures by Chief and owner of this restaurant, Sergei Yeroshenko, makes a great impression. Menu is based on local products, usually grown up and harvested by Sergei at his farms in Ivanovo. Tinctures are made by good-old receipts. 11 unique types are infused with fruits, berries and roots from the same farms. 

We will fight to depression

Notion of moping or literally “khandra” is widely spread in Russia due to the long, dark and cold  winter period. In order to fight it one should take care of what he eats and drinks. One of the most important criterias is naturality. At “Honest Kitchen” products are natural and exclusively ecological. Everything is done under the strict control of the owner: from harvesting to bottling. The tinctures from the menu are based at different types of premium alcohol, such as vodka, whiskey, gin and rum. 

Vodka classics: black rowanberry with red chili pepper and cinnamon (50ml/190Rub.), black currant and lime (50ml/190Rub.), blackberry with orange peels (50ml/190Rub.), ginger with lime and lemon (50ml/190Rub.), cowberry (50ml/290Rub.) and cranberry (50ml/190Rub.).

A real siberian exhotics is strongly recommended for foreign guests: tincture with cedar nuts (50ml/290Rub.). Garden cherry with rum (50ml/390Rub.) and dried apricots finished with smokey whiskey (50ml/460Rub.) – are strike positions of the menu. While blackberry with gin (50ml/350Rub.) and honey horseradish (50ml/290Rub.) will cure any type of disease. 

Homemade tinctures can be served separately.  There is a degustation set with three positions for 390 Rub., you can choose the one you like to drink it further. But usually tinctures are paired with pies cooked at Russian wood oven, porridges, poultry, fowl and smoked fish. All this is enormously delicious.  

“Honest Kitchen” 

Sadovo-Chernogryazskaya str., 10

Moscow

Photos are courtesy of the restaurant.