Ukrainian wineries seamlessly blend tradition and innovation, crafting wines that stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Europe’s and North America’s best. But we also take pride in true treasures—authentic spirits that capture the essence of our cultural heritage.
From sikery (honey meads) and fragrant ratafias (liqueurs made by infusing fruit in alcohol and sugar) to refined palinkas (fruit brandy), these drinks aren’t just beverages—they’re a taste of our history. Pair these with a variety of unique infusions and liqueurs, and you’ll uncover flavours that deserve to be savoured.
YBBP has compiled a list of thirteen Ukrainian distillers whose drinks promise to surprise and delight. These drinks aren’t just a celebration of Ukraine’s richness and depth, but also a reminder that there’s so much more to discover.
1. Mykulynetsky Brovar
Mykulynetsky Brovar was established in 1497 in the Ternopil region’s Mykulyntsi. This historic brewery produces beer, a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and mineral water. In 2008, the company became the first and so far the only one in Ukraine to receive a licence for crafting single malt whisky, following a unique recipe. Unlike many Scottish whiskies with smoky or peaty aromas, Mykulynetsky whisky offers a smooth flavour with hints of milk chocolate, a rich amber-golden hue, and a refined texture.
To produce its whisky, it uses barley grown on its own brewery fields, ensuring full control over raw material quality. Mykulynetsky Brovar uses barley grown on its own fields and local spring water to craft its whisky, which is aged for 7 to 10 years, ensuring a distinctive profile.
2. Lipsha Distillery
Lipsha Distillery — a Lviv-based distillery dedicated to promoting the richness of Ukrainian local products and ingredients.
Lipsha Gin features a distinctive fruity flavour, highlighted by sweet-and-sour notes of viburnum. Infused with local herbs, spices, and citrus elements, it delivers a more complex and captivating taste than traditional gins, which often centre around juniper.
Lipsha Distillery employs a craft approach, focused on quality over quantity, ensuring every bottle reflects its artisanal values.
3. Shipulin Private Infusions
Established in 2018 by Dmitry and Anna Shipulin, this family-run business specializes in natural alcoholic infusions. It started as Dmitry’s passion for crafting unique infusions. Dmitry continually expands his expertise by studying professional resources, keeping up with modern bar culture trends, competing in mixology contests, and innovating new recipes.
Their infusions are made exclusively with natural ingredients — fruits, berries, herbs, and Ukrainian spices. Some are aged in oak barrels to deepen their aroma and flavour.
All infusions are crafted by steeping alcohol with fruits, berries, and herbs. For instance, their cherry infusion is made this way. The range includes sea buckthorn infusion, pepper vodka (pertsivka), raspberry with rose, blackcurrant with mint, tomato infusion, khrenivka (horseradish infusion), as well as coconut cream, honey mead with lemon, and walnut infusion.
4. Medovyi Spas Meadery
Medovyi Spas Meadery — established on October 14, 2018, in Brovary, Kyiv region, Medovyi Spas is one of Ukraine’s first industrial-scale meaderies. It crafts natural honey-based beverages, blending traditional mead-making with modern technologies.
Cikera, the main product of Medovyi Spas Meadery, is crafted following a recipe reminiscent of the honey meads enjoyed during Kyivan Rus. Made with natural honey and juices from cherries, blackberries, chokeberries, currants, and apples, it is fermented with pure yeast cultures and aged in oak barrels. Aged in oak barrels with an alcohol content capped at 14%, Cikera offers a flavour distinct from conventional wines.
The meadery also produces Pet-Nat (Pétillant Naturel), a natural sparkling wine crafted using the ancestral method. This traditional method involves bottling the fermenting juice to achieve natural bubbles without added yeast or sugar. The Pet-Nat versions of Cikera are refreshingly light, with a subtle, low-alcohol charm.
5. Kontapel
Founded by brothers Roman and Andrii Pelekh, this brand specializes in crafting the unique beverage “Kontabas.” The name merges the word “Kontabas” with the founders' surname, creating the brand name Kontapel.
The brand’s story began in 2018 when the brothers purchased an old house in a Zakarpattia village. During renovations, they discovered a deep cellar containing over 90 litres of Kontabas made in 1993 and a notebook with recipes for beverages and dishes from the 18th century.
Kontabas is crafted using distillate and freshly picked blackcurrant buds, harvested only once a year over a four-day window. Nearly 5 litres of buds are needed to produce ten bottles of this rare drink.
Popular among Ukrainian nobles in the 17th century, Kontabas was exclusively made for private consumption until the early 20th century. The founders believe that Kontabas, with its rich authenticity and exceptional quality, has the potential to stand alongside world-famous spirits like Scotch whisky and French cognac.
6. Bestiariy
Bestiariy — a craft producer of infusions and liqueurs from Odesa, creating beverages based on unique recipes inspired by Ukrainian and Slavic mythology. Initially, the brand’s founders made infusions as a hobby to treat their friends, but it later evolved into a full-fledged artisanal business. Their range includes a variety of drinks, such as the refreshing mint infusion “Mermaid’s Song” and a decadent chocolate liqueur.
7. Honey Badger
Honey Badger — a producer of infusions and liqueurs, founded in 2015 by Yuliya Kalenska and Artem Skubenko. After spending years abroad, the founders returned to Ukraine with a mission to revive traditional beverages that embody the country’s rich cultural and gastronomic heritage. Using time-honoured recipes sourced from across Ukraine, Honey Badger offers a unique selection of drinks, including:
- “Na Bdzholakh” (On Bees) — an infusion made with honey, pollen, propolis, and wax.
- “Na Voshchyni” (On Honeycomb) features honeycomb as its base, a natural ingredient historically valued in Ukraine for its antibacterial properties.
U.Gin — a premium Ukrainian gin infused with juniper and aromatic spices.
8. First Zakarpattia Palyncharnia
First Zakarpattia Palyncharnia — a producer from Zakarpattia specializing in palinka, a traditional strong spirit crafted by distilling fermented fruits and berries, including plums, apples, pears, apricots, quince, cherries, sweet cherries, and grapes.
Committed to authenticity, the production process avoids chemical preservatives, artificial flavourings, colourings, and additives.
To produce one bottle of palinka, 7 to 9 kilograms of ripe fruits or berries are required. After distillation, the spirit is aged for 30 to 90 days to achieve its refined taste and aroma.
9. Genyo and Vovkulaka Distillery
Genyo and Vovkulaka Distillery — a craft producer of alcoholic beverages founded by passionate enthusiasts Genyo and Vovkulaka Semenovych. This craft distillery specializes in Ukrainian whisky, gin, liqueurs, and infusions. They produce a distinctive lineup of spirits by blending traditional techniques with their own creative methods.
Their rye whisky, “Shelma” 4.5YR, is distinguished by a mash containing 62.5% smoked rye along with rye, barley, and wheat malt. Another signature product, the malt whisky “Kiptyava,” is made with 80% barley and 20% rye malt and aged for over four years in 50-litre Ukrainian oak barrels. Also in their collection is the gin “Char-Zillia,” crafted with a high juniper content for a crisp, pine-like aroma. This gin is aged in barrels that once held corn whisky. The range also includes rich chokeberry liqueurs.
10. Nastoinstva
Nastoinstva — a craft producer of natural infusions made without sugar, preservatives, or heat treatment. By blending traditional recipes with modern quality standards, they create beverages tailored to modern tastes. Their infusions are crafted from fresh fruits, berries, and spices, offering a diverse range such as: “Euphoria” — based on lingonberries and basil, “Field” — featuring 14 types of wild herbs, “Passion” — a blend of raspberry with hints of menthol and hot pepper. Staying true to their innovative spirit, Nastoinstva crafts bold creations such as Hrinanas — an unexpected fusion of hrinovuha (horseradish vodka) and pineapple juice.
11. MP Distillery
MP Distillery — based in Dnipro, this craft distillery takes its name from the initials of its founders, Mykola and Pavlo. Renowned for its premium spirits, MP Distillery produces gin, whisky, vodka, and brandy, all crafted with a focus on quality and tradition.
The distillery uses botanical ingredients such as juniper, coriander, citrus fruits, local herbs, and spices to craft its gin. Its whisky is made using classic techniques with high-grade malt and then aged in oak barrels for a refined finish. The brandy is created from fermented apple and apricot juices, delivering a rich, natural flavour.
Apart from beverage production, MP Distillery supports the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Instead of discarding the initial distillation fraction (known as “heads”), the distillery repurposes it to produce liquid candles. These candles burn for 1–1.5 hours, serving as a light source and even heat for cooking.
12. Ryabcev Distillery
Ryabcev Distillery — founded by Oleksandr Ryabcev, a Dnipro-based entrepreneur, this craft distillery specializes in premium wines, brandies, liqueurs, and a remarkable collection of artisanal gins. Before establishing his alcohol production venture, Ryabcev managed logistics companies. However, a transformative trip to Georgia, where he encountered local wines and chacha (grape spirit), inspired him to experiment with winemaking using grapes from his own vineyard, gradually refining his creations.
Ryabcev’s interest later expanded to gin production, and after perfecting his initial recipes, he launched the “Academy GIN” line. This diverse collection now includes over 15 innovative gin varieties, featuring bold ingredients like marigold, beetroot paired with fresh cucumber, sloe berry infusion, premium gin crafted with calvados, and experimental blends incorporating dogwood, lavender, blackcurrant, and more.
