Drink Hunters Festival. Day one – distillation tasting.

On October 3-4, the Drink Hunters festival was held in Kharkiv. In the former bar “Terka”, on the street. Petrovsky 29, a pleasant atmosphere reigned, interesting lectures and master classes were held, and the stands were full of unusual snacks and soulful alcohol.

I found out about the festival by accident, thanks to a subscription to Pavel Yan, whom everyone on the Web knows as Scomorokh imbayber. I have long wanted to interview him, but somehow did not work out. I saw an opportunity and went. I never thought that I would meet so many interesting people there. Remarkably, the organizers of this movement were girls who, during working hours, organize weddings and similar celebrations. Here is such a turn.

During the two days of the festival, and it must be said, such an event in Kharkov is not often held, if not for the first time (or, as usual, I missed everything), about 600 people visited it. The scope is not so hot, but not empty either. The entrance was paid, a purely symbolic amount – 25 UAH. Armed with a SLR, I went for new material without hesitation.

Stands

Rocked for a long time. I arrived half an hour later than the scheduled time, but most of the stands were not yet ready. There weren’t many people. It is understandable – 12 noon on Saturday. This is me at work, and people have a well-deserved rest.

Immediately ran through the stands. There were about a dozen of them, but only three interested me. First of all, this is a stand from Churrasco Bar, led by Vitaliy Panchenko (aka Val). I have known him for over 5 years, since my days at Caffeine. In a way, he was my first barista mentor.

Now he works not only at the bar. Prepares delicious tinctures for the entire Gastronomic Association network (Caffeine, Coffee, Pig Bar, Kavaart, Churrasco Bar and Grill Churrasco). The assortment includes almost all the classics, such as raspberries on gin, horseradish, peppercorns, etc. All tinctures are prepared with vodka or gin (this does not require any permits: vodka + ingredient = cocktail).

I really liked the spicy flavor. Something similar to our Becherovka, but much softer and burning. I tried Klyukovka with mint – I didn’t like it, it’s too sweet and you can hardly hear cranberries. Some I tried back in Pig. As an amateur, I prefer stronger, and vodka cannot give such drinks. That’s why I prefer alcohol.

I talked a little with Val. He prepares tinctures according to the principle: he took the raw material, filled it with vodka and wait. Nothing fancy, but the recipes are interesting. For example, I added a little rosemary to peppercorns – I got a completely different drink, with a twist. I will definitely interview him in the near future.

Suddenly I came across the booth of a small family production “Privatna Guralnya Aronova”. Here the assortment was much richer, so I stayed at their place for a long time. Finally I tried Starka, tasted Kalganovka and branded “Shinkarskaya” on herbs, in which I tasted only thyme and lemon balm / mint. Another branded tincture “Aronovka” turned out to be just a cherry. I taste better.

There are only four Aronovs. 100% natural tinctures are prepared from 100% natural rural raw materials. The father of the family is a very interesting person, but for a number of reasons he refused to give an interview. However, he said a lot in the conversation. All tinctures are made with grain alcohol. The range includes homemade whiskey made from malt alcohol and infused with oak chips. Next to him stood brandy, a distillate of grape must on oak chips.

All tinctures are quite strong and very, very homemade. That’s how they turn out for me and probably should turn out for you. Unfortunately, I can’t say anything more about the Aronov family, they asked.

Another stand that interested me was a small craft beer shop with the uncomplicated name Craft Beer Store. The guys just opened. They cooperate with craft breweries all over Ukraine. I was promptly tasted a very strong ale (highly hopped) and some other specimen, something about a rabbit.

I liked craft beer. Thick, rich, just the way I like it. But I didn’t buy a bottle – they take too much.

Master classes and lectures

As part of Drink Hunters, lectures and master classes were held. I am usually skeptical about such initiatives. Usually not covered by advertising. But this time it was really interesting and fun. The first master class was conducted by a representative of the salon of wines and alcohol In vino. The banal topic “How to open a sparkling wine” was not so banal.

First there was a short lecture on sparkling wines, and then a master class on how to open these same sparkling wines. It was fun, useful and, most importantly, delicious.

I liked the second master class with tasting much more. Moreover, it was attended by my favorite alcoholic drink – whiskey. Andrey Kosachev, brand bartender of William Grant & Sons in Ukraine, was in charge. First there was a very interesting lecture about the company itself, and then a tasting of the Irish Tullamore Dew and two Scots Grant’s Ale Cask Finish Whiskey and Grant’s 8 Year Old Whiskey.

An Irishman is like an Irishman, but the most ordinary Grant’s Ale Cask Finish scotch surprised me with its fairly balanced mild taste. On the contrary, the 8-year-old scotch seemed harsh, but its aroma conquered everyone. On the second day of the festival, it was Grant’s 8 Year Old that was added to each cocktail by the participants in the mixology competition.

But what impressed me the most was Hendrick’s gin. This is really something new and fresh, very tasty and fragrant. Now I have it # 1, though the price bites a little.

After the master classes, I was pretty hungry (aperitifs and digestifs did their job). While I was running to have a bite, I missed, as it turned out later, an interesting master class with a tasting from the Mr.Bourbon coffee house. Their representative talked about coffee and new ways of making it. Main theme: “Alternative coffee vs. Commercial Grain. Of course, alternative coffee won on all counts. But, unfortunately, I arrived only in time for the end of the tasting, which, however, did not prevent me from tasting a good drink, certified in an aero press.

The second day was much richer and more interesting. The reason for the second part of the report, because this one can be incredibly long. By the way, after the first day of tastings, I didn’t feel very well, my head was splitting. Apparently mixed home …