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Intro - Good to know
Vocabulary for Bar - Restaurant
Vocabulary for Supermarket
Non_Alcoholic Drinks
Alcoholic Beverages
Russian Drinking Toasts
How to choose I Fakes I Rules I Restrictions
Questions & Answers

Please note!

The following transliteration and pronunciation is given for the classical Latin alphabet and does not match with the rules of orthography and pronunciation of English.

Therefore do not pronounce
Russian words
how to you like represent
sounds in English.

For example:
The Latin letter U
should not be pronounced
as the English word you.
U = ~~YOU~~ = OO

Besides, in Russian, as in many other languages, words are pronounced differently than they are spelled. Our transliterated text does always matches the correct pronunciation!

If you doubt the correct pronunciation, click on the live audio link in Russian
Link to sound

Beverages & Drinks in Russia
How to choose and buy

LEARN RUSSIAN & VISIT RUSSIA

Good to know

INTRODUCTION

DEAR FRIENDS !

We want your trip to Russia to be the best and unforgettable! Therefore, we try to provide you with as much useful information as possible about our hospitable country.

Perhaps, the biggest problem for foreign visitors in Russia is the Russian language. You most likely learned something different at school, and Russians do not always know at least a couple of words in English.

The difficulty is added by the fact that the Russian language does not use the Latin script, but the Cyrillic one. And if in almost any other country you can guess what you are buying by reading the label or menu in a cafe, in Russia this is rarely possible.

If you have ever been to Greece, then maybe you are familiar with the situation when you thought that you bought a pack of milk and a bottle of beer, but in fact there was some kind of substance with a sour taste in the first bottle, and pine juice in the second?

To prevent this from happening again with you in Russia, we have made this website for you where we have combined an online phrasebook and an unusual guidebook in one. Now you can be sure that..

1) you will find the right store, supermarket or fair
2) not to go, for example, to 'Blue Oyster' instead of a good fish restaurant!
Don't like seafood? We will show you how to find a bar, cafe, restaurant and, generally speaking, all what you need and how to get there. You can be always sure, that find a great place, both for family holidays, and for crazy parties!
3) the staff will understand you and you will understand the staff
4) you yourself correctly identify any goods

In addition, we will tell you what are the restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia, how to identify a fake and how to choose the best vodka!
Want to know more about Russian cuisine? Click here
Do you need to find a good place to party? It's here

Welcome!

Drinks and beverages in Russia. Alcoholic, non-alcoholic, traditional. Where to buy and how to choose. Rules and restrictions. Vocabulary and phrasebook.

So, how to say, ask or understand something correctly in Russian, if you don`t know a single word in Russian? There is an exit!

First of all, we have collected everything you need in English and translated into Russian. Therefore, even if you still have not bought milk, then find and click the word 'MILK', find out how it is spelled and sounds in Russian, incl by Latin letters, and look for a pack with this word on the shelf. It's that simple!

Pay attention to the rules of pronunciation. Transliteration is given for the classical Latin alphabet and does not match with the rules of orthography and pronunciation of English. Besides, in Russian, as in many other languages, words are pronounced differently than they are spelled. For example, the French PEUGEOT is actually pronounced as PEZHO. And Russian Moscow (in Russian - Москва / Moskva) is actually pronounced as MAskva. Dashes below indicate stress (accent) a certain syllable in a word.

Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation! If you doubt the correct pronunciation, click on the live audio link in Russian
Link to sound
You will be presented with a short slide show with the correct pronunciation from a native speaker, and in some cases, even a small fragment from a film

Well now...

How will it be in Russian?

~~OUR~~ YOUR PHRASEBOOK

BAR - CAFE - RESTAURANT
basic vocabulary

SEE ALSO: RUSSIAN DRINKING TOASTS

HOT LINKS
NON-ALCO I BASIC VOCABULARY I Q&A

By continuing to read, you confirm that you are at least 18 years old. Otherwise, leave this section immediately!

Click on a word or phrase to see a full description and translation into Russian, as well as links to short movies with live sound from a native speaker
Please do not forget the pronunciation rules

In addition, please, read the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia. Also, learn how to identify a fake and how to choose the best vodka!

GO FAST ► Strong Alcohol I Wines I Cocktails I Beer

Bottle / Can / Pack
(type of capacity)

[ BUTYLKA ] - bottle

[ BANKA ] - can

[ PACHKA ] - pack

Бутылка / Банка / Пачка

Link to sound

Beer cup / Glass / Shot
Coffee cup / Paper cup (tableware)

Liter / Half liter / 0.33 / Pint
(capacity value)

With / Without (cocktails)

VODKA incl fruit-flavored
(+ 5 top shots with vodka)

NOTE! This information is intended for Russian-speaking staff to correctly understand your question or request, as well as for self-identification of goods in a store or in the menu (wine list) of a bar or restaurant.

Pay attention to the rules of pronunciation. In Russian language words often are pronounced differently than they are spelled.

Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation! If in doubt about the correct pronunciation or spelling of a Russian word in Cyrillic, click on the 'Link to sound'. You will be presented with a short slide show with the correct pronunciation from a native speaker.

There are world famous vodka brands in Russian bars and supermarkets. There are not so many of them and you will identify them without prompts.
Russian brands, often of very high quality and not so expensive, can be found on the shelves and on the menu in much larger quantities. But text on the bottle or in the wine list will not always be duplicated in English, so you should look for the Russian word ВОДКА.
Look at the pictures

A guide on how to choose a good quality product, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia, read here
Types of packs, shots, cocktails, etc see here

Vodka -
[ VOTKA ]
ВОДКА

Lemon / Citron Vodka -
[ LIMONNAYA VOTKA ]
ЛИМОННАЯ ВОДКА

Lime Vodka -
[ VOTKA - LAIM ]
ВОДКА ЛАЙМ

Vanilla Vodka -
[ VANIL`NAYA VOTKA ]
ВАНИЛЬНАЯ ВОДКА

Raspberry Vodka -
[ MALINAVAYA VOTKA ]
МАЛИНОВАЯ ВОДКА

LINK TO SOUND
________________________________

Vodka with Orange Juice
[ VOTKA S-APLELSINAVYM SOKAM ] or
[ ATVYORTKA ] - 'Screwdriver' cocktail
ВОДКА С АПЕЛЬСИНОВЫМ СОКОМ or
ОТВЁРТКА

Vodka with Tomato Juice
[ VOTKA S-TAMATNYM SOKAM ] or
[ KRAVAVAYA MERI ] - 'Bloody Mary' cocktail
ВОДКА С ТОМАТНЫМ СОКОМ or
КРОВАВАЯ МЕРИ

Martini with Vodka (cocktail)
[ MARTINI S-VOTKAI ]
МАРТИНИ С ВОДКОЙ

Black Russian (cocktail)
Vodka with coffee liqueur
[ CHORNYI RUSSKIY ] or
[ VOTKA S-KAFEINYM LIKYORAM ]
ЧЁРНЫЙ РУССКИЙ

Vodka with ICE
[ VOTKA SA-LDOM ]
ВОДКА СО ЛЬДОМ

LINK TO SOUND

Pepper Vodka / Herb-infused vodka
Pertsovka / Zubrowka

Bitter Herb-infused Vodka -
[ GOR`KAYA NASTOYKA ]
ГОРЬКАЯ НАСТОЙКА

Pepper Vodka -
[ PERTSOVKA ]
ПЕРЦОВКА

Bison Grass Vodka -
[ ZUBROFKA ]
ЗУБРОВКА

LINK TO SOUND
_________________________

PAY ATTENTION! Unlike fruit-flavored vodkas, bitter type of vodkas infused with pepper and also herb-infused vodkas, in Russia have their own name - Настойка / Nastoyka.
Almost all over the world such drinks are called vodka with an indication of the flavor, for example, 'Chili Pepper Vodka', but on bottle labels on the shelves of Russian supermarkets and in the menu of restaurants, in this case, you should look for two words - НАСТОЙКА ГОРЬКАЯ

Why two words? It is important not to be mistaken, because the word НАСТОЙКА / NASTOYKA in Russia also refers to medium-strong sweet alcoholic drinks, analogs of so-called 'Ratafia Liqueurs'. See details

Why so? The fact is that in both cases, the production technology consists in maceration and (or) the addition of various ingredients to alcohol.

However, Russian medium-strong (~ 18-25%) liqueur drinks are almost always sweet and made on the basis of natural fruits and berries with added sugar. But strong, usually herb (spice) flavored, drinks (~ 35-45%) are always bitter. ГОРЬКАЯ НАСТОЙКА literally translates as BITTER TINCTURE, but, of course, in this case it is not intended for medical purposes.

However, the word Настойка in Russian really also denotes medicinal preparations based on ethyl alcohol, what in English is designated as Tincture.

You don't have to worry too much about whether you can correctly identify this or that type of 'Nastoyka'. There are many types of bitter vodkas in Russia, but only two types of such an alcoholic drink are most popular and you are most likely familiar with them.

Firstly, this is the same pepper vodka. A typical Russian counterpart differs from the export one by the inscription on the bottle of ГОРЬКАЯ НАСТОЙКА (not vodka), as well as by its amber-caramel color, light or dark, depending on the manufacturer. Almost always this product will be called ПЕРЦОВКА / PERTSOVKA and have the image of chili peppers on the label

And, of course, this is the world famous bison grass vodka - ZUBROWKA

Interestingly, in Russia for Russians, 'Zubrowka' is not only a well-known Polish brand, but also the name of the entire type of bison grass infused vodkas. Several types of vodkas are produced under the ZUBROWKA brand, but if you order Zubrowka in a bar or look for this product in a store, then 9 out of 10 Russians will understand that you need not just a brand, but particular bison grass vodka.

In addition, in Russian stores and restaurants you can find both Zubrowka made in Poland and Russian made. Moreover, with absolutely the same bottle design and the same content. This is not a fake. Maybe you didn't know, but now the Zubrowka brand belongs to a Russian company, the owner of the 'Stolichnaya' and 'Russian Standard' brands.

Want to drink Zubrowka? Look for a bottle with a pale amber color which contains a leaf of real bison grass!
____________________

Bitter Herb-infused Vodka -
[ GOR`KAYA NASTOYKA ]
ГОРЬКАЯ НАСТОЙКА

Pepper Vodka -
[ PERTSOVKA ]
ПЕРЦОВКА

Bison Grass Vodka -
[ ZUBROFKA ]
ЗУБРОВКА

LINK TO SOUND

SAMOGON (Russian Moonshine)
home made vodka

- traditional drink -

'Samogon' - a Russian home made vodka or
'Russian Moonshine'

[ SAMAGON ]
САМОГОН

Pay attention to the rules of correct pronunciation. In fact, the Russians pronounce 'Samogon' as SAMAGON (letter A in the second syllable). However, the emphasis is on the third syllable (the letter O). Transliteration is given for the classical Latin alphabet and does not match with the rules of orthography and pronunciation of English. In Russian, as in many other languages, words are pronounced differently than they are spelled. Dashes below indicate stress (accent) a certain syllable in a word. Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation!

LINK TO LIVE SOUND

Samogon (in Russian - САМОГОН, a Russian traditional strong alcoholic beverage) is a homemade vodka obtained by distillation in the simplest distillation evaporation stills. Russians use vegetables and (or) fruits as basic raw materials. Potatoes, beets, apples and also legumes, usually peas. In the southern regions grapes (CHACHA / ЧАЧА - homemade grappa/rakia) and apricots. Cereals are practically not used in the production of homemade vodka.

Unlike the industrial production of ethanol, there is no fractionation stage in distillation columns (towers) during the preparation of home vodka (Samogon). Accordingly, in Samogon, in addition to ethyl alcohol, a certain amount of impurities remains, usually fusel oils, remains, which gives the finished product a specific taste and smell.

That is why Samogon is consumed only straight and is not good for making cocktails. It is highly discouraged to drink 'Russian Moonshine' along with other alcoholic beverages. As a snack, Russians usually use salted bacon or herring, onion, salted or fresh cucumbers, cabbage, mushrooms, boiled and fried potatoes.

Although laboratory studies prove that that any 'Samogon' is not as high quality as a vodka from a supermarket, in reality, for their own consumption, villagers produce sufficiently high-quality alcoholic beverages and prefer to drink homemade vodka.

Therefore, if you are visiting a Russian family and you are offered to drink Samogon, do not worry about your health the next morning. Of course, if you do not abuse the amount of alcohol consumed, which is true of any spirit beverage.

Be careful! Do not drink or buy Samogon / Russian Moonshine in random places!

Since 'Samogon' is super popular in Russia, vodka factories began to produce this product in an industrial way. However, in the production, wheat or rye (sometimes other cereals as well as grapes) is mainly used as raw material, and the degree of purification from fusel oils and other harmful impurities is much higher.

In the production and sale of SAMOGON / САМОГОН, marketers try to make it as similar as possible to homemade moonshine, so very simple and cheap bottles with almost handwritten labels are used as containers.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dear friends! We have tried to collect for you the names of all the most popular alcoholic drinks that you might want to order at a Russian bar or restaurant, as well as find and buy yourself in a store or supermarket. As well as the most common words and phrases that you will need in a conversation with the Russian staff

Now you can be sure that..
1) you will find the right shop or cafe
2) the staff will understand you and you will understand the staff
3) you yourself correctly identify any goods

A guide on how to choose the best for you, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia, read here

Want to know more?
Non-Alcoholic beverages in Russian
Russian Toasts

SMALL MOVIE

BAIJIU
(Chinese Vodka)

Baijiu (Chinese vodka)
[ BAITS-ZYU ]
БАЙЦЗЮ

Link to sound

Pay attention to the rules of correct pronunciation. Transliteration is given for the classical Latin alphabet and does not match with the rules of orthography and pronunciation of English.
Besides, in Russian, as in many other languages, words are pronounced differently than they are spelled. Dashes below indicate stress (accent) a certain syllable in a word. Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation!
______________________________

Dear friends! We have tried to collect for you the names of all the most popular alcoholic drinks that you might want to order at a Russian bar or restaurant, as well as find and buy yourself in a store or supermarket. As well as the most common words and phrases that you will need in a conversation with the Russian staff.

Now you can be sure that..
1) you will find the right shop or cafe
2) the staff will understand you and you will understand the staff
3) you yourself correctly identify any goods

Most likely, you will not find Baijiu on the shelves of supermarkets, with the possible exceptions of special alcohol stores. But it fill definitely be waiting for you in the many Chinese restaurants.
We show you how it`s spelled in Russian in order to find an item on the bar menu. And also how it`s pronounced by a real Russian.

SMALL MOVIE

A guide on how to choose the best for you, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia, read here

Want to know more?
Non-Alcoholic beverages in Russian
Russian Toasts

GRAPPA / RAKIA / CHACHA
(grape vodka)

Hello! Today you are in luck, because the names of these drinks in Russian sound almost the same as in the whole world. Nevertheless, pay attention to the rules of correct pronunciation. Transliteration is given for the classical Latin alphabet and does not match with the rules of orthography and pronunciation of English. Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation. Dashes below indicate stress (accent) a certain syllable in a word.

Grappa
[ GRAPPA ]
ГРАППА

Rakia
[ RAKIYA ]
РАКИЯ

Link to sound

In Russia grape vodka is not a very popular alcoholic drink. Therefore, it is most likely that you will not be able to find classic Grappa or Rakia on the shelves of ordinary supermarkets. But there is a chance to find it in some specialty alco-stores. If you would like to find these drinks on the bar menu, then you should go to one of the restaurants serving national cuisine. For example, Italian, Balkan.

However, in Russia, especially in the southern regions, there is a fairly popular analogue of Grappa (Rakia). The name is very simple and you can easily remember it - CHACHA. This is a kind of homemade vodka or Russian Moonshine, called SAMOGON in Russia (see above). Since this strong drink is quite popular, they began to make it in vodka factories.

Want to try Russian Grappa? Look for the word ЧАЧА / CHACHA on labels and on the bar menu. The highest chance you will have in Georgian / Caucasus cuisine national restaurants.

Chacha (traditional beverage)
[ CHACHA ]
ЧАЧА

Link to sound

As we have already said, Russian grape vodka (Chacha) also has a common name for this type of drink - САМОГОН / SAMOGON. In this case, be sure to pay attention to the second word on the label. You should find a bottle labeled САМОГОН ВИНОГРАДНЫЙ (САМОГОН = moonshine ; ВИНОГРАДНЫЙ = GRAPE)
______________________________

Dear friends! We have tried to collect for you the names of all the most popular alcoholic drinks that you might want to order at a Russian bar or restaurant, as well as find and buy yourself in a store or supermarket. As well as the most common words and phrases that you will need in a conversation with the Russian staff

A guide on how to choose the best for you, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia read here

Want to know more?
Non-Alcoholic beverages in Russian
Russian Toasts

TEQUILA
(& tequila-based cocktails)

Tequila
[ TEKILA ]
ТЕКИЛА

Link to sound

NOTE! This information is intended for Russian-speaking staff to correctly understand your question or request, as well as for self-identification of goods in a store or in the menu (wine list) of a bar or restaurant.

Pay attention to the rules of pronunciation. In Russian language words often are pronounced differently than they are spelled.

Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation! If in doubt about the correct pronunciation or spelling of a Russian word in Cyrillic, click on the 'Link to sound'. You will be presented with a short slide show with the correct pronunciation from a native speaker.

Russia does not produce Tequila. It saves you the problem of choice, because you will find all well-known brands on the shelves of the store and bar. And if you don't find what you need right away, ask the staff. In this case you can speak even in English - everyone will understand it!

It is one of the most popular drinks. Tequila is consumed straight, and also as a base for cocktails. Therefore, here are the names of the most famous tequila-based cocktails in Russian language!

in English
[ in RUSSIAN - Transliterated by Latin ]
IN RUSSIAN

'Tequila Bum-Bum' / Tequila & Sprite
[ TEKILA i SPRAIT ] /
[ KAKTEIL TEKILA BUM-BUM ]
ТЕКИЛА И СПРАЙТ /
КОКТЕЙЛЬ ТЕКИЛА БУМ-БУМ

'Paloma' cocktail / Tequila + Lime juice + Grapefruit Soda
[ KAKTEIL PALOMA ] /
[ TEKILA - LAIM - GREIPFRUT - LIMANAD ]
КОКТЕЙЛЬ ПАЛОМА /
ТЕКИЛА - ЛАЙМ - ГРЕЙПФРУТ - ЛИМОНАД

'Margarita' Cocktail
[ KAKTEIL MARGARITA ]
КОКТЕЙЛЬ МАРГАРИТА

'Sunrise' cocktail / Tequila + Orange juice + Grenadine syrup
[ KAKTEIL SANRAIS ] / [ VASKHADYASH-CHEYE SOLN-TSE ]
/ [ TEKILA - APELSINAVYI SOK - SIROP GRENADINA ]
КОКТЕЙЛЬ САНРАЙЗ / ВОСХОДЯЩЕЕ СОЛНЦЕ
ТЕКИЛА - АПЕЛЬСИНОВЫЙ СОК - СИРОП ГРЕНАДИНА

'Matador' cocktail / Tequila + Pineapple juice + Lime juice
[ KAKTEIL MATADOR ] /
[ TEKILA - ANANASAVYI SOK - SOK LAIMA ]
КОКТЕЙЛЬ МАТАДОР /
ТЕКИЛА - АПЕЛЬСИНОВЫЙ СОК - СОК ЛАЙМА

LINK TO SOUND

More cocktails

A guide on how to choose a good quality product, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia, read here
Types of packs, shots, cocktails, etc see here

GIN
(& gin-based cocktails)

Gin
[ DZHIN ]
ДЖИН

Link to sound

NOTE! This information is intended for Russian-speaking staff to correctly understand your question or request, as well as for self-identification of goods in a store or in the menu (wine list) of a bar or restaurant.

Pay attention to the rules of pronunciation. In Russian language words often are pronounced differently than they are spelled.

Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation! If in doubt about the correct pronunciation or spelling of a Russian word in Cyrillic, click on the 'Link to sound'. You will be presented with a short slide show with the correct pronunciation from a native speaker.

Russia practically does not produce Gin, at least Russia is not a manufacturer of quality worl-famous brands. It saves you the problem of choice, because you will find all well-known brands on the shelves of the store and bar. And if you don't find what you need right away, ask the staff. In this case you can speak even in English - everyone will understand it!

Gin is not often consumed straight, but as a base for cocktails it is one of the most popular drinks. Therefore, here are the names of the most famous gin-based cocktails in Russian language!

Gin & Tonic / Gin-Tonic
[ DZHIN S TONIKAM ]
ДЖИН С ТОНИКОМ

Gin & Coke / Gin with cola
[ DZHIN S KOLAI ]
ДЖИН С КОЛОЙ

Gin & Martini / 'Dry Martini' cocktail
[ DZHIN S MARTINI ]
ДЖИН С МАРТИНИ

Gin & Campari / 'Negroni' cocktail
[ DZHIN S KAMPARI ] /
[ KAKTEIL NEGRONI ]
ДЖИН С КАМПАРИ /
КОКТЕЙЛЬ НЕГРОНИ

Gin & Lime juice / 'Gimlet' cocktail
[ DZHIN S SOKAM LAIMA ] /
[ KAKTEIL GIMLET ] /
[ KAKTEIL BURAFCHIK ] (Russian name)
ДЖИН С СОКОМ ЛАЙМА /
КОКТЕЙЛЬ ГИМЛЕТ /
КОКТЕЙЛЬ БУРАВЧИК

LINK TO SOUND

More cocktails

A guide on how to choose a good quality product, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia, read here
Types of packs, shots, cocktails, etc see here

RUM
(& rum based cocktails)

Rum
[ ROM ]
РОМ

Cachaça (Brazilian rum)
[ KASHASA ]
КАШАСА

Link to sound

NOTE! This information is intended for Russian-speaking staff to correctly understand your question or request, as well as for self-identification of goods in a store or in the menu (wine list) of a bar or restaurant.

Pay attention to the rules of pronunciation. In Russian language words often are pronounced differently than they are spelled.

Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation! If in doubt about the correct pronunciation or spelling of a Russian word in Cyrillic, click on the 'Link to sound'. You will be presented with a short slide show with the correct pronunciation from a native speaker.

In Russia almost no Rum is produced and it saves you the problem of choice, because you will find all world-famous brands on the shelves of the store and bar. And if you don't find what you need right away, ask the staff. In this case you can speak even in English - everyone will understand it!

Rum is not often consumed straight, but as a base for cocktails it is one of the most popular drinks. Therefore, here are the names of the most famous rum-based cocktails in Russian language!

Grog
[ GROG ]
ГРОГ

Rum with cola / Cuba Libre
[ ROM S-KOLAI ] / [ KUBA LIBRE ]
РОМ С КОЛОЙ / КУБА ЛИБРЕ

Pina Colada
[ PINA KALADA ]
ПИНА КОЛАДА

Mojito
[ MAKHITA ]
МОХИТО

Daiquiri
[ DAIKIRI ]
ДАЙКИРИ

LINK TO SOUND

More cocktails

A guide on how to choose a good quality product, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia, read here
Types of packs, shots, cocktails, etc see here

WHISKY / WHISKEY
(incl Bourbon)

Whisky / Whiskey
[ VISKI ]
ВИСКИ

Bourbon
[ BURBON ]
БУРБОН

Link to sound

NOTE! This information is intended for Russian-speaking staff to correctly understand your question or request, as well as for self-identification of goods in a store or in the menu (wine list) of a bar or restaurant.

Pay attention to the rules of pronunciation. In Russian language words often are pronounced differently than they are spelled.

Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation! If in doubt about the correct pronunciation or spelling of a Russian word in Cyrillic, click on the 'Link to sound'. You will be presented with a short slide show with the correct pronunciation from a native speaker.

In Russia almost no whiskey is produced and it saves you the problem of choice, because you will find all world-famous brands on the shelves of the store and bar. And if you don't find what you need right away, ask the staff. In this case you can speak even in English - everyone will understand it!

Scotch Whisky
[ SHATLANTSKIY VISKI ]
ШОТЛАНДСКИЙ ВИСКИ

Irish Whiskey
[ IRLANTSKIY VISKI ]
ИРЛАНДСКИЙ ВИСКИ

American Whiskey
[ AMERIKANSKIY VISKI ]
АМЕРИКАНСКИЙ ВИСКИ

Canadian Whiskey
[ KANATSKIY VISKI ]
КАНАДСКИЙ ВИСКИ

Link to sound

And a little bonus - two of the most popular shots with whisky

Whisky with ice cubes
[ VISKI SA-LDOM ]
ВИСКИ СО ЛЬДОМ

Whisky with cola
[ VISKI S-KOLAI ]
ВИСКИ С КОЛОЙ

More cocktails

A guide on how to choose a good quality product, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia, read here
Types of packs, shots, cocktails, etc see here

COGNAC / BRANDY
(incl so-called Russian Cognac)

Cognac
[ KANI-YAK ]
КОНЬЯК

Brandy
[ BRENDI ]
БРЕНДИ

Link to sound

Pay attention to the rules of correct pronunciation. Transliteration is given for the classical Latin alphabet and does not match with the rules of orthography and pronunciation of English.
Besides, in Russian, as in many other languages, words are pronounced differently than they are spelled. Dashes below indicate stress (accent) a certain syllable in a word. Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation!
______________________________

IMPORTANT INFORMATION!
Please, read description to the end.

Hello! You can be sure to easily find almost all the most popular brands in Russian shops and bar menus. BUT! YOU SHOULD KNOW! Russia does not accept the French monopoly on Cognac and produces several of its own types of brandy, which in Russia are called Cognac. We are not discussing here 'how good or bad is it'. We give information that there are such drinks and some of them are really worthy to try them.

According to Russian law, a local brandy is considered a Russian Cognac, in the blend of which the youngest distillate has been aged for at least three years in a cask. The quality grade of Russian Cognac is indicated by a digit or several asterisks on the bottle, which indicate the number of years of aging.In Russia, five-year cognacs are most popular, which local residents call PYAT` ZVYOZDACHEK (Five Stars).

What domestic cognacs can you buy in Russia? How high is their quality? Not an easy question! There are a lot of local brands in Russia, but really good ones, perhaps only three. (Please, watch video).

These producers make Cognac only from their own grapes according to ancient traditions. Quality has been confirmed by many Russian awards and also international, but albeit in the Brandy category. You understand :-) This is not an AD, but just advice. Since almost all other manufacturers make their cognac and brandy from distillates brought from other countries and the quality and taste are very unstable. A beautiful bottle and an expensive price do not always guarantee the pleasure of the drink. So...

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3. КОКТЕБЕЛЬ / KOKTEBEL
Very good cognacs from the Crimea region. The product line includes both relatively inexpensive 3-5 year old cognacs and elite 30 year old varieties.

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2. НОЙ / NOY
Fine quality cognacs from Armenia. The most famous cognac brand of the former Soviet Union was labeled as "NOY", after Noah whose Ark has rested on the Mountains of Ararat, according to the biblical scriptures of the Book of Genesis. Little known fact, but it is true. Mr Churchill, former British Prime Minister, was very fond of drinking Armenian Cognac and on a personal request, from the USSR 400 bottles of Armenian Cognac were shipped to Churchill annually. Now, in Russia, relatively inexpensive varieties with distillate aging from 3 to 7 years are popular.

*****
1. KIZLYAR COGNAC FACTORY / КИЗЛЯРСКИЙ КОНЬЯЧНЫЙ ЗАВОД
This is not a brand of cognac, but the name of a factory from region of Dagestan. This oldest Russian plant produces many of its own brands, which are justly considered the best. Therefore, even cognacs with a short aging from this factory are quite expensive. The most famous brands of this plant (usually labels are only in Russian): Лезгинка / Lezginka * Кизляр / Kizlyar * Казбек / Kazbek * Дагестан / Dagestan * Багратион / Bagration

To easily find cognacs of this factory - pay attention to the logo on the bottles. On any of them there will be a portrait of the Russian general Bagration (watch video)
______________________________

Dear friends! We have tried to collect for you the names of all the most popular alcoholic drinks that you might want to order at a Russian bar or restaurant, as well as find and buy yourself in a store or supermarket. As well as the most common words and phrases that you will need in a conversation with the Russian staff.

Now you can be sure that..
1) you will find the right shop or cafe
2) the staff will understand you and you will understand the staff
3) you yourself correctly identify any goods

Perhaps you will not find in an ordinary supermarket absolutely all brands of cognac / brandy you know, as well as those presented here. But we advise you to stop by with specialty alcohol stores. There is much more choice waiting for you.
We have not indicated here the names of cocktails based on cognac and brandy, because in Russia they are unpopular and local residents have a tradition of drinking these drinks only straight.

Watch a small movie
We show you how it`s spelled in Russian in order to find an item on the bar menu. And also how it`s pronounced by a real Russian.

A guide on how to choose the best for you, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia, read here

Want to know more?
Non-Alcoholic beverages in Russian
Russian Toasts

CALVADOS
(incl so-called Russian Calvados)

The name of this drink in Russian sound almost the same as in the whole world. Nevertheless, pay attention to the rules of correct pronunciation. Transliteration is given for the classical Latin alphabet and does not match with the rules of orthography and pronunciation of English. Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation. Dashes below indicate stress (accent) a certain syllable in a word.

Calvados
[ KAL`VADAS ]
КАЛЬВАДОС

Link to sound

In Russia Calvados is not a very popular alcoholic drink. Therefore, it is most likely that you will not be able to find classic French or British apple or pear brandy on the shelves of ordinary supermarkets. But there is a chance to find it in specialty alco-stores and also on the menu of good bars or restaurants.

Besides, in Russia there is a analogue of Calvados. The name is very simple and you can easily remember it.. - CALVADOS! The fact is that Russia does not accept the French monopoly on Cognac, Сhampagne wine and Calvados and produces several of its own types of these drinks, which in Russia are called Cognac, Champagne and Calvados. We are not discussing here 'how good or bad is it'. We give information that there are such drinks and some of them are really worthy to try them.

Want to try Russian Calvados? Look for the 'КАЛЬВАДОС ДЕРБЕНТСКИЙ' (Calvados from Derbent region) on bottle labels.
______________________________

Dear friends! We have tried to collect for you the names of all the most popular alcoholic drinks that you might want to order at a Russian bar or restaurant, as well as find and buy yourself in a store or supermarket. As well as the most common words and phrases that you will need in a conversation with the Russian staff.

A guide on how to choose the best for you, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia read here

Want to know more?
Non-Alcoholic beverages in Russian
Russian Toasts

ABSINTHE

The name of this drink in Russian sound almost the same as in the whole world. Nevertheless, pay attention to the rules of correct pronunciation. Transliteration is given for the classical Latin alphabet and does not match with the rules of orthography and pronunciation of English. Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation. Dashes below indicate stress (accent) a certain syllable in a word.

Absinthe
[ ABSENT ]
АБСЕНТ

Link to sound

Absinthe is not a popular alcoholic drink in Russia. Therefore, on the shelves of ordinary supermarkets and even special alcohol stores, most likely you will find a maximum of one or two brands. For the same reason, in bars and restaurants you will either not find absinthe on the menu, or you will find only one or two types.

On a bar menu, absinthe can be a separate chapter, but very often they are written down as liqueurs, tinctures or bitters. Therefore, even in the store, look for a green bottle in the same place where you expected to see, for example, Jagermeister or Becherovka.

You must be ready for the fact that not every pub will be able to prepare absinthe in French or Bohemian method. You will most likely get a shot (straight) or a simple cocktail like the 'Green Dragon' (Absinthe + 7Up). But in expensive high-end bars, you can hope to get both of them without any problems. And even something else.

In addition. Absinthe colors:
Green - [ ZELYONYI ] - ЗЕЛЁНЫЙ
Yellow - [ ZHOLTYI ] - ЖЁЛТЫЙ
Red - [ KRASNYI ] - КРАСНЫЙ
Black - [ CHORNYI ] - ЧЁРНЫЙ

______________________________

Dear friends! We have tried to collect for you the names of all the most popular alcoholic drinks that you might want to order at a Russian bar or restaurant, as well as find and buy yourself in a store or supermarket. As well as the most common words and phrases that you will need in a conversation with the Russian staff.

A guide on how to choose the best for you, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia read here

Want to know more?
Non-Alcoholic beverages in Russian
Russian Toasts

LIQUEURS

Liqueurs are a very popular alcoholic beverage in Russia. You can easily find almost all well-known brands. Even the word LIQUOR sounds in Russian almost the same as in English:

Liquor
[ LIKYOR ]
ЛИКЁР

Link to sound

Of course, you can easily find the right label in the supermarket. But in bars, especially where there are no tourists, the menu, quite possibly, can only be in Russian. In this case, first look in the bar menu for the Russian word ЛИКЁРЫ (liqueurs)

Writing of any liqueur types (brands) in Russian can also be a problem for you. Therefore, here are the names of the most famous liqueurs in Russian language with translation into English!

Sambuca
[ SAMBUKA ]
САМБУКА

Cointreau
[ KUANTRO ]
КУАНТРО

Limoncello
[ LIMONCHELLO ]
ЛИМОНЧЕЛЛО

Curaçao
[ KYURASAO ]
КЮРАСАО

Amaretto
[ AMARETTO ]
АМАРЕТТО

Baileys
[ BEILIS ]
БЕЙЛИС

Sheridan`s
[ SHERIDANS ]
ШЕРИДАНС

Kahlua
[ KALUA ]
КАЛУА

Malibu
[ MALIBU ]
МАЛИБУ

LINK TO SOUND

Do you like sweet alcoholic beverages? We recommend trying Russian liqueurs! Most often these are natural drinks based on berries or fruits. See below

______________________________

Dear friends! We have tried to collect for you the names of all the most popular alcoholic drinks that you might want to order at a Russian bar or restaurant, as well as find and buy yourself in a store or supermarket. As well as the most common words and phrases that you will need in a conversation with the Russian staff.

A guide on how to choose the best for you, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia read here

Want to know more?
Non-Alcoholic beverages in Russian
Russian Toasts

NALIVKA & sweet NASTOYKA
(Russian Berry Liqueurs)

- traditional drinks -

Liqueurs are a very popular alcoholic beverage in Russia. However, Russian traditional liqueurs are somewhat different from the classic ones. They are almost always made from natural berries or fruits based on neutral alcohol. In Russian, these drinks have unique names that cannot be translated literally into other languages,
namely: (Russian name in Latin / Correct pronunciation / Name in Cyrillic)

Nalivka
[ NALIFKA ]
НАЛИВКА
Approximate translation is 'Sweet berry infusion'

and

Sladkaya Nastoyka
[ SLATKAYA NASTOYKA ]
СЛАДКАЯ НАСТОЙКА
Approximate translation is Sweet berry tincture'

Link to sound

These are sweet dessert medium-strength alcoholic drinks. The sugar content can be up to 40%. The alcohol content is usually around 20%, with a maximum of 25%. Correctly used as a digestif. However.. very often locals consider these drinks to be female booze.
Perhaps this is the reason for the paradoxical fact. You can easily find many types and brands of Russian NALIVKAs and NASTOYKAs in any supermarkets and very rarely on the bar menu. However, if you definitely want to try it in a bar, different varieties and in good quality, then we will tell you where to look.

Go to restaurants of national Russian cuisine or special bars, where these drinks are the main ones and are often made directly there.
How to find? Open Google. Copy and paste this phrase:
'бар домашние настойки moscow'
and change the name of the city if you are not in Moscow (you can use Latin letters). Done!

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

In Russia, almost every distillery produces traditional liqueur drinks, often under their own brands. Therefore, both in bars and in the store, you can find similar drinks from different manufacturers. This is not a problem as the recipes is practically the same.
But writing and composition of any Russian liqueur types (brands) in Cyrillic can also be a problem for you. Therefore, here we show you the names of the most famous with translation into English!

Lingonberry Sweet Tincture
[ BRUSNICHNAYA SLATKAYA NASTOYKA ]
БРУСНИЧНАЯ СЛАДКАЯ НАСТОЙКА
Composition: lingonberry juice, sugar, water, alcohol ~20%

Cranberry Sweet Tincture
[ KLYUKVENNAYA SLATKAYA NASTOYKA ]
КЛЮКВЕННАЯ СЛАДКАЯ НАСТОЙКА
Composition: cranberry juice, sugar, water, alcohol ~20%

Cherry Sweet Infusion
[ VISHNYOVAYA SLATKAYA NALIFKA ]
ВИШНЁВАЯ СЛАДКАЯ НАЛИВКА
Composition: cherry juice, sugar, water, alcohol ~20%

Plum Sweet Infusion
[ SLIVOVAYA SLATKAYA NALIFKA ] or
[ SLIVYANKA ]
СЛИВОВАЯ СЛАДКАЯ НАЛИВКА or
СЛИВЯНКА
Composition: plum juice, sugar, alcohol ~20%

Rowanberry Sweet Tincture or
'Rowanberry on Cognac'
[ RYABINAVAYA SLATKAYA NASTOYKA ] or
[ RYABINA NA-KAN`YAKE ]
Composition: rowanberry juice, brandy ~20%, sugar, water

Cherry & Plum Sweet Infusion or
'Nalivka Zapekanka'
[ VISHNYOVA-SLIVOVAYA NALIFKA ] or
[ NALIFKA ZAPEKANKA ]
ВИШНЁВО-СЛИВОВАЯ НАЛИВКА or
НАЛИВКА ЗАПЕКАНКА
Composition: cherry juice, plum juice, sugar, alc ~20%

Cherry & Blueberry Sweet Infusion or'Nalivka Spotykatch'
[ VISHNYOVA-CHERNICHNAYA NALIFKA ] or
[ NALIFKA SPATYKATCH ]
ВИШНЁВО-ЧЕРНИЧНАЯ НАЛИВКА or
НАЛИВКА СПОТЫКАЧ
Composition: cherry juice, blueberry juice, sugar, alc ~20%

LINK TO SOUND

Do you like sweet alcoholic beverages? We recommend to check now the spelling and sounding of the names of classic liqueurs in Russian. Indeed, in the Russian menu, Baileys or Cointreau are written in Cyrillic and not at all like you are used to seeing these names in Latin. See above to know more
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Dear friends! We have tried to collect for you the names of all the most popular alcoholic drinks that you might want to order at a Russian bar or restaurant, as well as find and buy yourself in a store or supermarket. As well as the most common words and phrases that you will need in a conversation with the Russian staff.

A guide on how to choose the best for you, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia read here

Want to know more?
Non-Alcoholic beverages in Russian
Russian Toasts

BITTERS
(herbal bitter liquors)

The name BITTERS (in Russian - БИТТЕРЫ), as a classification of alcoholic beverages, is used in Russia, but not very often. In Russian supermarkets, bars and restaurants, these drinks are usually referred to as liqueurs or so-called bitter tinctures.

Bitters
[ BITTERY ]
БИТТЕРЫ

Liquor
[ LIKYOR ]
ЛИКЁР

Bitter tincture
[ NASTOYKA ]
НАСТОЙКА

Should know that many own brands of bitters are produced in Russia. This is done in almost every province. The classic Russian bitter is an infusion of strong alcohol (38-45%) on forest herbs and berries, which is used straight as an aperitif, or added to hot tea or coffee. Do you want to try? Look for the Russian word БАЛЬЗАМ / BALZAM on labels and menus.

Overall, bitters are quite popular in Russia. Therefore, you can easily find the most famous brands in any store or bar. Can't find it right away? Ask the staff. The names in Russian sound almost the same as in the whole world.

Jägermeister
[ YAGERMAYSTER ]
ЯГЕРМАЙСТЕР

Campari
[ KAMPARI ]
КАМПАРИ

Aperol
[ APEROL` ]
АПЕРОЛЬ

Becherovka
[ BEKHERAFKA ]
БЕХЕРОВКА

LINK TO SOUND

Of course, in Russia, classic cocktails made on the basis of bitters are no less popular. Perhaps not all bars, especially provincial ones, will understand you correctly if you order a Garibaldi cocktail. But any bartender in the smallest village knows perfectly well what Campari with orange juice is.

Therefore, tell the composition of the cocktail if its name is not known to the staff. And we will help you with this! Watch our small movie! We show you how it`s spelled in Russian in order to find an item on the bar menu. And also how it`s pronounced by a real Russian.

Aperol Spritz
(Aperol + Prosecco + Sosa water)
[ KAKTEIL` APEROL SPRITS -
APEROL` S IGRISTYM VINOM i GAZIROFKAI ]
КОКТЕЙЛЬ АПЕРОЛЬ СПРИТЦ
АПЕРОЛЬ С ИГРИСТЫМ ВИНОМ И ГАЗИРОВКОЙ

Campari & Tonic
[ KAKTEIL` KAMPARI S-TONIKAM ]
КОКТЕЙЛЬ КАМПАРИ С ТОНИКОМ

Garibaldi
(Campari + Orange juice)
[ KAKTEIL` GARIBAL`DI -
KAMPARI S APELSINAVYM SOKAM ]
КОКТЕЙЛЬ ГАРИБАЛЬДИ
КАМПАРИ С АПЕЛЬСИНОВЫМ СОКОМ

Americano
(Campari + Sweet Vermouth + Soda water)
[ KAKTEIL` AMERIKANA -
KAMPARI, SLADKIY VERMUT, GAZIROFKA ]
КОКТЕЙЛЬ АМЕРИКАНО
КАМПАРИ, СЛАДКИЙ ВЕРМУТ, ГАЗИРОВКА

Negroni
(Campari + Red Vermouth + Gin)
[ KAKTEIL` NEGRONI -
KAMPARI, KRASNYI VERMUT, DZHIN ]
КОКТЕЙЛЬ НЕГРОНИ
КАМПАРИ, КРАСНЫЙ ВЕРМУТ, ДЖИН

SMALL MOVIE

Dear friends! We have tried to collect for you the names of all the most popular alcoholic drinks that you might want to order at a Russian bar or restaurant, as well as find and buy yourself in a store or supermarket. As well as the most common words and phrases that you will need in a conversation with the Russian staff.

A guide on how to choose the best for you, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia read here

Want to know more?
Non-Alcoholic beverages in Russian
Russian Toasts

Dear friends! Welcome to Russia!

Please, pay attention to the rules of correct pronunciation. Transliteration is given for the classical Latin alphabet and does not match with the rules of orthography and pronunciation of English.
Besides, often in Russian, as in many other languages, words are pronounced differently than they are spelled. Dashes below indicate stress (accent) a certain syllable in a word. Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation!

You will, most likely, be able to see the difference between a bottle of red wine and a bottle of white or rose without problems. But how to find what you need, if often, both a bar menu and signs in a supermarket and even labels on bottles, are only in Russian? We will help you!

First, look for these Russian words on labels and on the wine list, or ask the staff to help you by saying these Russian words and phrases
(ENG / RUS transliterated in Latin / RUS):

Wine
[ VINO ]
ВИНО

Red Wine
[ KRASNAYE VINO ]
КРАСНОЕ ВИНО

White Wine
[ BELAYE VINO ]
БЕЛОЕ ВИНО

Rose Wine
[ ROZAVAYE VINO ]
РОЗОВОЕ ВИНО

LINK TO SOUND

Sometimes, on the bar menu and store signs, wines can also be listed in plural:

Red Wines - КРАСНЫЕ ВИНА
White Wines - БЕЛЫЕ ВИНА
Rose Wines - РОЗОВЫЕ ВИНА

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

Dear friends! We have tried to collect for you the names of all the most popular alcoholic drinks that you might want to order at a Russian bar or restaurant, as well as find and buy yourself in a store or supermarket. As well as the most common words and phrases that you will need in a conversation with the Russian staff.

If you prefer wine from a certain grape variety, here are the names of the most famous and popular varieties:
https://youtu.be/RY7mgz...

Please don`t forget about the classification of wines by sugar content. This is especially important, since in Russia, in contrast to European and American traditions, SEMI-SWEET wines are the most popular. How not to be mistaken and choose exactly what you want, for example dry, medium dry or brut, see this video:
https://youtu.be/r6KCAJ...

And one more thing! Perhaps you did not know that Russia has an old tradition of growing grapes and producing excellent wine. In this video we will tell you which Russian wine brands are the best and are not inferior in quality to many wineries of Europe and America:
https://youtu.be/wYyZHQ...

A guide on how to choose the best for you, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia read here

Want to know more?
Non-Alcoholic beverages in Russian
Russian Toasts

Dear friends! Welcome to Russia!

The wine classification is a huge book with thousands of pages. You and we are not professional sommeliers, but ordinary guys, who just want to have a great time and have a glass, or little more, of good wine.

But now you are in Russia! So we want to help you choose what you want and not make a mistake. First, let`s select what color the wine will be in your glass today. How to find the desired shelf in the store or a chapter in the bar menu, see this video:
https://youtu.be/CfdYPDRWK7A

But, it`s impossible to determine the grape variety by the color of the bottle. Besides, both labels on bottles and a bar menu, often are only in Russian. Therefore, we will help you! Here we list the most famous and popular grape varieties. Now you can easily understand what is written on the label and also the staff will understand your wishes.

Please remember that some brands are a blend of several grape varieties!

Pay attention to the rules of correct pronunciation. Transliteration is given for the classical Latin alphabet and does not match with the rules of orthography and pronunciation of English.
Besides, often in Russian, as in many other languages, words are pronounced differently than they are spelled. Dashes below indicate stress (accent) a certain syllable in a word. Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation!

RED VARIETIES
(ENG / RUS transliterated in Latin / RUS):

Cabernet Sauvignon
[ KABERNE SAVIN`-YON ]
КАБЕРНЕ СОВИНЬОН

Merlot
[ MERLO ]
МЕРЛО

Tempranillo
[ TEMPRANIL-YO ]
ТЕМПРАНИЛЬО

Syrah (Shiraz)
[ SHIRAZ ]
ШИРАЗ

Pinot Noir (Pineau Franc)
[ PINO NUAR ]
ПИНО НУАР (ПИНО ФРАН)

Zinfandel
[ ZINFANDEL` ]
ЗИНФАНДЕЛЬ

Malbec
[ MAL`-BEK ]
МАЛЬБЕК

Sangiovese
[ SANDZHOVEZE ]
САНДЖОВЕЗЕ

Saperavi (domestic variety)
[ SAPERAVI ]
САПЕРАВИ

LINK TO SOUND

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

WHITE VARIETIES
(ENG / RUS transliterated in Latin / RUS):

Chardonnay
[ SHARDANE ]
ШАРДОНЕ

Sauvignon Blanc
[ SAVIN`-YON BLAN ]
СОВИНЬОН БЛАН

Riesling
[ RISLING ]
РИСЛИНГ

Pino Gris (Pino Grigio)
[ PINO GRI ]
ПИНО ГРИ

Pinot Blanc
[ PINO BLAN ]
ПИНО БЛАН

Muscat
[ MUSKAT ]
МУСКАТ

Airen
[ AIREN ]
АЙРЕН

Aligote
[ ALIGATE ]
АЛИГОТЕ

Savagnin (Traminer)
[ TRAMINER ]
ТРАМИНЕР

Rkatsiteli (domestic variety)
[ RKATSYTELI ]
РКАЦИТЕЛИ

LINK TO SOUND

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

Please don`t forget about the classification of wines by sugar content. This is especially important, since in Russia, in contrast to European and American traditions, SEMI-SWEET wines are the most popular. How not to be mistaken and choose exactly what you want, for example dry, medium dry or brut, see this video:
https://youtu.be/r6KCAJ...

And one more thing! Perhaps you did not know that Russia has an old tradition of growing grapes and producing excellent wine. In this video we will tell you which Russian wine brands are the best and are not inferior in quality to many wineries of Europe and America:
https://youtu.be/wYyZHQ...

A guide on how to choose the best for you, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia read here

Want to know more?
Non-Alcoholic beverages in Russian
Russian Toasts

Hello friends! Welcome to Russia!

This info is primarily intended for those who want to buy a bottle of wine in a store or have dinner with wine in a restaurant.
It`s very likely, that the information on the bottle label or on the bar menu will only be in Russian. Therefore, so that you do not make mistakes and choose exactly what you wanted, we will help you!

First, just in case, read and watch, how to tell the waiter (garcon), what color of wine you wold like to see in your glass and also how to understand from which grape variety the wine is made. See above or click these links:
Color (type) of wine -
https://youtu.be/CfdYPD....
Grape varieties -
https://youtu.be/RY7mgz....

However, one should not forget about another very important property of wine, namely, the sugar content. This is especially important, since in Russia, in contrast to European and American traditions, SEMI-SWEET wines are the most popular.
And this often becomes a problem, because in addition to gastronomic incompatibility, in Russia semi-sweet wines are very often (but not always!) synonyms with poor quality. This is what in English Slang call PLONK or BOOZE.

So, how to determine which wine you are going to buy or order?
In Russia about 95% of all wines are divided into 5 groups, according to sugar content. You can understand which wine is in front of you by the info on the label (counter-label) or the wine list. You can also ask the staff to help you by saying these words in Russian:
(ENG / RUS transliterated in Latin / RUS):

Brut
[ BRYUT ]
БРЮТ

Dry
[ SUKHOYE ]
СУХОЕ

Medium Dry
[ POLU-SUKHOYE ]
ПОЛУСУХОЕ

Semi Sweet
[ POLU-SLATKAYE ]
ПОЛУСЛАДКОЕ

Sweet
[ SLATKAYE ]
СЛАДКОЕ

LINK TO SOUND

Please, pay attention to the rules of correct pronunciation. Transliteration is given for the classical Latin alphabet and does not match with the rules of orthography and pronunciation of English.
Besides, often in Russian, as in many other languages, words are pronounced differently than they are spelled. Dashes below indicate stress (accent) a certain syllable in a word. Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation!

Quite often in the wine list the properties of wines are written in abbreviated form, namely:

Brut - Брют = БР
Dry - Сухое = СУХ
Medium Dry - Полусухое = П/СУХ
Semi Sweet - Полусладкое = П/СЛ
Sweet - Сладкое = СЛ

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

Dear friends! We have tried to collect for you the names of all the most popular alcoholic drinks that you might want to order at a Russian bar or restaurant, as well as find and buy yourself in a store or supermarket. As well as the most common words and phrases that you will need in a conversation with the Russian staff.

And one more thing! Perhaps you did not know that Russia has an old tradition of growing grapes and producing excellent wine. In this video we will tell you which Russian wine brands are the best and are not inferior in quality to many wineries of Europe and America:
https://youtu.be/wYyZHQ...

A guide on how to choose the best for you, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia read here

Want to know more?
Non-Alcoholic beverages in Russian
Russian Toasts

Dear friends! Welcome to Russia!

Fortified and dessert wines are a very popular alcoholic beverages in Russia. However, very often locals consider these drinks to be.. booze!
Perhaps this is the reason for the paradoxical fact, that you can easily find many types and brands of Porto, Sherry, Madeira or Tokaji in absolutely any supermarkets and very rarely on the bar menu.

If you definitely want to try that in a bar, different varieties and in good quality, then go to special bars or restaurants, where these drinks are the main ones.
How to find? Open Google. Copy and paste this phrase:
'портвейн бар moscow'
and change the name of the city if you are not in Moscow (you can use Latin letters). Done!

To quickly find what you need, look for these Russian words in the wine list and on signs in the store or ask the staff to help you by saying these phrases:
(ENG / RUS transliterated in Latin / RUS):

Fortified wine / fortified wines
[ KREPLYONAYE VINO ]
[ KREPLYONY-YE VINA ] (plural)
КРЕПЛЁНОЕ ВИНО / КРЕПЛЁНЫЕ ВИНА

Dessert wine / dessert wines
[ DESERTNAYE VINO ]
[ DESERTNY-YE VINA ] (plural)
ДЕСЕРТНОЕ ВИНО / ДЕСЕРТНЫЕ ВИНА

In addition, in Russia, quite often ANY fortified wines and dessert wines with a high alcohol content are called Port Wines. Therefore, just in case, look on the signs and on the menu for this words too:

Port wine / port(o) wines
[ PARTVEIN ]
[ PARTVEINY ] (plural)
ПОРТВЕЙН / ПОРТВЕЙНЫ

LINK TO SOUND

Please, pay attention to the rules of correct pronunciation. Transliteration is given for the classical Latin alphabet and does not match with the rules of orthography and pronunciation of English.
Besides, often in Russian, as in many other languages, words are pronounced differently than they are spelled. Dashes below indicate stress (accent) a certain syllable in a word. Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation!

Also, very often both labels on bottles and a bar menu are only in Russian. But it`s no problem! Here we list the most famous and popular types of fortified/dessert wines:

Port Wine
[ PARTVEIN ]
ПОРТВЕЙН

Red Port Wine
[ KRASNYI PARTVEIN ]
КРАСНЫЙ ПОРТВЕЙН

White Port Wine
[ BELYI PARTVEIN ]
БЕЛЫЙ ПОРТВЕЙН

Madeira Wine
[ MADERA ]
МАДЕРА

Marsala Wine
[ MARSALA ]
МАРСАЛА

Sherry (Jerez/Xerez) Wine
[ KHERES ]
ХЕРЕС

Moscatel Wine (fortified muscat)
[ MUSKATEL` ] or
[ KREPLYONYI MUSKAT ]
МУСКАТЕЛЬ / КРЕПЛЁНЫЙ МУСКАТ

Tokaji Wine
[ TAKAY ] or
[ TAKAYSKAYE ]
ТОКАЙ / ТОКАЙСКОЕ

Ice Wine / Eiswein
[ AYS-VAYN ] or
[ LEDYANOYE VINO ]
АЙСВАЙН or
ЛЕДЯНОЕ ВИНО

LINK TO SOUND

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

Please note! Russia does not accept monopolies on the names of various alcoholic beverages, such as Cognac, Calvados, Champagne, etc and produces, among other things, its own sorts of fortified wines, which in Russia are called Porto, Madeira, Sherry, Tokaji and so on.

We are not discussing here 'how good or bad is it'. We give info that there are such drinks and some of them are really worthy to try them!

🔔🔔🔔
But be careful! VERY IMPORTANT!
In Russia, the so-called 'Porto for alcoholics' is legally produced. This is even worse than what the British call PLONK. Never buy bottles where there is a number on the label after the word ПОРТВЕЙН (Port Wine in Russian)!!! It could be
ПОРТВЕЙН 13 ПОРТВЕЙН 72 ПОРТВЕЙН 777 or any others.

Indirect signs of poor quality will be the obviously cheap price and low quality of the bottle and label.
🔔🔔🔔

Really high-quality Russian fortified and dessert wines cannot cost less than $ 5 (usually $ 7-10)!
Calculate the actual equivalent in ₽/rubles in the converter by this link:
https://inrussian.info/money_eng

The best fortified and dessert wines in Russia are produced by the 'MASSANDRA' winery (in Russian - 'МАССАНДРА'). To be sure of the quality and taste really very good 'Russian Port', choose bottles with this sign and logo with main building of winery.
See picture above & SMALL MOVIE

And one more thing! Perhaps you did not know that Russia has an old tradition of growing grapes and producing excellent wine. In this video we will tell you which Russian wine brands are the best and are not inferior in quality to many wineries of Europe and America:
https://youtu.be/wYyZHQWOgiA

A guide on how to choose the best for you, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia read here

Want to know more?
Non-Alcoholic beverages in Russian
Russian Toasts

Hello friends! In Russia, vermouth is a super popular drink. Some Russian wineries produce vermouths of their own brands, trying to copy the famous Italian ones. But you don't need to know anything about them, because copies are always worse than the original.

It is enough that you know only these two brands. Martini and Cinzano. These labels can be found in absolutely any store and bar.

To quickly find what you need, look for these names by Cyrillic in the wine list or ask the staff to help you by saying these words with correct Russian pronunciation:
(ENG / RUS Transliterated in Latin / RUS in Cyrillic):

Martini
[ MARTINI ]
МАРТИНИ

Cinzano
[ CHINZANA ]
ЧИНЗАНО

LINK TO SOUND

Please, pay attention to the rules of correct pronunciation. Transliteration is given for the classical Latin alphabet and does not match with the rules of orthography and pronunciation of English.
Besides, often in Russian, as in many other languages, words are pronounced differently than they are spelled. Dashes below indicate stress (accent) a certain syllable in a word. Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation!

However, be attentive! If Cinzano is always vermouth, then Martini is different types of wines, including sparkling ones. In the store this is not a problem, but in a bar or restaurant it will be better to clarify that you want vermouth.

Vermouth
[ VERMUT ]
ВЕРМУТ

But that's not all! If you order a Martini (Cinzano) in a Russian bar, then in 9 cases out of 10 you will be poured Bianco (white sweet variety) into your glass. So, if you want something different, be sure to tell the bartender or waiter! Namely:

Bianco
[ B-YANKA ]
БЬЯНКО

Extra Dry
[ EXTRA DRY ]
ЭКСТРА ДРАЙ

Rosso
[ ROSSA ]
РОССО

LINK TO SOUND

As you know, vermouth can be consumed not only in straight. This is the basis for many super popular cocktails.
These are the names in Russian so that you can quickly find and order what you need and enjoy life!

MARTINI / CINZANO with..

..with Tonic
[ ..S TONIKAM ]
..С ТОНИКОМ

..with Orange Juice
[ ..S APELSINAVYM SOKAM ]
..С АПЕЛЬСИНОВЫМ СОКОМ

..with Grapefruit Juice
[ ..S GREIP-FRUTAVYM SOKAM ]
..С АПЕЛЬСИНОВЫМ СОКОМ

..with Ice Cubes
[ ..S - L`DOM ]
..С ЛЬДОМ

..WITHOUT Ice Cubes
[ ..BEZ - L`DA ]
..БЕЗ ЛЬДА

Vodka-Martini
[ VOTKA - MARTINI ] or
[ MARTINI S-VOTKAI ]
ВОДКА МАРТИНИ / МАРТИНИ С ВОДКОЙ

Gin-Martini
[ DZHIN S MARTINI ]
ДЖИН С МАРТИНИ

Americano (cocktail)
[ KAKTEIL` AMERIKANA ]
КОКТЕЙЛЬ АМЕРИКАНО
-----Recipe-----
Campari + Sweet Vermouth + Soda Water
[ KAMPARI + SLATKIY VERMUT + GASIROFKA ]

LINK TO SOUND

Cheers!

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

Dear friends! We have tried to collect for you the names of all the most popular alcoholic drinks that you might want to order at a Russian bar or restaurant, as well as find and buy yourself in a store or supermarket. As well as the most common words and phrases that you will need in a conversation with the Russian staff.

A guide on how to choose the best for you, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia read here

Want to know more?
Non-Alcoholic beverages in Russian
Russian Toasts

Dear friends! Welcome to Russia!

Russians very like sparkling wines. Therefore, you can easily find many of the most popular brands in shops and on bar menus. BUT! YOU SHOULD KNOW! Russia does not accept the French monopoly on Champagne and produces several of its own types of sparkling wines, which in Russia are called Champagne.

It is for this reason that most Russians mean all sparkling wines by the name Champagne! Therefore, in the wine list, these wines can be designated either separately or under the same name. We are not discussing here 'how good or bad is it'. We give information that there are such drinks and some of them are really worthy to try them.

Moreover, Russia has a long tradition of winemaking, including of very high quality sparkling wines. Want to know more? Click here

To quickly find what you need, look for these names by Cyrillic in the wine list or ask the staff to help you by saying these words with correct Russian pronunciation:
(ENG / RUS Transliterated in Latin / RUS in Cyrillic)

Sparkling wine / sparkling wines
[ IGRISTAYE VINO ]
[ IGRISTY-YE VINA ] (plural)
ИГРИСТОЕ ВИНО / ИГРИСТЫЕ ВИНА

Champagne wine(s)
[ SHAMPANSKAE ]
ШАМПАНСКОЕ

LINK TO SOUND

Please, pay attention to the rules of correct pronunciation. Transliteration is given for the classical Latin alphabet and does not match with the rules of orthography and pronunciation of English.
Besides, often in Russian, as in many other languages, words are pronounced differently than they are spelled. Dashes below indicate stress (accent) a certain syllable in a word. Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation!

Of course, 90 percent of sparkling wines are made from white grapes. But if you want rosé wine or even red sparkling wine, see how it is spelled and pronounced in Russian:

WHITE WINE / БЕЛОЕ ВИНО / BELAYE VINO
ROSE WINE / РОЗОВОЕ ВИНО / ROZAVAYE VINO
RED WINE / КРАСНОЕ ВИНО / KRASNAYE VINO

To learn more, see paragraph above and watch a short video on the classification of Russian wines by color.

Also, one should not forget about another very important property of wines, namely, the sugar content. This is especially important, since in Russia, in contrast to European or American traditions, semi sweet wines are among the most popular.

And this often becomes a problem, since many Russian trade marks (lines) of sparkling wines have different sugar content, but the bottles on the shelf have exactly the same design and differ only in the inscription in Russian indicating the classification of wine, for example, brut or semi-dry.

So, how to determine which wine you are going to buy or order? No problem! Look for these signs:
(ENG / RUS Transliterated in Latin / RUS in Cyrillic)

EXTRA BRUT / ЭКСТРА БРЮТ / EXTRA BRYUT
BRUT / БРЮТ / BRYUT
DRY / СУХОЕ / SUKHOYE
MEDIUM DRY (DEMI SEC) / ПОЛУСУХОЕ / POLU - SUKHOYE
SEMI SWEET / ПОЛУСЛАДКОЕ / POLU - SLATKAYE
SWEET / СЛАДКОЕ / SLATKAYE

See info above to learn more about sugar content in wines and also watch this video and you will become a specialist in Russian wines!

So what kind of Russian sparkling or even Russian champagne wine is worthy of your attention and wallet? This is not an easy question, as there is a sparkling wine factory in almost every province of Russia, but there are at least a hundred brands!

We have three tips for you to help you choose an excellent Russian wine, that rivals Italian Prosecco, Spanish Cava and even.. French Champagne!

The first advice and perhaps the most important! PAY ATTENTION TO THE PRICE !
* Regular quality Russian sparkling wines cannot cost less than $ 5!
* High quality wines cost usually $ 7-10
* Premium quality - from $ 10 per bottle
Calculate the actual equivalent in ₽/rubles with a online converter by this link:
https://inrussian.info/money_eng

Advice no 2. If you buy an inexpensive ordinary Russian sparkling wine for 5-7 USD (this advice does not apply to more expensive brands), it is better to choose wine from a grape producer, then you can be sure of excellent quality. The fact is that small provincial wine producers often buy cheap wine materials from different suppliers, so the taste and quality of wine is unstable.

Therefore - our second tip! Inexpensive sparkling wine under $7 ? Look for the inscription in Russian on the label or back label:
ВИНО С ЗАЩИЩЕННЫМ ГЕОГРАФИЧЕСКИМ УКАЗАНИЕМ
that is 'Wine with the PGI Status' (Protected geographical indication).

Advice no 3. And finally, our own rating of the best Russian brands! Here we are not putting someone first or tenth. Just by choosing these brands, you can practically be sure of both good taste and good quality of Russian sparkling/champagne wine. Especially if you don't forget the first two tips!
(ENG / RUS Transliterated in Latin / RUS in Cyrillic):

CHATEAU TAMAGNE
[ SHATO TAMAN` ]
ШАТО ТАМАНЬ

FANAGORIA
[ FANAGORIYA ]
ФАНАГОРИЯ

ZB (Zolotaya Balka)
[ ZALATAYA BALKA ]
ЗОЛОТАЯ БАЛКА

INKERMAN
[ INKERMAN ]
ИНКЕРМАН

ARISTOV
[ ARISTAF ]
АРИСТОВ

ABRAU DURSO
[ ABRAU DYURSO ]
АБРАУ ДЮРСО
(* 'Abrau Durso' brand better choose bottles not with black labels)

NOVY SVET
[ NOVYI SVET ]
НОВЫЙ СВЕТ
(* The oldest Russian winery of sparkling wines producing Russian champagne since 1878)

MYSKHAKO
[ MYS - KHAKO ]
МЫСХАКО

LINK TO SOUND AND VIDEO

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

Dear friends! We have tried to collect for you the names of all the most popular alcoholic drinks that you might want to order at a Russian bar or restaurant, as well as find and buy yourself in a store or supermarket. As well as the most common words and phrases that you will need in a conversation with the Russian staff.

A guide on how to choose the best for you, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia read here

Want to know more?
Non-Alcoholic beverages in Russian
Russian Toasts

Dear friends! Welcome to Russia!

Mulled, flavored and spiced wines are very popular in Russia. In bars, restaurants and supermarkets you can find many varieties and brands of both Russian and foreign production. We will tell you how to find, choose the best and not make mistakes when ordering.

Chapter 1. GLÜHWEIN

In Russia, under the term 'Mulled Wine' means primarily German Glühwein. Therefore, in stores you will find only bottles from Germany, or those made in Russia according to a typical German recipe and stylized just under so-called 'Weihnachten Glühwein'.

The same thing awaits you in Russian bars and cafes. Even if you ask the English speaking staff about MULLED WINE, chances are they won't understand what you want. But even speaking not in Russian, but in German 'GLÜHWEIN', you can be sure that any bartender will understand you!

However, it is even better to learn the Russian name for this Christmas drink, especially since it is very similar to the original
(ENG / RUS Transliterated in Latin / RUS in Cyrillic)

Glühwein
[ GLINTVEIN ]
ГЛИНТВЕЙН

LINK TO SOUND

Please, pay attention to the rules of correct pronunciation. Transliteration is given for the classical Latin alphabet and does not match with the rules of orthography and pronunciation of English.
Besides, often in Russian, as in many other languages, words are pronounced differently than they are spelled. Dashes below indicate stress (accent) a certain syllable in a word. Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation!

Of course, classic Mulled Wine / Glühwein is made on the basis of red wine, so on the bottle and in the bar menu it will be marked in Russian as

a) КЛАССИЧЕСКИЙ ГЛИНТВЕЙН (classic glühwein)
b) КРАСНЫЙ ГЛИНТВЕЙН (red glühwein)
c) or just - ГЛИНТВЕЙН (just - glühwein)

If you prefer white mulled wine, then look for the name 'БЕЛЫЙ ГЛИНТВЕЙН' in the wine list. Or ask the waiter to bring you 'BELYI GLINTVEIN'. Remember, bottled white mulled wine is practically out of stock in Russian stores.

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic mulled wines are indicated in the same way. Classic alcoholic drinks will be labeled in Russian as АЛКОГОЛЬНЫЕ ГЛИНТВЕЙНЫ or just - ГЛИНТВЕЙНЫ

To find a non-alcoholic Glühwein, look for the inscription 'БЕЗАЛКОГОЛЬНЫЙ ГЛИНТВЕЙН' or 'БЕЗАЛКОГОЛЬНЫЕ ГЛИНТВЕЙНЫ' (plural) or ask the bartender to prepare you a 'BEZALKAGOLNYI GLINTVEIN'.

A couple of tips on how to choose the best. If in a Russian bar you can be sure that a high-quality drink is prepared for you according to a classic German recipe, then in the store choose only glass bottles (not tetra-packs!) and no cheaper than $ 4 in Russian rubles.

Calculate the actual equivalent in ₽/rubles with a online converter by this link:
https://inrussian.info/money_eng

Chapter 2. SANGRIA

Sangria is an equally popular drink in Russia. In almost every bar and supermarket, you will find at least one variety (brand) of this low-alcohol beverage. And the Russian pronunciation of the name of Sangria, practically coincides with the Spanish one. Perhaps, even with any language! :-)
(ENG / RUS in Cyrillic / RUS Transliterated in Latin)

Sangria
[ SANGRIYA ]
САНГРИЯ

LINK TO SOUND AND VIDEO

Of course, the classic Sangria is the red wine based beverage. But in shops (rarely) and in most bars, you can also find white and pink Sangria. Look for these words on the bar menu, but.. not on the bottle labels! Why? You will find out answer below:

САНГРИЯ - red sangria
БЕЛАЯ САНГРИЯ - white sangria
РОЗОВАЯ САНГРИЯ - pink sangria

Or ask the staff to prepare for you:
BELAYA SANGRIYA (white sangria)
ROZAVAYA SANGRIYA (pink sangria)

And now a very important rule that you should know!
One very famous Russian saying, if slightly altered, will sound like this: How many bars - so many types of Sangria!But this is not the biggest problem, as most Russian bars will prepare for you a QUALITY drink!

WARNING! Never and in no case! Don`t buy bottled or tetra-packed Russian sangria! All this is probably made at the same chemical plant as the well-known 'Novichok'.

How can you distinguish real Spanish Sangria from very similar packages made in Russia? There are two simple tips!

Rule one. Russia imports from Spain only a few inexpensive but world famous brands. For example: Don Simon, Don Garcia, Peñasol, Cruzares. Look for these names on the shelves!
Rule two. The guaranteed way to buy quality sangria is to check the country of manufacture. It's very simple. Look at the barcode on the package or bottle! All products made in Spain start with numbers from 840 to 849. But all Russian goods always have numbers from 460 to 469.

This is a very rare case when a Russian product is obviously worse than an imported one. We are honest with you and therefore says - make no mistake, buy Spanish sangria!

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

Dear friends! We have tried to collect for you the names of all the most popular alcoholic drinks that you might want to order at a Russian bar or restaurant, as well as find and buy yourself in a store or supermarket. As well as the most common words and phrases that you will need in a conversation with the Russian staff.

A guide on how to choose the best for you, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia read here

Want to know more?
Non-Alcoholic beverages in Russian
Russian Toasts

Cheers!

Hello Dear friends! Welcome to Russia!

Fruit wines and so-called fruit based wine drinks (in Russian - 'ВИННЫЙ НАПИТОК / VINNYI NAPITAK') are very popular in Russia. In many bars and in almost all supermarkets, you will find several varieties and brands of this type of alcoholic beverages.

Almost always, these are sweet- or semi-sweet wines, produced mainly in Russia, Serbia, Armenia, Bulgaria, Germany and China. To choose the best, buy fruit wines no cheaper than $ 5 per bottle (pack).

Calculate the actual equivalent in ₽/rubles with a online converter by this link:
https://inrussian.info/money_eng

To quickly find the right product, look for these chapters on a bar menu, or these signs in a supermarket. You can also ask the staff for help by saying these phrases in Russian: (ENG / RUS Transliterated in Latin / RUS in Cyrillic)

Fruit Wine / Fruit Wines (plural)

Variant 1
[ FRUKTOVAYE VINO ] or
[ FRUKTOVY-YE VINA ] (plural)
ФРУКТОВОЕ ВИНО or
ФРУКТОВЫЕ ВИНА (plural)

Variant 2
[ PLADOVAYE VINO ] or
[ PLADOVY-YE VINA ] (plural)
ПЛОДОВОЕ ВИНО or
ПЛОДОВЫЕ ВИНА (plural)

LINK TO SOUND

Please, pay attention to the rules of correct pronunciation. Transliteration is given for the classical Latin alphabet and does not match with the rules of orthography and pronunciation of English.
Besides, often in Russian, as in many other languages, words are pronounced differently than they are spelled. Dashes below indicate stress (accent) a certain syllable in a word. Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation!

There are many varieties of fruit wine in the world, such as banana wine or pineapple wine and others. But we list below the names of only those varieties that are really popular in Russia and which you can easily find almost everywhere.

For example, in different provinces of Russia wines made from black and red currants, mulberries, lingonberries, blueberries are very popular too. However, it can be found only in some bars only as homemade wine and practically these varieties are not available in stores.

To understand what type of wine is in front of you on the store shelf and find what you need on the wine list, look for these inscriptions. On packs and bottles, pay attention also to the pictures of fruits and berries. Or ask the staff to help you by saying these phrases: (ENG / RUS Transliterated in Latin / RUS in Cyrillic)

Cherry Wine
[ VISHNYOVAYE VINO ]
ВИШНЁВОЕ ВИНО

Apricot Wine
[ ABRIKOSAVAYE VINO ]
АБРИКОСОВОЕ ВИНО

Pomegranate Wine
[ GRANATAVAYE VINO ]
ГРАНАТОВОЕ ВИНО

Raspberry Wine
[ MALINAVAYE VINO ]
МАЛИНОВОЕ ВИНО

Blackberry Wine
[ YEZHEVICHNAYE VINO ] or
[ VINO IZ YEZHEVIKI ]
ЕЖЕВИЧНОЕ ВИНО or
ВИНО ИЗ ЕЖЕВИКИ

Strawberry Wine
[ KLUBNICHNAYE VINO ] or
[ ZEMLENICHNAYE VINO ]
КЛУБНИЧНОЕ ВИНО or
ЗЕМЛЯНИЧНОЕ ВИНО

Plum Wine
[ SLIVOVAYE VINO ]
СЛИВОВОЕ ВИНО

Note! Plums, like grapes, are white or red. Look at the label and the contents of the bottle to find a specific variety in a store. In a restaurant or cafe, you can clarify the type of wine by saying the waiter / bartender this:
RED PLUM / КРАСНАЯ СЛИВА / KRASNAYA SLIVA
WHITE PLUM / БЕЛАЯ СЛИВА / BELAYA SLIVA

LINK TO SOUND AND SMALL VIDEO

And one more thing! Do not confuse fruit wines with fruit liqueurs and strong tinctures! Pay attention to the word 'ВИНО / WINE' on the packaging or product description on the wine list. Also, of course, to alcohol content.

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

Dear friends! We have tried to collect for you the names of all the most popular alcoholic drinks that you might want to order at a Russian bar or restaurant, as well as find and buy yourself in a store or supermarket. As well as the most common words and phrases that you will need in a conversation with the Russian staff.

A guide on how to choose the best for you, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia read here

Want to know more?
Non-Alcoholic beverages in Russian
Russian Toasts

Cheers!

Hello Dear friends! Welcome to Russia!

First of all, a little introduction. What do you know about Russia? Let's try to guess! Most likely, you think so: this is a very cold country, only pines and spruces grow here, and certainly no grapes grow.

Really, many regions are located in the north, for example, the well-known Siberia. But, let's look at the map, it`s best with meridians and parallels. Find the 45th parallel or, if it is not on the map, mentally draw. And you will see that it is here that several southern provinces are located.

If you are be observant, you will notice that this parallel also runs through Bordeaux and Piedmont. This means that the climate of these Russian provinces is similar to the best wine-growing regions of France and Italy. But, in reality, all is even more better, since the best vineyards in Russia are located in an absolutely unique climatic place, between the two seas - the Black and Azov. Therefore, we can confidently say that the conditions for growing grapes in Russia are ideal!

What else? It will be useful to know that all famous classic grape varieties are cultivated in Russia. In addition, here you can taste wines from unique grape varieties grown only in Russia and some countries of the former USSR.

However, perhaps you also did not know until now that Russia has centuries-old winemaking traditions. And now, thanks to huge investments and the most modern technologies, Russian winemakers produce wines that are not inferior in quality to the famous world wineries!

And these are not only simple, ordinary wines. In Russia, you will find local wines for every taste and budget, from inexpensive young wines for every day to excellent aged wines for special occasions, incl sparkling, fortified and dessert! Now it remains for us to figure out

HOW TO CHOOSE A REAL RUSSIAN WINE

It is important! After all, as in almost any country, in Russia there is wine of not very good quality too, the so-called 'Plonk'. How not to be mistaken? Let's start with the simplest. With labels and lines in the wine list. You are now in Russia, so info often can only be in Russian.

By what main parameters do we choose wine? Usually for these three (see below). Even in the store, by eye, it is not always possible to distinguish white wine from red wine, and even more so how you will understand what kind of grapes in the bottle. So it's best to know for sure. Well and in the bar you can choose a glass of something yourself and even have a little chat with the bartender in Russian.

Read the details in the chapters above, click on the links below and become a Russian sommelier!

WINE COLOR (red/white/rose). How to determine and choose
https://youtu.be/CfdYPDRWK7A

GRAPE VARIETIES
https://youtu.be/RY7mgzJBBx4

SUGAR CONTENT (brut/dry/sweet)
https://youtu.be/r6KCAJr4cmQ

How to identify and choose specific types of wine, such as dessert and fortified, fruit and mulled, vermouth and sparkling.
https://youtube.com/playlist...

So what kind of Russian wine is worthy of your attention and wallet? This is not an easy question, as there is a wine factories (not wineries!) in almost every province of Russia, but there are at least a hundred brands!
We have three tips for you to help you choose an excellent Russian wine, that rivals best Italian, Spanish and even French wines!

a) THE FIRST ADVICE and perhaps the most important! PAY ATTENTION TO THE PRICE !
* Regular quality Russian wines cannot cost less than $ 4 (normal price) / $ 3 (sale price)!!!
* High quality wines cost usually $ 7-10
* Premium quality - from $ 10 per bottle
These prices are relevant for supermarkets. In a restaurant or bar, the surcharge is at least 25%

Calculate the actual equivalent in ₽/rubles with a online converter by this link:
https://inrussian.info/money_eng

b) ADVICE # 2. If you buy an inexpensive ordinary Russian wine for 4-7 USD (this advice does not apply to more expensive brands), it is better to choose wine from a vineyard owner, then you can be sure of excellent quality. The fact is that small provincial wine bottlers often buy cheap wine materials from different suppliers, so the taste and quality of wine is unstable.

Therefore, our second tip! Inexpensive sparkling wine under $7? Look for the inscription in Russian on the label or back label:
ВИНО С ЗАЩИЩЕННЫМ ГЕОГРАФИЧЕСКИМ УКАЗАНИЕМ
that is 'Wine with the PGI Status'
(Protected geographical indication)

c) ADVICE # 3. Buy wine of the brands that we have indicated below. These are not all producers of good wine in Russia, but these are brands that can be found in almost every supermarket. The order of brands is random.

And one more little tip. According to Russian wine legislation, the region of origin of the grapes and the harvest year are indicated on any bottle and packaging.

***
Brand name in English (in Latin letters) /
Name in Russian in Latin letters (transliterated)
Brand name in Russian in Cyrillic /

Please, pay attention to the rules of correct pronunciation. Transliteration is given for the classical Latin alphabet and does not match with the rules of orthography and pronunciation of English.
Besides, often in Russian, as in many other languages, words are pronounced differently than they are spelled. Dashes below indicate stress (accent) a certain syllable in a word. Our transliterated text does not always match the correct spelling, but it always matches the correct pronunciation and is indicated for the Russian-speaking service personnel to correctly understand your wishes.

CHATEAU TAMAGNE
[ SHATO TAMAN` ]
ШАТО ТАМАНЬ

FANAGORIA
[ FANAGORIYA ]
ФАНАГОРИЯ

ZB (Zolotaya Balka)
[ ZALATAYA BALKA / ZE-BE ]
ЗОЛОТАЯ БАЛКА

INKERMAN
[ INKERMAN ]
ИНКЕРМАН

ARISTOV
[ ARISTAF ]
АРИСТОВ

ABRAU DURSO
[ ABRAU DYURSO ]
АБРАУ ДЮРСО

NOVY SVET
[ NOVYI SVET ]
НОВЫЙ СВЕТ
(* The oldest Russian winery of sparkling wines producing 'Russian Champagne' since 1878)

MYSKHAKO
[ MYS - KHAKO ]
МЫСХАКО

SAUK DERE
[ SAUK DERE ]
САУК ДЕРЕ

MASSANDRA
[ MASSANDRA ]
МАССАНДРА

VILLA KRIM
[ VILLA KRYM ]
ВИЛЛА КРЫМ

ALMA VALLEY
[ AL`MA VALLEY ]
АЛЬМА ВАЛЛЕЙ

LINK TO SOUND AND VIDEO

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

Dear friends! We have tried to collect for you the names of all the most popular alcoholic drinks that you might want to order at a Russian bar or restaurant, as well as find and buy yourself in a store or supermarket. As well as the most common words and phrases that you will need in a conversation with the Russian staff.

A guide on how to choose the best for you, how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in Russia read here

Want to know more?
Non-Alcoholic beverages in Russian
Russian Toasts

Cheers!

Cocktail / Long Drink (highball)

[ KAKTEIL` ] - Cocktail

[ LONG DRINK ] - Long Drink

Коктейль / Лонг дринк

Link to sound

With / Without (cocktails)

Gin & tonic / Whisky & cola

[ DZHIN S TONIKAM ] -
Gin & tonic

[ VISKI S KOLAY ] -
Whisky & cola

Джин с тоником / Виски с колой

Link to sound

Mojito / Pina colada

[ MAKHITA ] - Mojito

[ PINAKALADA ] -
Pina colada

Мохито / Пина Колада

Link to sound

Beer / Ale / Cider

[ PIVA ] - Beer

[ EL` ] - Ale

[ SIDR ] - Cider

Пиво / Эль / Сидр

[ YABLACHNYI SIDR ] -
Apple cider

[ GRUSHEVYI SIDR ] -
Pear cider

Sweetness: see here

Link to sound

Strong / Non-alcoholic

[ KREPKAE ] (piva) -
strong (beer)

[ BES-ALKAGOLNAE ] (piva) -
non-alcoholic (beer)

Крепкое (пиво) /
Безалкогольное (пиво)

Link to sound

Pale lager / Dark / Stout (porter)

[ SVETLAE ] - Pale lager

[ TYOMNAE ] - Dark

[ STAUT / PORTER ] -
Stout / Porter

Светлое / Тёмное /
Стаут (Портер)

Link to sound

Wheat beer

[ PSHENICHNAE PIVA ]

Пшеничное пиво

Link to sound

Lambic / Kriek / Cherry beer

[ LAMBIK ] - Lambic

[ KRIK ] - Kriek

[ VISHNYOVAE PIVA ] -
Cherry beer

Ламбик / Крик /
Вишнёвое пиво

Link to sound

Shandy (Radler)

[ PIVNOY KAKTEIL` ] or

[ PIVA S LIMANADAM ] or

[ RADLER ]

Пивной коктейль
Пиво с лимонадом
Радлер

Link to sound

Medovukha (Russian Mead)

- traditional drink -

[ MEDAVUKHA ]

Медовуха

Medovukha (in Russian - МЕДОВУХА). A sweet alcoholic (5-16%) drink, prepared from water, honey, hops and yeast with various flavor additives: juniper, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, red pepper, rose hips.

Want to know more about Russian beverages? Click here

Link to sound

CHEERS !
drinking toasts in Russia

When.. Where.. How

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

DEAR FRIENDS !

We have tried to collect for you the names of all the most popular drinks that you might want to order at a bar or restaurant, as well as find and buy yourself in a store or supermarket. As well as the most common words and phrases that you will need in a conversation with the Russian staff.

However, maybe we forgot something. Please help yourself and us - ask your question. This can be done not only in English - write in any language and about any products. We will definitely answer you!

UPDATED ON: SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 | SEE ALSO:

Meal in Russian. Online vocabulary

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Beverages & Drinks in RussiaHow to choose and buy