In early May 2026, the Minsk bar “At the day” began to hold special lectures-tastings of authentic Belarusian drinks. During the evening, the guests were told about the history of drinking in Belarus, and were also treated to alcoholic jelly, medieval drinks and gentry snacks, which were usually served with them. It turned out to be a culinary journey into the past, and inspired by this example, I also decided to tell you about 6 different places (and 5 different ways) to better understand the culture of drinking in Belarus.
Photo from @tanya_cattery_Is social media.
- Where can I find real rustic moonshine?
- And how do I get to the oldest brewery in Minsk?
- Who arranges the coolest quest tours of the bars in the city?
- And where to try Belarusian whiskey and traditional Lithuanian vodka?
The laws of Belarus oblige me to remind you that excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to your health. But if, despite all the advice of the Ministry of Health, you are still determined to harm him, then here are some ideas for you on how to do it as non-banal and authentic as possible.
Try traditional moonshine and feel the spirit of the Belarusian village
This can be done, for example, at the Dudutki Museum complex (about an hour’s drive from Minsk).
There is an operating moonshine distiller in the wooden brovar building, which allows the production of moonshine by double distillation. Its tasting is one of the invariable features that this popular Belarusian “skansen” surprises tourists with. But personally, I remember the rustic snacks served with drinks more. It can be black bread with pickled cucumber and… HONEY! Or, for example, smoked cheese from a local cheese factory.
If you wish, you can also buy moonshine as a souvenir, but (for some reason?) only for bottling. You can view the program of excursions to Dudutki on this page. And in this article I wrote how to get there on my own.
Another interesting place imbued with the spirit of the Belarusian village is the Trabutishki estate near the Blue Lakes. This is no longer a museum, but rather a secluded farm where, if desired, you can stay overnight. Its special feature is a large collection of antiques. There are wooden furniture, restored carriages, and even its own forge with century-old bellows and a forge.
Photo source: @usadba_trabutishki.
Alcohol tastings are also organized for guests here, with homemade tinctures made from local berries and herbs. In 2009, the estate in Trabutishki even received a special award for the preservation of Belarusian traditions.
Go in search of the Belarusian starkey
Starka is a traditional strong drink (36-45%), which has been especially popular in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since the middle of the 15th century. It is sometimes called rye vodka, and sometimes compared to whiskey or cognac (because of its rich amber color). But both, of course, are a very strong simplification.
Starka was made in Belarus according to a variety of recipes. Someone aged it with the addition of pear leaves and apples. And someone even added a lime color to it. The Brovary itself operated at castles, manors, and austeries (special establishments that combined the features of a tavern, hotel, and club). And it could only be made by representatives of the local gentry, so starka was traditionally considered an elite drink.
Today you can try it in many different places. For example, in Sula Historical Park, where such tastings are part of an interactive program.
Guests are immersed in the atmosphere of a traditional manor, actors play out scenes from the life of the Belarusian gentry in front of them, and vodka brewed according to 16th-century recipes is bottled at the Sulskaya Distillery. At the same time, a special copper distillation apparatus is used for its manufacture, which has been around for a century and a half.
The cost of excursions to Sula Park can be viewed here.
Another interesting place for connoisseurs of unusual drinks is the Naroch distillery (in the Myadel district, next to the famous lake). The complex is located in a building dating back to 1845 and perfectly conveys the spirit of ancient Belarusian crafts. Once the local production belonged to the princes of Sventarzycki. And back in those days, starka was made here according to traditional recipes.
Photo from the distillery’s social media.
Today, the product line has been significantly expanded. For touriststhey conduct tastings of gin, whiskey, calvados and, of course, the very Naroch starkey.
You can read all the details (and sign up for a tour) on social media @vinokurnya_naroch.
I think this is a good option, to listen to the history of ancient drinks, arrange an atmospheric photo shoot among the shelves of oak barrels, and at the end of the day also to meet the sunset on the shore of the “Belarusian sea”.
Go on a guided tour and go on a bar quest tour
If you wish, you can get acquainted with the Belarusian drinking culture in Minsk itself. For example, during special quest tours of the capital’s bars, which have become increasingly popular in recent years. At such parties, guests move from one establishment to another, perform thematic tasks, and at the same time taste modern cocktails and get acquainted with the restaurant culture of the country.
Photos from social networks — @alexandra_sokk and @citypubcrawl.
Similar quests can be found, for example, at the City Pub Crawl company. All the details about the project are here.
Well, if you like a more traditional format of excursions, then pay attention to this tourist route called “Let’s figure it out for three” from a guide named Victoria. She talks about modern hangouts and about the drinking culture in pre-revolutionary, pre-war and post-war Minsk. How did the legendary shot glasses appear? And what was the original composition of the doctor’s sausage? How has the attitude towards alcohol changed in the BSSR? And how to make blue vodka according to the recipe of the 19th century?
You can read more about this tour here. Personally, I am always warm to such non-standard routes and topics.
In a separate line, I would also like to mention another Belarusian author named Elena Mikulchik, who has made a name for herself in lectures, books and cooking classes dedicated to the topic of Belarusian cuisine. Recently, at the Na Dnya bar, she talked about the history of authentic alcoholic beverages, and in the near future (at the Hunting Lodge in Gomel) she will give lectures on the history of the worldwide culinary conspiracy.
If you manage to get to her performances, consider yourself lucky. Well, if not, you can just surf her website kubel.by (or social media @elena_mikulchik). There she talks about the traditions of noble feasts, shares recipes for krambambuli and horseradish, and also tells that the main dish of Belarusian cuisine is not draniki at all.
Plunge into the past and present of Belarusian brewing
Two of the oldest breweries in Belarus also conduct their excursions (with tastings of freshly brewed beer).:
- Minsk “Alivaria” (1864);
- and “Lida beer” (1876).
There are lectures on the nature of malt, and “historical routes” through the old buildings, and a lot more.… But lately I’ve been writing about them so often that it’s kind of awkward to repeat it all now.
Instead, I’d rather tell you about a fairly young company called Robim Good. It also conducts guided tours and tastings, but relies not on the historical context, but on modern craft beers. Guests are told how lager differs from ale, how to choose a glass for a frothy drink, and how to take the first sip correctly.
Guided tours take place every Sunday. But the brewery is located outside Minsk. Therefore, do not be surprised if at some point you are loaded onto a bus and taken away in an unknown direction.
All the details about the excursions are available on the robimgood website.beer.
Afterword
Probably, in this article it would be possible to tell more about:
- Minsk brewery “Friends“, which brews 67 (!) varieties of beer, sometimes offering guests absolutely unique things;
- or Litviny restaurant – with its author’s tinctures and “Belarusian cuisine with fabulous serving”.
Cranberry cherry, krupnik, horseradish. Tasting set of Belarusian tinctures at the Litviny restaurant.
But I promised you to make my articles a little less voluminous, didn’t I? Therefore, as a final chord, I will write only a couple of lines about the brewery. “Svyatsky Brovar“. Suddenly you want to drink craft beer in the atmosphere of the real Volovich Palace.
“The special taste of each of the six varieties offered is connected with the history of the complex and is based on the old traditions of Grodno brewing.” For example, the beer “Maestro Giusepe” is associated with the name of the architect of the palace, Giuseppe Sacco (who, according to legend, was very fond of this kind of foam). And the brand “Chornaya Gancha” refers to the name of the local river (which is considered one of the cleanest in Belarus).
Photo by Lizaveta Varano, @lizztoday
You can try these and other beers at the Holy Palace, 20 km from Grodno. In addition to its own brewery, there is a beautiful park with a pond and a cozy SPA hotel where you can stay overnight.
Details and prices can be viewed here.
And with these words, I will say goodbye. I hope my story about the drinking culture in Belarus will help you discover something new in our country and create your own unusual travel itinerary. Are there whiskey tours to Scotland? Why can’t something like this happen in our country?
