Belvedere, Poland Recipe

Prepare honey syrup (if not ready)

Combine equal parts honey and hot water (for 0.5 oz syrup needed, mix 0.5 oz honey with 0.5 oz hot water). Stir until honey fully dissolves. Chill briefly if necessary.

Build and shake

Add 2 oz Belvedere vodka, 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice, 0.5 oz honey syrup, 0.5 oz elderflower liqueur, 1 oz chilled beet kvass (or sparkling water for a lighter version), and 2 dashes Angostura bitters into a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice (about 1 cup) until nearly full.

Shake vigorously

Secure the shaker lid and shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is very cold and the mixture is well-aerated (this chills and dilutes the drink to the correct balance).

Double strain

Strain the cocktail through a fine mesh strainer (and the shaker strainer) into a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass to remove small ice shards and any pulp from the lemon juice.

Express the oils of one lemon peel over the surface of the cocktail by holding the peel skin-side down over the glass and giving it a firm twist, then wipe the rim with the peel and drop it into the glass.

Optional: Float a small sprig of fresh dill or a thin beet slice on the surface for an aromatic, Polish-inspired accent.

Serve immediately while cold.