Recollection Spirits is Inna Kersman and Igor Revenko, a Ukrainian husband-and-wife team making small-batch fruit liqueurs from their distillery in Melbourne’s south-east. Their latest is 4am Sky, a blackcurrant nalyvka – a traditional Ukrainian fruit spirit made by steeping blackcurrants until the liquid turns a deep, almost velvety purple. It’s mighty capable served on its own, over a couple of rocks or as a refreshing N&T.
Give us the elevator pitch, Inna: what makes your nalyvka different or special?
Nalyvka is a traditional Ukrainian fruit spirit, still largely unknown in Australia. We grew up knowing how good it can be, and we’re genuinely excited to introduce it to our fellow Aussies.
Ours uses only real blackcurrants, no flavouring, no syrup, just fruit and time. That patience is what gives it the deep, almost velvety purple it’s named for, the colour of a 4am sky. It’s lighter on sugar than most liqueurs, and more satisfying than most things you’d pour over ice, or ice cream.
Who are you and what are you all about?
We’re Inna and Igor, a husband-and-wife team, both originally from Ukraine, though we met in New Zealand and eventually made Melbourne home. We’d been dreaming of making our own spirits for years, but it was always more of a joke, the kind of thing you never seriously consider. Until one day three years ago, we did. And the joke turned into a business plan almost overnight.
Every bottle starts with a place or an experience we want to share, something that puts you back in a specific moment. If you’ve been there, you’ll know it. And nothing gets out the door quickly. Every release takes us a long time, because we sit with every detail until it’s right: the fruit, the balance, the way the story shows up on the label. 4am Sky is a nod to an Eastern European summer: hot, still nights, berries and fruit everywhere you look.
You don’t see a lot of nalyvka in Melbourne. For the uninitiated, what does it taste like?
Proper ripe blackcurrant, not the cordial version you might be picturing. It tastes like fresh fruit, bright and vivid, nothing cooked or jammy about it. It opens with fresh berry, softens into a gentle sweetness, then dries off clean so the tartness is the last thing you notice. A little sweet, a little tart, nicely balanced, and maybe a bit too easy to drink. More fruit spirit than sticky liqueur.
Explain like we’re five: how do you make it?
We let our blackcurrants sit with sugar and gently crush them so they start giving up their juice, then add the alcohol and let the whole lot macerate for a few weeks. It’s simple, but it isn’t easy. The difference is all in the attention: watching it closely, keeping the balance right and pulling the berries out at exactly the right moment.
So it’s handcrafted locally from start to finish, and made slowly, because the best things take time.
What excites you about this project?
Fruit delivery days, when I get to eat a “few” blackcurrants from every box. Purely for quality control, of course.
But honestly, it’s watching someone try our blackcurrant nalyvka for the first time, then immediately want to pour it for everyone they know. It’s new to most people in this part of the world, and there’s something lovely about getting to share a bit of our own tradition. And when people come back for more, that’s the best sign we could ask for that we’ve got it right.
What are the perfect conditions to enjoy your nalyvka?
It’s such a versatile drink, and everyone seems to find their own way with it. We both love it cold over ice. Igor puts it in his hot chocolate when he wants something cosy, and Inna takes hers in a spritz with prosecco or sparkling wine. Traditionally, though, it’s a social drink. Picture a loud gathering of family and friends, music playing, your grandpa half-watching the TV in the corner, dishes clinking in the kitchen. That’s the natural home for nalyvka, somewhere full of people and noise and good company.
Is this here for a good time or a long time?
Definitely a long time. This isn’t a one-off or a trend we’re riding. We’re on a mission to make nalyvka as well known here as it deserves to be, and to slowly build a whole range around it, each bottle tied to a place or a memory that means something to us. Blackcurrant is just the latest. There’s plenty more coming, but you’ll have to wait and see.
Where can I buy it?
Mainly through our website, recollectionspirits.com.au, where we ship Australia-wide. You can also come and find us in person: we’re at our Braeside distillery by appointment, and out at farmers’ markets around Melbourne most weekends. We post where we’ll be on our website and on Instagram, so it’s worth a look before you head out. Come say hello.
Explore Recollection Spirits’ full range of nalyvka at recollectionspirits.com.au. Follow along for more via @recollectionspirits.