Budmo! Dima’s Cocktail Book Supporting Ukraine

Dima Deinega is the man behind namesake brand, Dima’s Vodka, an award-winning triple-grain expression picking up prestigious gongs from the IWSC, World Vodka Awards and Vodka Masters… and now, he’s also the man behind, ‘Budmo!’, a book of vodka cocktails from his homeland.

If you’re wondering, Budmo (pronounced Bood-more) means, ‘let us be’ and is the shortest and most popular Ukrainian toast, usually featuring a hierarchy of toasts around the table. Dima’s book celebrating the art of toasting features fifty essential recipes created by expert mixologists from Kyiv cocktails bars, celebrating vodka’s special place in the culture. As Dima himself puts it, “Vodka is an integral part of the Ukrainian lifestyle with generations of expertise and tradition behind it. With different regional flavour profiles, it crosses class and status boundaries and is suffused into the country’s culture, uniting the nation.”

Highlights include the Kyiv Mule, The White Ukrainian, the Beetroot Bloody Mary and Parovoz Bar’s Green Pea Cocktail, a smoothly shaken cocktail entwining the richness of Dima’s Vodka with green pea shoots and celery bitters! You even get a QR code to walk you through making each one, as well as insight into the exciting Ukrainian bar scene, vodka infusions (nalyvkas), traditional pickles and beautiful accompanying photos.

Most importantly, a minimum of £5 from every purchase goes towards First Aid Ukraine in their time of need, and you can purchase the book on its own for £25 or combine it with a gorgeous bottle of Dima’s for £55 (the perfect star of the show for your vodka cocktails).

Super inventive recipes, stunning Vodka, and the opportunity to support and celebrate Ukraine – Budmo to that we say.

If it sounds like it’s up your street, please visit Dima’s website to learn more about their premium products and purchase the cocktail book!

talkRADIO: Drinks supporting Ukraine

Today on talkRADIO, we raise a toast to some brands that are raising much needed funds to support charities helping those in need in Ukraine. From beer to vodka and even wine, there;’s something for everyone, so buy what you can and call it a party!

Dima’s Vodka (40% ABV)

Dimas Vodka is the Ukrainian Vodka brand that has been on every drinks writer’s radar since it won gold at the IWSC awards at the start of the year and then massively since the conflict began. Owner Dima Deinega has been spearheading various charitable events and creating producing to raise funds to support Ukraine so it’s worth checking out their instagram @vodkadimas so see the latest. The vodka itself hails from a 125-year-old distillery on the outskirts of Kyiv and is made (unusually) with three grains: barley, rye and wheat. This combination along with Ukraine's black supersoils give the vodka  a velvety smoothness,. Making it a good sipping vodka. On the bottle, you’ll see a modern version of the national coat of arms of Ukraine. Try it with a pickle the way they do in Ukraine!

Follow @vodkadimas for various charity events such as Feast for Ukraine this Saturday at Brigade, 139 Tooley Street, London.  There’s also currently a limited edition, painted bottle auction happening. 

Vodka is £35 from dimasvodka.com



Copper Rivet Distillery

Copper Rivet Distillery based in Chatham’s Royal Dockyard iis Kent’s only grain to glass distillery, producing excellent gin, whisky and vodka from scratch in small batches from bespoke stills. To help Ukraine, they are pledging £5 from every Copper Rivet Distillery webstore purchase of 50cl bottle of Dockyard Gin, Masthouse Whisky, Vela Vodka and Son of a Gun to the Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal and Unicef to support the invaluable work they are doing in and around Ukraine. You can now visit them and take a tour before stopping for lunch in their glorious new restaurant too. 

We’re showing the strawberry gin today, made with real strawberries infused into the spirit for a natural, elegant strawberry sweetness.

Strawberry gin is £32 from Copperrivetdistillery.com

Virgin Wines: The Benevolent Range

Virgin Wines has launched The Benevolent Range, which is a special, charitable wine collection to raise funds for its charity partners, British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal, The Leeway Domestic Abuse Charity and Bright Start. They have teamed up with some outstanding winemakers to create three phenomenal new wines; a South Australian Cabernet Blend, a Chilean Pinot Grigio and a Carménère, also from Chile at accessible price point of £9.99 with £1 from each bottle going to the company’s charity partners. Each of the wines are available at to buy by the case, mixed case with 4 bottles of each. Virgin Wines will donate £12 to charity for every case sold.

See more here at Virgin Wines

The Harbour Beer Co. Stand with IPA (5.5% ABV)

The Cornwall based Harbour Beer Company have created this hazy IPA beer to show solidarity with Ukraine, with profits from sales going to the @disastersemergencycommittee who bring together 15 leading UK aid charities, raising funds quickly and effectively for overseas disasters.

Labels were created and donated by @eclipselabels for free to maximize profits. YOu can buy a pack of 12. X 330ml cans on their website. 

Find them here for £24 from harbourbrewing.com

See what else we have tasted on talkRADIO here!