The Strasbourg doctor Hieronymus Brunschwig (1450-1513) wrote the “Große Destillierbuch” in 1512. The book contains recipes for making herbal extracts and instructions for their use. If they do not flow out by themselves, balsams are obtained by macerating or boiling the relevant parts of the plant.

In the Russian Empire, the balsam was the medicine of the czars. Catherine the Great from Russia regained her health with the famous elixir. Till today one attributes magical powers to the balsam. Not an ordinary liqueur, but an elixir, a drink that helps you understand Russian soul better. Even later on, the balsam became a popular drink among the mighty of the world.

The balsam was praised by Goethe as a remedy. In his drama Faust (1808), he describes the balsam as a rejuvenating agent in the witch's kitchen scene. Described in many works of art - and of course also drank by oneself.

Wenn ich deinen lieben Leib umfasse,
Und von deinen einzig treuen Lippen
Langbewahrter Liebe Balsam koste,
Selig sprech’ ich dann zu meinem Geiste…

J.W. von Goethe, Der Becher

The reference point of the history of Balsam No.33 is 1893, when began the story of industrial enterprises of Minsk, which was located in the western part of the Russian Empire.

After the adoption in 1924, the Government's decision to resume production of alcoholic beverages in the USSR, production gradually began to develop, improve, enhance capacity. In 1925 the plant was converted into spirtovodochny zavod, and in the end of 1930s - in the distillery, using standardized recipes. In the 60s focused on the maintenance of international prestige of Russian vodka – the base of the Balsam, mastered the production of rectified spirit, including highest purification.

The production of the new types of Balsam - BALSAM No.33 - according to the original recipe as described in many works by the poets Goethe and Schiller - not an ordinary liqueur, but an elixir, an assemblage (á la cuvée for wine) of 33 individually acerated medicinal plants. The result is a very aromatic and at the same time harmonious taste. Without a dominant or crude note as with most liqueurs. Without artificial colors, without artificial flavors, everything from the plants.

Balsam No. 33 has been awarded a SILVER MEDAL at the International Spirits Challenge in London. The ISC magazine containing the full set of results from this year challenge was sent out in the August issue of Drinks International.

Small batches of 5,000 bottles. The Balsam No.33 contains numerous active ingredients. 40% alcohol is also important to maintain the active ingredients (as with Echinacea drops from the pharmacy). Still extremely velvety, soft and mild on the palate. The reason: best grain alcohol like RUSSIAN CULT Vodka Minskaya.
The black bottle is not just a design, but it protects the liquid from light to preserve the active ingredients.