New Cocktails at BIWON.

At Korean restaurant BIWON, tucked away in Khamovniki, the bar team decided to remind guests how closely tied Moscow's culinary scene is to Eastern culture. Vitaly Ekimenko, twice named the country's best bartender by Diageo Reserve World Class, has unveiled a list where the drinks are split into three sections: signature ideas, witty takes on the great classics, and unaltered longtime hits. That structure means guests can easily find a familiar flavor if they're not up for experimenting, while still having the option to venture toward more daring signature creations. For every glass, chef Mido Mustafa recommends his own Korean interpretations of seafood and meat, turning dinner into a cohesive journey rather than a bartender's solo act.

The "Ikatsuki" mix opens the signature section. The name translates as "dawn over the sea" and references a Japanese belief about the first rays of sunlight waking ocean spirits. In the glass, gin, a kelp infusion, and freshly squeezed citrus come together. Vitaly plays up the marine theme with a jelly fish garnish and a fine mesh of green tea powder floating on the surface, like a splash of waves under a morning sky. Next to it sits "Nebesnaya Reka" ("Heavenly River") — an image of the Milky Way flickering across the night sky. A Thai basil infusion joins aloe honey and lemon juice, with edible glitter flashing with every movement of the glass, recalling distant stars. Both cocktails show how the bartender carries cosmic and marine themes straight into the guest's hand, without losing the balance between aroma and imagery.

Fans of meditative tea drinking are drawn to "Vostochnaya Mudrost" ("Eastern Wisdom"). Lime leaf, hibiscus, and aged Chamer gold play the roles of tannin, tartness, and a spicy trail. The drink is served in a clay bowl under a dome of smoke, with dried apricot soaked in the same hibiscus placed alongside to lock in the flavor direction. "Karma" provides the final note. It's built on sesame liqueur, sitting alongside lavender syrup and tropical fruit purée. The bartender gently swirls the mix and adds gold powder: the shimmering particles serve as a reminder that every action taken now will surely come back around in the future. Taken together, all four newcomers form a single story about cause, effect, and the eternal motion of the elements — from ocean to stars, from a tea bowl to the golden glow inside a glass.