Horilka No. 2 in Ukraine launches into the infusions segment in its 24th year — with vanilla and forest berries
HLIBNY DAR, which annually ranks in the TOP-5 global sales of strong spirits, has released two infusions at 37.5% strength for its 24th anniversary — this is not merely a product line expansion, but a strategic move targeting an audience for whom traditional vodka no longer holds appeal.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
May 13, 2026 · 2 min read
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In 2002, BAYADERA GROUP launched vodka on the market with a name that appeals to bread and earth. Over 24 years, HLIBNY DAR has transformed into Ukraine's second best-selling vodka and a stable resident of the world's TOP-5 according to ratings from The Millionaires Club and The Spirits Business. In 2024 alone, over 37 million bottles of the brand were produced — out of 92 million released by the factory in total.
Why infusions are more than just an anniversary gift
The vodka market in Ukraine is under pressure: consumption of strong alcohol is shifting towards lighter and flavored formats — what the industry calls premiumization and flavour shift. HLIBNY DAR responds to this with two new products: "Spiced with vanilla aroma" and "With forest berry aroma", both at 37.5%.
This is not the brand's first unconventional step: in 2020, HLIBNY DAR entered Ukraine's Guinness Book of Records — combine harvesters painted a bottle 202 meters long on a field, visible from a satellite. But infusions are a risk of another level: they compete not with other vodkas, but with gin, liqueurs, and even craft distillates.
What's inside
The vanilla infusion is built on warm spices: cinnamon, cloves, walnuts with a soft vanilla undertone that ties the taste together. The berry infusion bets on a natural fruit profile without excessive sweetness. The manufacturer positions both products as universal: neat or in a cocktail.
"Infusions allow you to look at a familiar brand from a different angle — without loss of quality, but with new sensations."
— HLIBNY DAR, official brand communication
What confirms quality independently of marketing
- In 2025, the brand received Gold at SIP Awards and Double Gold at Warsaw Spirits Competition.
- HLIBNY DAR's share in BAYADERA GROUP's structure — approximately 40% of total production.
- The factory has 260 developed recipes, 31 of which are for the HLIBNY DAR product line.
Of course, awards at competitions are not a guarantee of consumer success for new products. Flavored spirits in Ukraine remain a niche segment: if the infusions do not find their shelf in the consumer's mind next to gin or liqueur, they risk remaining a jubilee collection rather than a full-fledged category.
The next year will be a telling test: if the share of infusions in the brand's sales structure exceeds 5%, it will mean that HLIBNY DAR has truly expanded its audience — and not simply convinced loyal buyers to try something new.
