Atomik Apple Spirit made from Chernobyl apples
Bottle, 'Atomik Apple Spirit', 50cl of alcholholic spirit contained in a glass, made by the Palinochka Distillery on behalf of the Chernobyl Spirit Company, from apples from the Narodychi District, Ukraine, 2021.
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This bottle of Atomik Apple Spirit was developed by the Chernobyl Spirit Company; a project set up by radiation scientists working in Northern Ukraine. Derived from crops farmed in the area surrounding the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant, the project seeks to support the economic and social recovery of the CEZ (Chernobyl Exclusion Zone) and ZOR (Zone of Obligatory Resettlement).
The earliest trials began in the CEZ, developing a vodka based on rye grain, with the later ‘Apple Spirit’ variant switching to apples harvested from the broader Narodychi District. By distilling these crops, scientists could isolate any remaining heavy radioactive elements from the spirits, demonstrating the suitability of the respective harvest areas for certain types of agricultural production.