Born in Odessa
.
Many people would like to be born in Odessa,
but not everyone can!
(Leonid Utesov)
«Everything in Odessa is like in France. But only better!» can be heard from the mouth of a real Odessian. The city by the Black Sea really has a lot to be proud of: the most beautiful opera house, Babel’s stories from Odessa, Zhvanetsky’s insightful satire, and the largest cognac factory in Europe, which produces Shustov cognac. In 1900, this cognac rubbed France’s nose in the World Exhibition in Paris and won the Grand Prix. The French were so impressed by its taste qualities that as an exception they allowed the Shustov partnership to use labels with the name cognac. This could not be achieved by any other non-French producer! Recently, the list of pride of Odessa residents was enriched with one more item Museum of Shustov’s cognac business on Melnitskaya, 13.
I will not tell you for all Odessa!
This is a unique museum at Europe’s largest cognac distillery. The impressions here start from the very threshold: the whole ceiling of the foyer is bathed by a chandelier-wave of 20 thousand Shustov bottles in the shape of a bell. Museum halls are arranged in cognac cellars, which border with Odessa catacombs. A tour of the museum is a real journey, during which you can learn about the secrets of cognacs, cellar masters, the share of angels, Shustov’s glorious business, as well as hear legends and stories about famous Odessians and the brightest pages from the life of Odessa. A particularly valuable exhibit of the unique collection is a real Shurant alambic for alcohol smoking at the end of the XIX century of the French factory Pruhlo. You can try Shustov brandy, which was loved by Churchill himself, during a professional tasting.
You want songs? I have them!
Today the museum has become a real center of cultural life of Odessa, which offers a rich repertoire of cultural events. According to the new tradition, the most interesting chamber performances, exhibitions, movie screenings and creative meetings take place here. Many famous Odessians have already visited the Museum, among them Mikhail Zhvanetsky. In honor of the most beloved Odessa satirist a real oak barrel with young brandy spirit was laid for aging. It will be used to create future generations of cognacs. All guests of the Shustov Museum will be able to touch the cask with Mikhail Mikhailovich’s personal signature.
Have you made the bazaar yet?
In the museum there is a store of unique gifts here you can find original presents and exclusive Odessa souvenirs that you can’t buy on Primorsky Boulevard and Deribasovskaya. Proper cognac glasses, tulips and decanters, copies of antique ashtrays (just like in Shustov’s times!) and many other purely Odessa things will please real cognac connoisseurs and all guests of Odessa. And, of course, the store offers a full range of Shustov’s cognacs from the youngest to collectible, the blend of which includes cognac spirits up to forty years old. So the flavor of the seaside town everyone can carry with them and not only in their hearts!
Ah, Odessa, the pearl by the sea!
This year the Shustov Cognac Museum, as an important landmark of South Palmyra, will be the new venue for the city’s 220th Birthday celebrations. A series of interesting thematic events will be held in the art space and in the museum’s movie hall. For two whole days, September 1 and 2, the short film festival «I Want to Odessa» will dance here. The audience will see five short films about Odessa and will take part in the selection of the best movie. Already today and until September 4, the museum hosts Boris Bukhman’s exhibition «In Our House», which is timed to coincide with the 220th anniversary of Odessa. These photos show famous Odessians, the most colorful Odessa courtyards and landscapes, which seem to be frozen in time. The list of announced events is not yet complete, so the organizers advise Odessa and guests of the city to follow the update of the program. After all, where else to congratulate Odessa-mama with its anniversary, as not in such a place with purely Odessa flavor, as the Shustov Museum of cognac business under a glass of real Odessa cognac!
Tour operators are confident that for all guests of Odessa and Odessa residents themselves Museum of Brandy Making Shustov is a must-see.
Contacts:
Melnitskaya str. Melnitskaya, 13
Information and booking of excursions:
phone: + 38 048 740 08 99
www.shustov.com/ru/museum/
www.facebook.com/Shustov.Cognac.Museum