A spirit for those who play dangerous games

In the late 19th century, on the edge of the Russian Empire, a group of naval officers formed an infamous club in Vladivostok. They called themselves “Lantsepupy” — and their idea of a good time would make your cocktail party look like a meditation retreat.

Who Were the Lantsepupy?

Gamblers. Duelists. Thrill-seekers stationed at the world’s end. With limited entertainment options in this frontier port city, they invented their own — including a parlor game called “Tiger Hunt,” where one man would crawl through a pitch-black room while his fellow officers fired revolvers at the sound of his footsteps. The safety logic was simple: aim low, and you’d only wound his legs. Many Lantsepupy carried bullet scars considerably higher.
In 1887, the Tsar himself banned their gatherings by imperial decree.

The Far Eastern Frontier

Vladivostok in the 1880s was Russia’s gateway to the Pacific — a cosmopolitan port where East met West in foggy harbors, where fortunes were made and lost over card games, where adventurers and exiles brushed shoulders on unpaved streets. A place wild enough to breed men wild enough to shoot at each other for fun.

The Label

The illustration captures the Lantsepupy spirit in a single frame. A mustachioed officer in full military regalia — gold epaulettes, medals, ceremonial saber — raises a gin and tonic with a devil-may-care grin. Playing cards swirl around him like confetti, a nod to the endless gambling sessions. Behind him: a sailing ship entering the harbor, the fortress walls of Vladivostok, and a roaring Siberian tiger — both a reference to the infamous “Tiger Hunt” game and the wild nature of the Far East.

The botanical frame surrounding the scene features the native plants that flavor each expression: clusters of red schisandra berries, rose hips, lemons, juniper, and cinnamon sticks. The typography draws from vintage Russian commercial art, giving the label the feel of a discovered artifact — something you might find in a dusty officers’ club, hidden behind the card table.

The Spirit

Lantsepupy Gin captures that reckless elegance — the fine line between refinement and chaos, between dress uniforms and gunpowder smoke. It’s a drink for those who understand that the best stories come from calculated risks.

Three Characters, Three Botanicals

Each expression features a signature plant native to the Russian Far East:

Schisandra — The Mischief-Maker. Tart, energizing, impossible to ignore. For the one who always dealt from the bottom of the deck.

Rose Hip — The Quiet Romantic. Floral warmth with a subtle edge. For the officer who wrote poetry between duels.

Actinidia — The Happy Soul. Bright, generous sweetness. For the man who laughed loudest when the bullets flew.