#bielebog

Czernobog’s name means “black god” and before American Gods he was probably know to a lot of people as the demon from Disney’s Night on Bald Mountain. Walt Disney used to refer to that character also as “Satan” and Czernobog is generally considered to be an “evil” god in Slavic Mythology. (Perfect casting, too, as Peter Stormare is also known for his excellent turn as Lucifer in the underrated Constantine.) Not a whole lot of detail still exists about Czernobog, but one passage notes that as he was also a god of swearing, people would spit curses into bowls at feasts to keep him at bay. Imagine spitting “fuck you” into a bowl so a god of evil doesn’t fuck up your party.

Knockout Martini

1 1/2 oz dry gin

1 1/2 oz Noilly Prat extra dry (or other dry vermouth)

1/4 oz absinthe

1/4 oz white creme de menthe

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice. Stir until well chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass or coupe. Garnish with a star anise pod if desired. (Recipe from Difford’s)

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So the thing about ancient and pre-Christian mythology is that primary sources are not an easy thing to come by. In many cases, our knowledge of older mythology is entirely based on whatever was written down after the height of the polytheistic religion in question. Often this writer was a Christian monk and/or someone entirely outside of the culture in question. Such is the case with Slavic mythology. Because of one line some 12th century priest wrote in one publication, there is to this day dispute as to whether a “Bielebog” or “Belobog” or “White God” even existed as a duo with Czernobog. In Gaiman’s book, Czernobog likes to play with this uncertainty, musing that if his dark hair and his brother’s light hair both go gray, then what is the difference between them?

Anyway, here’s a lighter drink - a “smash” as opposed to a “knockout” - that plays with completely different, completely vibrant flavors.

Basil Smash

2 oz Hendrick’s gin

1 oz lemon juice

1/2 oz simple syrup

8 torn basil leaves

Add basil to cocktail shaker and muddle gently. Add remaining ingredients and shake well with ice. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass/tumbler. Garnish with another basil leaf if desired. (fairly standard recipe, but I went with Hendrick’s for the extra flavorful gin)

The concept of a “triple deity” is fairly widespread across world mythologies. Sometimes the “triple deity” refers to three aspects of the same god (such as Christianity’s Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost). Sometimes it is literally a god with three heads (such as Slavic Mythology’s Triglav who either has three man heads or three goat heads). But often, it is a literal trio of deities who are worshiped as a unit. Triple goddess are far more prevalent than triple gods and often fall into the latter category. The Zorya sisters in American Gods are a triple goddess who represent another common mythology trend: the maiden, mother, and crone.

Except, the Zoryas in Slavic Mythology are also kind of a duo. Two celestial sisters tasked with minding the winged doomsday hound, Simargl, who is chained to Ursa Minor. Zorya Utrennyaya is the Morning Star. She opens the gates for their father, the sun’s, chariot in the morning.

Morning Star Cocktail

1 1/2 oz Pisco

1 1/2 oz grapefruit juice

1/2 oz thyme syrup*

1/2 oz lime juice

pinch of sea salt

1 dash grapefruit bitters (optional)

Add all ingredients to a shaker and shake until salt is dissolved. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass/tumbler. Garnish with a sprig of thyme if desired. (Recipe from Imbibe)

*to make thyme syrup: Use the same method as any herb-infused simple syrup. A batch of 1 cup water to 1 cup sugar will require 6-8 sprigs of thyme. After cooking, let it sit for 10 min before straining into a container to be refrigerated.

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The other half of the duo, Zorya Vechernyaya, is the Evening Star. She closes up at night after the sun’s return. In American Gods the sisters are depicted as older Slavic women who dote on their guests, but also haggle a price to stay for the night.

Soir d’Ete (Summer Evening)

1 2/3 oz Cognac V.S.O.P.

1 oz black raspberry liqueur

2/3 oz cold chamomile tea (infused with lavender if you can find it)

3/4 oz chilled water

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice and stir well. Strain into either a chilled cocktail glass or an ice-filled old-fashioned tumbler. Garnish with lemon zest if desired. (Recipe from Difford’s)

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Zorya Polunochnaya, the “Midnight Star,” isn’t named in the written accounts of Slavic Mythology, so she isn’t necessarily considered part of a trio with the other Zoryas. There’s mention of a third sister who watches over the night, but she isn’t necessarily given the same status as the other two. Neil Gaiman originally believed that he invented her for the book, but as far as I know he just gave her a name and maybe a little more significance. She teaches Shadow a thing or two about the moon and sets him on his path.

Midnight Martinez

1 1/2 oz Grey Goose Cherry Noir vodka

1/2 oz Noilly Prat Rouge (or other sweet vermouth)

1 slice orange peel

Add vodka and vermouth to mixing glass filled with ice. Stir and strain into a cocktail glass. Squeeze the orange peel over the drink and discard. Garnish with a cherry. (Recipe from Liquor)