New York’s Aligned Beverage Solutions announced that it is the new U.S.-based marketing rep for Moskovksaya Russian Vodka and Latvia’s Riga Black Balsam. So why does this matter?

Well, let me tell ya! It likely means that more Stateside folks will get to hear about Riga Black Balsam, a Latvian bitter herbal liqueur—the closest comparison is Fernet Branca, but that’s still nowhere near it—with a rabid cult following.

It’s a 45 percent ABV blend of 24 herbs, roots and spices with a history that dates back more than two and a half centuries.

The modern craft cocktail movement is shining the spotlight on some of these traditional international boozes and I’m thrilled that Riga Black—which appears in my upcoming book, The Drinkable Globe (pre-order at Amazon!) and is supposedly a favorite tipple of Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant.