Moscow is changing constantly, and there appears to be a new cocktail bar opening every few weeks. Over the last five or six years, the growth in cocktail culture has been astronomical.

Moscow remains a difficult city to negotiate if you have no grip of the language or even alphabet. Although a few of the best bars are within walking distance of each other, many are in some pretty inaccessible and unassuming locations (Chainya and 60 in particular), so arranging a car between some of your stops is the best way forward.

Smoking is not banned in any way shape or form in Russia and after four-and-a-half years of having the legislation in the UK, you really notice the difference. Food is very well integrated into Russian drinking culture. Almost all of the bars you are likely to visit offer some kind of substantial food and for the most part, the quality is very good indeed.

Moscow is approaching its next phase in cocktail development. Though you can walk into plenty of bars and sample a faultless Daiquiri, the creative magic is still held in the palms of a few head bartenders, managers and owners. The growth of these bartenders and of Moscow's fledgling cocktail scene of some four or five years ago is turning this city into what may well become something of a juggernaut.