It's like drinking swamp water

A souvenir from Latvia. 

This is allegedly what the Latvian locals drink - a 90 proof (45% abv)  concoction made from ingredients so secret that only three people know the exact recipe.

It's known to contain herbs, roots, berries and buds. Fermented burnt sugar gives the balsam a brooding dark pallor. Latvian vodka gives it a kick. The manufacturers have a special dispensation to collect "swamp birch buds" which have the appearance of pixie-sized pinecones. 

It tastes  like alcoholic swamp water and was probably invented to poison foreign invaders and tourists. 

I'm miles behind with comments. Thank you all for posting. I will try and get up to date this week.