Nordic Cocktail Culture: Signature Drinks from Scandinavia
How does a Nordic twist on classic cocktails taste? Check out recipes for delicious cocktails with Nordic spirits and desserts.
1. Swedish Negroni
A Swedish twist to the classic Negroni! Check out the recipe below.
Ingredients
30 ml Swedish Aquavit
20 ml Italian bitters
20 ml Sweet Vermouth
Method
Take a tumbler and add all the ingredients, ice and stir well. Garnish with an orange zest.
2. Swedish 75
This is a refreshing Scandinavian take on the French 75 cocktail. Check out the recipe below.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons Fresh lemon Juice
3 tablespoons Tanqueray's Gin
1 tablespoon Lingonberry Jam
Ice cubes for shaking
60 gm Dry Sparkling Wine, chilled
Frozen Lingonberries or Lemon Twist, for garnish
Method
Take a shaker with plenty of ice and add lemon juice, gin and lingonberry jam. Shake vigorously. Strain into a Champagne Flute. Top with Sparkling Wine. Garnish with lingonberries or lemon twist and serve.
3. Bloody OP
A Swedish version of the legendary Bloody Mary cocktail. Check out the recipe below.
Ingredients
25 ml Swedish Aquavit
10 ml Worcestershire Sauce
50 ml Tomato Juice
10 ml Lemon Juice
Hot sauce
Fennel, for garnish
Method
Take a mixing glass and add all the ingredients except hot sauce. Strain into a highball glass with ice. Stir well. Garnish with some fresh fennel.
4. Gløgg (serves 8)
This cocktail is a Scandinavian winter drink. Check out the recipe below.
Ingredients
1 bottle Red wine
360 ml Cognac
1 cup Light brown sugar
1 tsp Whole black peppercorns
3 slices Fresh ginger
5 whole Cloves
3 whole Cardamom pods
2 Cinnamon sticks
2 whole Star anise pods
100 gm raisins
100 gm slivered blanched almonds
Method
Pour the red wine into a pot and heat it over medium-high heat. Add cardamom, cloves, star anise, cinnamon, peppercorns, and ginger in a spice bag and add to the pot. Add sugar and stir until it dissolves. Remove the pan from heat and let it cool for 2 hours. Add cognac to the pot and place it on medium-high heat. Heat it till this mix boils. Add raisins and almonds as well. Remove the spice bag, almonds and raisins and pour it into serving glasses.
5. Petronella Tonic
This cocktail is named after the wife of Sweden spirit maker Olof Peter Anderson's wife, Petronella Charlotta Rosenhoff.
Ingredients
40 ml Swedish Aquavit
Tonic Water
Apple wedges, for garnish
Method
Take a tall glass with ice and add the aquavit. Top up with tonic water. Garnish with apple wedges.
6. Nordic Fall
A cocktail that combines Nordic Dry Gin and apple juice. Check out the recipe below.
Ingredients
50 ml Nordic Dry Gin
50 ml Cloudy Apple Juice
25 ml Soda Water
Ice
Apple slices, for garnish
Method
Take a tall glass and add all the ingredients with ice. Stir well, garnish with apple slices and serve.
7. Amaretto Cardamom
This cocktail is inspired by a Swedish sweet bun called a semla. Check out the recipe below.
Ingredients
45 ml Bulleit Whiskey
30 ml Cardamom-infused Amaretto
10 drops Cardamom Bitters
1-2 drops Rose Water
Cardamom Pods or Edible Florals or Almonds, for garnish
Method
Take a mixing glass and add whiskey, amaretto, cardamom bitters and rose water. Stir for 30 seconds or until well-chilled. Strain into a rock glass with one large cube. Garnish and serve.
8. Nordic Lemonade
An easy cocktail for the summer. Check out the recipe below.
Ingredients
35 ml Swedish Aquavit
100 ml apple juice
2 sprigs of dill
Method
Take a mixing glass and add all the ingredients, stir well and serve as a punch.
While it's great to learn about alcoholic beverages and alcohol-infused foods, it is also important to consume alcohol moderately. Remember to serve and drink responsibly to ensure you and your guests are healthy and out of harm's way. If you know anyone who has trouble controlling their alcohol intake, please refer them to a professional immediately.
