Aquavit - the Traditional Spirit of Scandinavia

Aquavit is the native spirit of the Scandinavian countries and is making an impact on the cocktail scene around the world!

Its the Bartender Journey Podcast number 187!  Listen with the audio player on this page, on BartenderJourney.net or subscribe on iTunes,  Android or Stitcher Radio.

We speak with Martin Miller and Thomas Anderson from Copenhagen, publishers of the Cocktails of Copenhagen Blog.
Download Martian and Thomas' Aquavit eBook.

Book of the Week:
Sasha Petraske’s Regarding Cocktails

As you may know, recently Sasha sadly passed away, way too early.  He was a true innovator in the cocktail world.  He opened his bar Milk and Honey on  Eldridge St on the Lower East Side of Manhattan on New Years Eve 1999.  This was very early in the so called cocktail renaissance and he inspired an entire generation of Bartenders.

This is Shasha's only book, completed by his wife Georgette after his passing.

What's in your Bar Kit?  Let us know about your favorite Bar Tools or something unusual that you bring with you to work everyday and perhaps we will mention it on the show!  Use our Contact Page and let us know what is in your Kit!

Brian just bought a new knife for cutting garnishes, which makes prep time much more enjoyable!  Order your own sharp knife here!

A very small investment which helps you cut better garnishes!


Cocktail of the Week:
Erik The Red

• 1 1/4 oz Bourbon
• 3/4 oz Linie Aquavit
• 1 1/4 oz  Honey
• 1 1/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
• 3 raspberries
• ½ tsp good quality raw liquorice powder

Mix the honey with sugar syrup 2:1 to make it pourable. Muddle the raspberries with the liquorice powder. Shake hard and serve on the rocks. Garnish with a liquorice pipe or a lemon peel on a skewer serving as a sail for Erik.

Toast of the Week:
The skål is a Scandinavian toast, practiced in its most formal version by the Swedes: The proposer of the toast engages the eye of the person being toasted, and "skoal" is said. A slight bow of the head, and a twinkle of the eye—and the aquavit is drained in one gulp.