Building a Drink with Nordic Ingredients
Forget what you know about standard drinks. In Stockholm, cocktails aren’t just about taste — they’re about place. Local ingredients, seasonal inspiration, and creative mixologists turn Swedish nature into art you can sip. Whether it’s wild herbs, forest berries, or a splash of aquavit, there’s a story in every glass.
On our Shaken & Stirred Tour, we take guests through this very world — here’s a peek into how a true Swedish cocktail is built.
🌿 1. The Base Spirit – Aquavit, Swedish Gin, or Local Rum
Swedish mixologist often start with spritits produced right here in the Nordics:
Aquavit: A caraway- and dill-infused spirit that’s deeply Swedish — savory, bold, and a perfect foundation for herb-forward cocktails.
Swedish craft gins: Like those from Stockholms Bränneri, often made with local botanicals like lingonberry, spruce tips, and elderflower.
Small-batch rums and vodkas: Yes, even Nordic rum exists (like from Norrbottens Destilleri), offering softer, earthier tones.
🧪 Example: “The Easy Martini” from Gemma uses Norrbottens Rhubarb Pie as a playful base.
🍓 2. Local Fruit & Forest Flavors
Sweden’s landscape delivers some iconic cocktail ingredients:
Lingonberries – tart, vivid, and beautifully Nordic.
Cloudberries – rare, golden-orange berries that taste like honey and summer.
Wild raspberries – sweet with a bright forest zing.
Cherries & plums – often fermented, used in seasonal cocktails.
🧪 Example: Röda Huset’s Älgört & Körsbär uses sour cherries and floral notes for a sparkling Nordic bite.
🌱 3. Foraged Botanicals & Herbs
One thing that makes Swedish cocktails truly different? Ingredients you can’t just buy — they’re foraged.
Älgört (meadowsweet) – floral, vanilla-scented herb often used in syrup form.
Björk (birch) – via aquavit or birch syrup; earthy and subtle.
Spruce tips – bright, citrusy-pine flavor.
Sea buckthorn – tart, citrus-like berries with an earthy aftertaste.
🧪 Example: Lucy’s Flower Shop’s Birch & Raspberry uses Björk aquavit, balancing earthy and fruity perfectly.
💨 4. The Finishing Touch – Smoke, Ferments, & Storytelling
Nordic cocktails love a bit of drama and depth:
Smoked glass or ingredients
Fermented ingredients like yoghurt, whey, or kombucha add creaminess and tang.
Minimal garnishes, often a single sprig or dried berry — the focus is the flavor.
🧪 Example: “Knock on Wood by Pharmarium ” finishes with sandalwood smoke for a moody, forest-like vibe.
🧪 Bonus: You Don’t Just Drink It — You Feel It
Swedish cocktails aren’t just about taste — they’re about mood, landscape, even memory. Each one evokes a season, a forest walk, a moment around a fire. That’s what makes them unforgettable — and why you need to try them at the bars that are redefining what Nordic mixology means.
🍸 Want to Taste Them All?
Join our Shaken & Stirred Tour and discover these flavors for yourself. No planning, no waiting — just world-class cocktails, exclusive bars, and a guided adventure into Stockholm’s thriving cocktail culture.
👉 Book Your Tour Now
