Akvavit is their national drink but many People in Denmark consider Gammel Dansk (Old Danish) to be representative of their country.
Whisky (both Scotch and Bourbon inspired) is perhaps the most common product. Gin and vodka are also produced, as well as various flavored spirits and liqueurs. Heering Cherry Liqueur is - beer apart - one of the country's better known alcoholic beverages on export markets.
The Vikings drank strong beer at festive occasions, together with the popular drink of mead. Mead was a sweet, fermented drink made from honey, water and spices. Wine made from grapes was also known of, but had to be imported, from France, for example.
Essentially, it's a vodka- or gin-like spirit. By EU decree, aquavit must be distilled with caraway or dill and should have a minimum alcohol by volume of 37.5%, though 40% is usually the average.
An aquavit is made by infusing the selected herbs and spices, such as caraway and dill, in alcohol which is then distilled and further blended with alcohol and pure water. Since the 16:th century distilled grain spirits became increasingly popular in the Nordic countries.
Danish aquavit imbibers like to have a shot alongside their lunchtime meals, sometimes with a beer chaser. This is a good way for the uninitiated to become familiar with aquavit and benefits from a lighter variety, such as Malmö Akvavit agreeably flavored with citrus.
What does aquavit taste like? Aquavit has a similar taste to vodka because its base is a neutral, distilled liquor. A rye bread flavor often dominates thanks to heavy use of caraway, with other aromatics adding additional notes: fennel, clove, dill, anise and so on.
In Denmark aquavit is called snaps or akvavit, and is primarily consumed in December during Christmas lunches or around Easter during Easter lunches.
Traditionally, aquavit is enjoyed straight either chilled or at room temperature. In Sweden and Denmark, un-aged aquavit is typically served very cold in shot glasses or stemmed liquor glasses.
Danish aquavit leans heavier on dill, coriander and caraway and is enjoyed as a chilled shot at midday lunch. Swedish aquavit features more anise and fennel flavors, and is often followed by a beer and meal of pickled herring.
In Denmark, alcohol is said to play a big role in social activities. The many Danish beer brands and breweries offer a variety of beers for every taste. Popular after-work and after-study activities are going to a bar and talking over a glass or two, and young Danes are known for their wild partying habits.
Vikings used to brew both strong and weak beer and mead for different occasions. Weak beer was used as a water replacement to quench thirst and was deemed suitable for children, whereas the stronger brewed beverages were held in an adult-only space on the proverbial top shelf, reserved for special occasions.
The Vikings were indeed prolific drinkers of mead, and they loved imbibing from their drinking horns, often obtained from a bull's horn. There are numerous depictions throughout antiquity showing Vikings and their beloved drinking horns, and in the process of celebrating a feast or holiday.
Copenhagen cocktail combines Dutch genever (jenever) and Cherry Heering, the legendary cherry liqueur from Copenhagen. It also includes lime juice, simple syrup, and a dash of Angostura bitters. The ingredients are poured into a shaker filled with ice.
Heavy, heavy drinking is deeply entrenched in Danish culture; even highly-educated adults often drink to get drunk, and simply set aside the next day for a planned hangover.
Like the rest of Scandinavia, Denmark is known for its high-quality design and architecture. Just think Bang & Olufsen, Arne Jacobsen's Egg chair, Royal Copenhagen porcelain and the Royal Opera House in Sydney – all the work of Danish designers and companies.
Aquavit is by definition a very Scandinavian drink. It is a spirit spiced with caraway and a variety of different botanicals. The Swedes, Danes and Norwegians have their own character of aquavits. Skåne aquavit is a very traditional Swedish aquavit which has a slightly milder taste than O.P. Anderson.
Spelled variably as Skål, Skál, Skaal, Skoal, or Skol (depending on country and how it's transliterated in English), it's the ubiquitous Scandinavian “cheers” that no drink of aquavit would be complete without.
Viking Aquavit was served onboard Odin in a nifty carafe or decanter with a shot glass for a lid. The shot glass nests in the carafe's spout. The next time you're munching on a smørrebrød sandwich, consider sipping on a shot of aquavit.
While it is usually chilled and poured into shot glasses, Norwegian and other barrel-aged akvavit will normally be served at room temperature in tulip glasses. In either case, akvavit is rarely downed as a shot and most drinkers will usually slowly sip at their glasses throughout the meal.
Beer from Denmark is dominated by Carlsberg and Tuborg. Since Tuborg was acquired by Carlsberg in 1970 this has left a near monopoly for Carlsberg. A number of regional breweries however managed to survive, and most of them merged to Royal Unibrew in 2005.
: a clear Scandinavian liquor flavored with caraway seeds.
Aquavit is the national spirit of Scandinavia, so it's part of meals and culture in Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
Aquavit frequently contains spices like fennel and cardamom in addition to caraway, all of which are good for your digestive system.