Nordic Beauty — The Amber Aquatini

With its yellow and orange hues, amber can be a stunning gemstone. Ms. Cocktail Den and I saw a lot of amber jewelry when we traveled in Scandinavian countries. You know what else there’s a lot of in Scandinavia? Aquavit. My original Amber Aquatini pays homage to the spirit and the stone.

The Amber Aquatini

2.5 ounces aged aquavit (I used Linie here)
.5 ounces dry vermouth
2 dashes bitters (see below)

Directions

Combine in a mixing glass with ice, stir with the cool crispness of a Scandinavian summer breeze, and strain into a glass, preferably martini or coupe. Lemon peel garnish optional.

Think of the Amber Aquatini as an older cousin of my Danish Road Rage, a twist (pun intended) on a Martini. The Danish Road Rage uses clear, young aquavit. For the Amber Aquatini, you really need aged aquavit to give it the right color. The bitters are the real variable. First I used cardamom, then I found orange bitters also work well. Don’t have either of those? No problem. Most botanical or citrus flavored bitters should complement the aquavit and vermouth.

It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re nuts about Norway, fond of Finland, delighted by Denmark, or swooning over Sweden — the Amber Aquatini will satisfy your eyes and tongue.