Hey Bartender

THE EARLY HISTORY of distilled spirits is an amazing tale that dates back to around 800 Before the Common Era. Since that time, many delicious adult beverages have emerged giving us not only a reason to celebrate, but the tools to take those celebrations to the next level. One of those tools, first produced in the fifteenth century, has managed to keep a low profile -- until now.

Many countries have a version of a beverage whose name is derived from the Latin phrase aqua vitae, meaning water of life. The Scandinavian version of this magic elixir is called Akvavit (Aquavit). It was valued for its life- and health-promoting properties. In its early days, it was mostly used for medicinal purposes, curing every ailment, including alcoholism.

The original recipe for this elixir of life was alcohol infused with caraway, anise, cardamom, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel and other herbs and spices. European Union rules currently dictate that the main spice must be caraway or dill. For those unfamiliar with caraway, the fruit of this biennial plant has a pungent anise-like flavor and aroma that comes from essential oils. To get a sense of what it tastes like, think about the flavors in rye bread. The herbs and spices were originally used to cover the unpleasant taste of the distillate. Akvavit typically weighs in at about 40% ABV and although the recipes in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden vary, the basic idea is the same and the finished product can be categorized as flavored vodka.

Like vodka, Akvavit is distilled from either grain or potatoes. After distillation, it is flavored with herbs and spices. The combination of herbs and spices differ between brands, but the dominant flavor is always caraway. Typically, the finished product has a yellow tint. It is sometimes aged in oak barrels which can give it a brown color. The longer it is aged, the darker the brown tint of the liquid. Clear Akvavit is called taffel. The clear color can either be the byproduct of being aged in older oak casks that don't lend any color to the finished product or from not being aged at all.

Akvavit is an essential component of the Scandinavian drinking culture. A tradition known as snaps takes place during the course of a meal. Quite simply, snaps is a Danish and Swedish word for a small shot of a strong alcoholic beverage. The ritual of consuming these potent shots during meals is common during the holidays, but there is no doubt that holidays aren't the only time snaps takes place. For those who are wondering, the word schnaps has the same meaning in German -- at least with respect to a strong alcoholic beverage.

Although Akvavit is generally served as a cold shot, there are at least two cocktails I'm aware of that use this beverage as a key ingredient. The first is called a North Norwegian Depression. It's one part Cointreau, one part Akvavit, two parts gin and a dash of fresh lime juice. The ingredients are served over ice and topped with Sprite. The second is a Swedish Coffee. Just pour an ounce and a quarter of Akvavit into a cup of hot coffee. You may add sugar to taste if you like.

There are many brands of Akvavit on the market. The most popular are Gammel Opland and Aquavit 1 from Norway, Aalborg from Denmark, and Gammal Norrlands and Stockholm from Sweden. If you're interested in brands from outside the Scandinavian region, Bommerlunder and Lloyd Finest Aquavit from Germany are noteworthy examples.

The American palate, in general, is not very fond of Akvavit. With this in mind, companies have found ways to introduce it to America by enhancing the recipes. OP is one such product. It is based on the Akvavit recipe, but the makers of OP decided to sweeten the mix by masking the caraway flavor with ginger. They also added a little peach and orange to the mix as well. The addition of the subtle citrus flavors and the reduction of the ABV from100 proof to about 70 proof helps make this potion a more westernized version of its Scandinavian cousin. Like its cousin, it's best served cold, preferably on the rocks. You could go all out and mix it with Grand Marnier and fresh lime juice, but that might be taking it a bit too far.

So, there you have it, Akvavit -- unmasked! Our world is full of little known adult beverages. If you're the experimental type, then you revel in the moment when one of these rare jewels appears on the shelves of one of your favorite bars. The curious will ask what it is, while the adventurous among us will ask for a glass. While Akvavit is obviously not your garden variety spirit, it's definitely worth a test drive. If you ever get the chance to do so, whether alone or with friends, please enjoy your snap responsibly. Until next time...prosit!!!