Denmark has a long history of making and distilling tasty beverages, and it deserves more attention in a shrinking world. Scandinavian culture is not known for its alcohol, but it should be.
Akvavit
One of the most popular local spirits, Akvavit is a hard liquor made from potatoes and grains. The liqueur has been distilled in Denmark for hundreds of years and gets its distinctive flavor from herbs and spices, traditionally at least dill or caraway. The name is derived from aqua vitae, which is Latin for “the water of life.”
Aguamiel
Mead is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages in the world. It is made from fermented honey and water, with fruits, spices, or other flavors added once it’s ready to drink. It’s sweet and delicious, warmed up like cider.
Brennivin
Unlike Akvavit, which is always flavored, Brennivin is the name for strong beer without flavor. It’s also made primarily from potatoes and grains, which means it’s essentially the same as vodka, only it’s vodka made the way they have been making it in Denmark since before they had the word vodka.
Carlsberg beer
Carlsberg is Denmark’s best-known beer brand, served in bars around the world. The Carlsberg Brewery offers a wide range of Danish beers, stouts and any other type of beer, and is the most common house beer in local bars.
Glogg
Known as mulled wine in English-speaking countries, Glogg is a popular drink made from wine, warmed with spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. The roots of the drink can be traced back to ancient Rome, but because of how wonderful it is to drink in cold weather, it’s no wonder it’s so popular in the north. Glogg is traditionally made from local wines.
Fruit Wines
Grapes don’t grow as well in Denmark as they do in other countries, but grapes aren’t the only fruit you can make wine from. Black currants, different varieties of cherries, elderberries and other small fruits have been used by the Danes for centuries to make unique and tasty wines.
Tuborg Beer
Although the Tuborg Brewery has been owned by Carlsberg since 1970, it is a distinctly different beer with its own history. Tuborg is not the best known beer in Denmark, but every Christmas it is one of the best sellers thanks to the annual launch of a special Christmas beer that customers look forward to all year long.
Punch
It sounds like a hit and it looks like a hit, but it is not a hit, it is a hit. It is made from arrack, sugar, neutral spirits (such as brennivin), and fruit flavors. An incredibly popular drink in Sweden, it is becoming more and more common in Denmark as people here start to love it too.
Smorgasbord Eggnog
It’s like eggnog anywhere else except with a name that’s way more fun to say. Smorgasbord Eggnog is a mixture of cream, sugar, beaten eggs, and brandy or maybe rum. It is often flavored with nutmeg or cinnamon and is most often served at Christmas. Remove the brandy or rum to make an alcohol-free eggnog.
Microceramic Beer
So close to countries like Germany and Belgium that are famous for their brewing heritage, it’s no wonder Denmark’s microbreweries are growing in number and strength. Danish entrepreneurs regularly endorse new brands, and there are more and more creative beers in every store and pub in Denmark.
