Daily Loaf

(Part 2 of our Smorgasbord: IKEA series.)

Lingonberry and elderberry syrups take up a lot of space on the IKEA grocery shelves, for good reason. The tart, cranberry-like flavor of lingonberries is perfect when dropped into a glass of sparkling water, while the elderberry will produce a more fragrant, softer spritzer that’s sweeter and more delicate. Both are also incredible ingredients for cocktails. IKEA’s lingonberry syrup is powerful stuff, so works best with bland liquor like vodka, while elderberry’s subtle herbacious, floral perfume works best with gin (and some gins use elderberry as one of the botanicals that give that British quaff its flavor).

Experiment, but here are a few recipes to get you started at your next Swedish-themed happy hour or crayfish party:

The Allen Wrench
1 part lingonberry syrup
1 part vodka
Squeeze of lime
Soda water
This is a simple, refreshing quaff suitable for quenching the mighty thirst and incipient frustration that results from furniture assembly.

Bergman Royale
3 parts inexpensive Champagne or sparkling wine
1 part elderberry syrup
Like the actress, this cocktail is subtle, multi-faceted and will melt the hearts of even the most grizzled North African nightclub owner.

Seasonal Affective Disorder
1 part vanilla-flavored vodka
1 part Kahlua (or other coffee-flavored liqueur)
2 parts cream
1 part sour cream
Mix cream and sour cream together until smooth, then add to alcohol over ice. Nothing Russian about this drink, those bastards.

Playing Checkers With Death
12 shots of vodka splashed with lingonberry syrup
12 shots of Swedish aquavit splashed with elderberry syrup
Chess board
Jump. Drink. Check. Mate.

Swedish Fishing
4 parts gin
1 part elderberry syrup
Pinch of fresh dill
Pickled herring
Pitted green olives
Stuff olives with pickled herring and return to olive brine. Shake the first three ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with herring-stuffed olives.

Frozen Wild Strawberry
Crushed ice
Rum
Frozen strawberries
Lingonberry syrup
Combine all in a blender to taste, blend, then sip while dreaming of past conquests and missed opportunities.

Viking Raider
1 part Pernod (or Sambuca, other anise-flavored liqueur)
1 part Swedish aquavit
splash of elderberry syrup
Swedish salted licorice
Bite the licorice, down the shot, then take out your rage on unsuspecting villages a short boat trip away.

(Follow Brian Ries on Twitter: @brianries.)

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