In Sweden, home cooks make aquavit by infusing a clear spirit distilled from grain or potatoes with an infinite variety of spices, herbs, and other flavorful botanicals. Here, the classic Moscow Mule gets a Scandinavian twist with a grapefruit and lemongrass-infused aquavit. Restaurant Aquavit in New York City makes this cocktail with Crabbie’s ginger beer, an alcoholic ginger beer with a deep, spicy flavor, though you can substitute any ginger beer you’d like.
Swedish Mule
In this recipe, the classic Moscow Mule gets a Scandinavian twist with a grapefruit and lemongrass-infused aquavit.
Yield: makes 1 Cocktail
For the Grapefruit and Lemongrass Aquavit
- 1 peel of grapefruit
- 1 stalk lemongrass
- 1 (750-ml) bottle vodka
For the Cocktail
- 1 oz. grapefruit and lemongrass aquavit
- 1-2 dashes grapefruit bitters
- Crabbie’s ginger beer, to top
- Candied ginger, to garnish
Instructions
- Make the aquavit: Combine grapefruit peel with vodka; steep for 3 weeks. Lightly smash lemongrass and tie in a knot. Combine with vodka mixture and steep 1 more week; strain.
- Make the cocktail: Combine aquavit and bitters in a copper mule glass filled with ice; top with ginger beer and garnish with candied ginger.