Valhalla liqueur is named after the Scandinavian equivalent of paradise. In German-Scandinavian mythology, this is the name of the palace, in which, led by Odin, the soldiers who fell in battle feast. The slogan of this 45-degree Finnish bitter produced by Koskenkorva – The spirit of Nordic legends – is difficult to adequately translate into Russian, as it is a play on words. The fact is that spirit is, at the same time, both “spirit” and “alcohol”, so liquor can be called both the soul and alcohol of northern legends.
Characterization
Valhalla has notes of citrus, bitter herbs and spices. Liquor has a bitter-sweet taste and a long fresh aftertaste. The bouquet contains nuances of brown sugar, honey, hazelnut. Valhalla also has a brown caramel color, the liqueur looks very thick, like maple syrup, but the liquid does not leave drips on the walls of the glass.
The drink is supplied in a square bottle of strict shape, black and frosted glass. On the front side is the ancient Scandinavian symbol Vegvisir – a compass that allows the traveler to find his way even in the worst weather.
The composition of Valhalla liquor includes: yarrow, bitter wormwood, angelica (angelica officinalis), licorice root (licorice), as well as other herbs kept secret. All ingredients are subjected to maceration and subsequent distillation, and the finished liquor must be kept so that the components combine into a harmonious bouquet.
The closest known alcoholic drink to Walhalla in terms of organoleptic properties is the German herbal liquor Jägermeister.
Legend
The manufacturer’s official website contains a beautiful legend why the liqueur is so rich and fragrant. The cold north wind, the Finns write, hardens not only people, filling them with courage and valor, but also grasses. Plants are forced to fight the harsh nature, so even the usual components have a special taste – brighter, more powerful and “daring”.
Valhalla liqueur is based on Koskenkorva vodka.
Customer Reviews
“Valhalla” is distinguished not only by a well-thought-out image and stylish packaging. Some reviews (not from the official website of the manufacturer):
- “A warming and invigorating drink, great to bring you back to your senses after the winter battles in Valhalla!”
- “I love this taste. Much more elegant than Jägermeister. Sweetish, you can’t drink a lot of it – but you don’t need a lot. Very refreshing, especially if you add ice cubes.”
- “As if Odin himself brought me a glass of liquor.”
- “If you like anise liqueurs, this one is one of the best I’ve ever tried.”
- “Soft, fragrant and refreshing.”
- “For the first 20 minutes, I just sat with a glass in my hand and sniffed the liquor. If the company released such toilet water, I would buy it without hesitation!
How to drink Valhalla liqueur
Koskenkorva recommends drinking Valhalla in its pure form and at room temperature so that the bouquet opens up better. However, the liquor can be chilled heavily, added to tea or coffee, used as a cocktail ingredient instead of Jägermeister or other bitters.
Like other herbal liqueurs, Valhalla is served as a digestif and aperitif.
Cocktails
There are no special cocktails that involve the use of this particular bitter – it easily replaces any other herbal liquor, but the image itself and the marketing strategy for promoting the product suggest its consumption in its pure form.
There are cocktails that include the word “Valhalla” in their name, but they have nothing to do with this brand. For example, Valhalla Rising. In an ice-filled shaker, pour 1.5 parts of spiced ginger syrup, one part of aquavit (Scandinavian caraway vodka) and Olorso sherry, ¾ parts of lime juice, shake everything well, pour into a chilled glass and, stirring slowly, add 4 parts of light beer, better than a pilsner.