Under the radar to most people, Copenhagen is one heck of a good cocktail town. I spent a couple of days exploring its bars this summer and came away very impressed.
One cocktail I saw listed on menus all over town is the Copenhagen. It was invented at the bar 1105 by the owner Gromit Eduardsen as the winning entry in a cocktail contest sponsored by Danish liqueur brand Cherry Heering. Cherry Heering is a key ingredient in several vintage cocktails including the Blood and Sand and the Singapore Sling. It too is in drinks all over town.
The Copenhagen has a base of Bols Genever, which is an elder ancestor to gin. (Gin won't work as a substitute, so you'll need to track down genever.) It gives the drink a malty yet light base that is enlivened with the rich cherry liqueur and the tart lime juice.
If you can't hop on a plane to visit this beautiful city you can still pop in your copy of The Little Mermaid or curl up with your favorite Hans Christian Andersen story and enjoy a taste of Copenhagen.
The Copenhagen
By Gromit Eduardsen of bar 1105 in Copenhagen
2 cl. (.75 fl. oz.) Cherry Heering Liqueur
5 cl. (1.5 fl. oz.) Bols Genever
2 cl. (.75 fl. oz.) Lime Juice
2 cl. (.75 fl. oz.) Simple Syrup
1 dash Angostura Bitters
Orange twist for garnish
Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
