Ask a Dane if they like licorice, and 90% will give you a resounding “yes!” Ask again if they love Salmiak licorice, and you’ll probably get an even higher percentage.
As a first-generation Canadian with Danish roots, I can honestly say I grew up on this stuff—starting at just six months old. Most North Americans cringe at the thought of salty licorice, but in my family, it was the ultimate joke: give a baby Salmiak and watch the hilariously scrunched-up faces that follow. It’s the Danish equivalent of handing a baby a lemon or onion just to see the reaction.
The joke didn’t quite land on me, though. No tight lips, squinted eyes, or shudders—just pure joy. I reached for more. I loved it then, and I still do (probably why I work part-time at the Licorice Parlour here in Vancouver). It’s my fix, my heritage, my not-so-guilty pleasure.
So why not double up the pleasure? Enter the Salmiak Candy Infused Vodka—a salty, sharp, sweet kick in a shooter or the mysterious base of a cocktail that’ll leave your taste buds spellbound.
Here’s how to make it:
Ingredients
• 26 oz bottle of vodka (I used Truth Vodka for its beautifully balanced flavour)
• 1 cup Salmiak licorice candies (find them at your local specialty shop—I recommend the Licorice Parlour if you’re in Vancouver!)
Directions:
1. Remove a cup of vodka from the bottle and set it aside (or treat yourself to a quick cocktail).
2. Add the Salmiak candies to the bottle.
3. Seal the bottle tightly and give it a good shake to help the candies dissolve.
4. Let it sit, occasionally rotating the bottle to avoid settling at the bottom. The black gold melts down quickly!
5. Once fully dissolved, pour into a shooter glass and knock it back—or use it as a sultry cocktail base.
The result? A bold, bracing sip that Danes like me can’t get enough of. Give it a try—you just might fall under the spell of Salmiak too!
Here’s a cocktail I’ve concocted as well, a perfect marrying of ingredients for the holiday and beyond.
Try it and get entranced!
