A Toast To Brennivin For The Win

Thanks to great friends who travel in far away places, I tried a new drink this week. She was hosting a book club meeting for my novel, Fortune Cookie, and it was her recommended drink of choice. It’s called Brennivin. You may have already heard of it before, especially if you’ve been to Iceland (where it originated). She warned us that it was smooth, but had a kick. I tried a shot of it and her description was spot on. What makes it so good though?

Well, if you think you’ll be mixing this to make your favorite cocktail, think again. Brennivin is a clear, unsweetened schnapps that somehow tastes like black liquorice. Don’t like liquorice? Neither do I. Nonetheless, something about that faint flavor was aceptable with this drink. I can definitely see it pairing well with anything lemon or lime flavored. Ironically, another name for the drink is black death. Don’t worry. I lived to tell the story so you’ll be fine. 

Here’s a bit of history behind the drink as well. It’s typically a special occasion alcohol shot. Also, it’s the traditional drink for the feast of Porrablot (named for the month of Porri of the historical Icelandic calendar). Basically, it’s a drink that’s meant for celebrations. Cheers…bottoms up. It’s Thirsty Thursday!   

Plus, don’t forget to get caught up on my novel series, which started with Fortune Cookie. No Cream In The Middle is the second installment. The final story of the trilogy, When The Cookie Crumbles, will be released early next year. Send me a message or comment on the post to catch up on the series, for a special, discounted pricing.