The Midnight Sun Cocktail
Almost as beautiful as the sky in Iceland, The Midnight Sun Cocktail is not just gorgeous, it’s a delicious combination of vodka, blood orange liqueur and Creme de Violette, a wonderfully delicious and absolutely beautiful liqueur.
No one was more surprised than me to hear from the folks at Reyka Vodka, not just wondering if I would like to try their product but to hear the news that Denver is hosting A Taste of Iceland for the 2nd year in a row. From September 26 – 29 this year, locals will have a unique opportunity to experience what life is like in a country over 3,600 miles away.
The four-day event celebrates the vibrant culture of Iceland, a country that has become a hotbed for emerging music and innovative cuisine. A Taste of Iceland made its Denver debut in 2012, and was met with excitement from music fans and foodies alike. Based on last year’s success, the event’s organizers are once again partnering with KGNU 88.5 FM & 1390 AM and Coohills to showcase the best Iceland has to offer.
During A Taste of Iceland, locals are invited to savor Icelandic cuisine as guest chef Thrainn Freyr Vigfusson takes over the kitchen at Coohills, mix cocktails using Reyka Vodka with Coohills’ mixologist Noah Heaney, and enjoy a one-of-a-kind performance featuring Iceland’s top musicians including Lay Low, Snorri Helgason and Högni Egilsson alongside notable Denver artists Jesse Elliott of Ark Life and These United States, Esmé Patterson of Paper Bird and Tyler Ludwick of Princess Music.
In conjunction with this event, I’ve prepared a cocktail using Reyka Vodka, a vodka that is as unique as the land that inspires it. Crafted by hand in small batches in Borganes, Iceland, Reyka Vodka is filtered through ancient lava rocks and made from the purest Iceland spring water using geo-thermal energy.
A beautiful clean vodka; it seems meant to be the perfect mixer. Combined with the flavors of Blood Orange Liqueur, Creme de Violette, Lemon Juice and Rhubarb Bitters, the resulting cocktail is as cool as it looks but there is nothing ‘girly’ about this beauty. Citrus elements combine with just a hint of violet and we thought it both absolutely gorgeous to look at and a wonderful cocktail to advent the chill in the air.
Finding the Creme de Violette was a challenge but I was ultimately successful at an absolutely wonderful shop that is new to me; Divino Wine and Spirits on Broadway, nestled among the many antique stores on the west side of the highway. A small storefront belies the array of products inside and the helpful and knowledgeable young man behind the counter made for a most pleasant experience. This is the sort of place that people who love to craft cocktails HAVE to know about! If you’re in Denver? Go. Now.
Before I was rewarded with success in my search, I was ‘this close’ to using Cassis liqueur and I’m sure it would have been fine; it’s a small and subtle amount for sure…but if you can find the Creme de Violette do give it a try; it’s apparently the darling of the craft cocktail crowd!
Truly gorgeous isn’t it?
About Iceland Naturally:
Iceland Naturally is a cooperative marketing organization that promotes the tourism, services, products and culture of Iceland. It represents the true essence of Iceland, its creativity and spectacular natural wonders. The group is comprised of Icelandair, Icelandic Group., Islandsbanki, Reyka Vodka, City of Reykjavik, Icelandic Glacial Water, 66° NORTH, Blue Lagoon, Keflavik International Airport (KEF), Landsvirkjun, Promote Iceland and the Government of Iceland. For more information, please visit www.icelandnaturally.com.
Want more? Here is a great guide on all things Iceland that is a detailed and comprehensive piece on the 100 best things to do in Iceland. It’s packed with practical tips and advice. Meet me there? 🙂
PIN IT ‘The Midnight Sun Cocktail’
The Midnight Sun Featuring Reyka Vodka
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Thyme infused Reyka Vodka
- 1 oz Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- ¼ oz Rothman and Winter Creme de Violette
- 3 drops of Rhubarb Bitters I used Fee Brothers
- Garnish with blood orange slice dusted in sparkling sugar
Instructions
- Chill cocktail glass.
- Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice.
- Shake hard and double strain over a large ice cube in an old fashioned glass.
- Garnish with sugared orange slice
We had a Taste of Iceland event in Seattle last year, too. The menu sounded fabulous and I wish we could have attended. Iceland is a place I’d like to visit as I’ve heard it is truly lovely. Your cocktail sounds divine!
This drink looks gorgeous! I love this!
Thank you…funny but I was unprepared for how beautiful it would be myself but it was almost ethereal. Thanks for dropping by!
Oh I will follow them on FB and Twitter! I dream of going to iceland! Dream of it! And lucky you to attend an Iceland event… There is something so romantic about Iceland. I usually don’t drink things like vodka but your drink sounds delicious!
I’m not a big traveler but the idea of Iceland sounds cool (literally too I guess). I hope to attend something today and get a real taste for Iceland. Would be so fun to go!
My. my. That cocktail looks as pretty as I believe Iceland must be. And how you ever came up with those flavors I will never know. But it sounds totally tempting. Who gets to sample all these cocktails you make? 🙂 And I love DiVino!
I am the taste tester and if Emily is around she is the fortunate one! I actually had help with this one; sometimes a company will give me suggestions and I run with them…this one sounded too unique to pass up and I’m SO glad I went the extra mile and found Divino…it’s a true treasure.
What a unique cocktail– just the color alone draws me in. Thanks for going on a search for the right ingredients and even better that you’ve introduced me to another Denver find in Divino.
Isn’t that beautiful Holly; I didn’t know what to expect but it was simply the most gorgeous cocktail…and tasted great too. I love this job. 🙂
Barbara, I’d be sozzled just looking at all your amazing drinks… this one sounds quite divine!
I would love to sozzle you! Don’t tell but I don’t drink a lot…I just love making them. OK, I might drink one. Or two. 🙂
Absolutely gorgeous photography in this post, Barb! And the festival sounds so interesting. Wish I could be there.
Thanks so much Lana; sometimes I actually put some real effort into a post and it’s warms my heart to hear it was received well. Not that I don’t care typically but often by the time I schlep everything to a different location I’m already beat!
Wonderful Photos. We MUST go to Divino! please please 😀
OK, next field trip is Divino’s and then down to Castle Rock…after the birth month celebrations are over?
I love melting ice on shinny surfaces! Great job with the photos. And truly nice drink – this sounds totally delish. I really need to break down and buy myself a bottle of Creme de Violette one of these days. I have no excuse for not doing so – I’m within a 20 minute walk or so of two different liquor stores that carry it! Anyway, super post – thanks.
Thanks John…I had fun with this one for sure; making a mess is always a good time! It’s a great drink…subtle use of the violette makes it work; too much and it would be a bad thing. It’s not easy to come by here apparently; every bartender worth their salt wants it in their bar right now; I finally called the company, got a local distributor and found a shop. Oh…the things we do for fun right? 🙂
What a lovely cocktail. Just a beautiful color.
Isn’t it just so pretty? My favorite color come to life in a cocktail I loved…win win!!