Easy
Spirit-forward & Herbal
1 minute
Rocks Glass
Ingredients
Spirit-forward,the flavors of anise blend seamlessly with the smooth, silky texture of the vodka.
Both simple and sophisticated, the Iceberg is perfect as a digestif or as a closing note to a cocktail evening.
How to Make an Iceberg Cocktail
Bar tools you’ll need
Jigger
Bar Spoon
Mixing Glass
Julep Strainer
How to Mix
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Add ice cubes to a mixing glass.
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Use a jigger to measure and add Absolut Vodka to then mixing glass, followed by pastis.
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Use a bar spoon to stir until perfectly chilled and diluted to your preference.
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Add ice cubes to a rocks glass.
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Place a julep strainer over the opening of the mixing glass, then pour the cocktail into your glass.
All about the Iceberg cocktail
The Iceberg is a two-ingredient cocktail that combines vodka and pastis. It is prepared by adding ice to a mixing glass and then stirring until the cocktail is perfectly chilled and diluted. It’s then strained into a rocks glass with ice cubes.
Best enjoyed ice cold, the Iceberg cocktail is spirit-forward. It offers a crisp, herbal bite with the intense, sweet flavors of anise from the pastis blending seamlessly with the smoothness of Absolut Vodka.
Unfortunately, little is known about the history or origins of the Iceberg cocktail.
Pastis was introduced in 1932 as a legal, anise-flavored substitute for absinthe, which had been banned in France since 1915. The vodka boom occurred in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s and, therefore, it’s likely that the Iceberg is a 21st century invention.
- Chill your ingredients
We highly recommend chilling your vodka and pastis in the freezer for at least a few hours before making the drink. The ice cold temperature is crucial to an Iceberg cocktail, hence the name. - Chill your glassware
Similarly, we recommend placing your rocks glass in a freezer for at least 30 minutes. There’s nothing better than sipping an ice cold cocktail in an ice cold glass, especially spirit-forward cocktails. - Add plenty of ice and stir until perfection
Don’t skimp on the ice cubes. Be sure to use plenty of ice cubes in your mixing glass. Stir the cocktail in the mixing glass until it reaches both your desired dilution and right temperature. If it’s not cold enough, continue stirring.Taste the cocktail by placing a small amount on the back of your hand using a bar spoon. Once it tastes just right, it’s ready to be strained and served.
- The Iceberg is best served in a rocks glass with ice cubes, as the ice helps dilute the cocktail, balancing its purely alcoholic content.
- While our recipe doesn’t call for a garnish, expressing lemon zest over the drink and dropping it into the glass adds a fresh citrus note and enhances the herbal flavors.
- Absinthe rinse your glass to add further herbal complexity to your drink. Both absinthe and pastis feature anise/licorice flavors, but absinthe is distinguished by its unique wormwood notes. To absinthe rinse your glass, swirl a few drops of absinthe in your glass with ice, then pour out the contents before straining the cocktail into the glass.
Iceberg Cocktail FAQ
For an Iceberg cocktail, we suggest using Absolut Vodka, a premium quality vodka. It’s important to use top-notch ingredients, especially in cocktails that are made exclusively with spirits.
The standout feature of the Iceberg is its herbal anise/licorice flavor, balanced with the clean smoothness of vodka.
To achieve the ideal temperature and dilution, the Iceberg cocktail is best prepared by stirring it in a mixing glass filled with plenty of ice cubes.
