The Swedish Paloma cocktail next to a bottle of Absolut Grapefruit.

10 best cocktails for swedish midsummer

WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT´

Swedish Midsummer! The most beloved of all Swedish holidays. It’s when Swedes sing and dance and celebrate the longest day of the year – when the sky never darkens. It’s also when they hop around a maypole pretending to be frogs. Because…why not?

Swedish Midsummer is celebrated with close friends and family, featuring a smorgasbord (smörgåsbord in Swedish) packed with traditional Scandinavian foods, crafting crowns from freshly picked flowers, and, of course, indulging in Midsummer drinks.

So, if you’re wondering what cocktails to mix for Midsummer, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’ve taken things to the next level. Since Absolut Vodka is made in Åhus, a tiny village in the south of Sweden, we’ve put together a list of Swedish-inspired drink recipes, including variations of classic cocktails with a Swedish twist.

“Skål och glad midsommar!”

Swedish Spritz
Let’s start off this Midsummer drink list with a drink so Swedish it could win a Nobel Prize in deliciousness.

Strawberries? Check. Elderflower? Check. Dill? Check. All the flavors that typify Sweden in a single cocktail.

The savory ingredients make this a truly unique drink while the Absolut Citron (Lemon-Flavored Vodka) brings the summery vibes with its bright burst of Lemon flavor. Here’s how to make the Swedish Spritz.

Swedish Death Nettle
Nettles: the scourge of bare summertime skin but boy do they make a tasty cocktail. Its name (best cocktail name ever? It well could be!) pays homage to another uniquely Swedish phenomenon, Swedish Death Metal.

Created by Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador, the Swedish Death Nettle is a drink that’s built directly into a Highball Glass. This cocktail mixes Absolut Vodka, Lime Juice, Nettle Cordial, Nettle Tea, and Soda Water, garnished with a sprig of Mint.

The earthy, herbal flavors of the Nettle Tea and Nettle Cordial create a drink that Rico describes as “Very adult in flavor – very mature and sophisticated.”

Tip! If you can’t find Nettle Cordial and Nettle Tea, substitute them with Elderflower Cordial and Green Tea – it’ll be very different but still delicious.

Grab your Highball Glass and rock out to the Swedish Death Nettle.

WATCH RICO MAKE THE SWEDISH DEATH NETTLE COCKTAIL

The Swedish Paloma
We love the zesty deliciousness of Grapefruit so much that we decided to give the classic Paloma a Swedish twist—using Absolut Grapefruit Vodka instead of Tequila.

Additionally, The Swedish Paloma uses Fresh Ruby Red Grapefruit and Soda Water instead of the traditional Grapefruit Soda and trust us, it’s incredible. After all, nothing says Swedish Midsummer like a burst of citrus flavor as bright as the midnight sun. Grapefruit is Swedish, right?

Discover how to make The Swedish Paloma.

Swedish Highball
Just when you thought things couldn’t get more Swedish, we present a cocktail made with Swedish Punsch. “Swedish what?” you ask. No, no – it’s not a typo, and it shouldn’t be confused with the English term “punch.”

Swedish Punsch is a sweet, arrack tasting Liqueur from, you guessed it, Sweden. Made by mixing Arrack, Brandy or Rum with Arrak Tea (made of Lemon and spices), together with Sugar and Water, Swedish Punsch has a unique flavor that’s best described as reminiscent of aniseed or licorice.

The Swedish Highball is an easy-to-make two-ingredient cocktail that mixes Swedish Punsch and Soda Water with a dash of Bitters. If you’re looking for something unique and distinctly Swedish tasting, the Swedish Highball is a must for Midsummer. Here’s how to make a Swedish Highball.

The Stockholm Sour
If you’re wanting to serve something more elegant on Midsummer, we highly recommend The Stockholm Sour.

Created by Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador, The Stockholm Sour is a variation of the classic New York Sour using Swedish Vodka instead of Whiskey.

Made with Absolut Vodka, Fresh Pressed Lemon, Lemon Juice, Rich Syrup, Egg White (or Aquafaba), a dash of Aromatic Bitters, and topped with a delicious Red Wine float, it offers the taste of tangy lemon with the perfect amount of sweetness. It’s the perfect drink to sip during those long Swedish summer nights.

Discover our Stockholm Sour cocktail recipe.

WATCH RICO AS HE CREATES THE STOCKHOLM SOUR

Swedish Negroni
Now here’s a variation of a classic Negroni that you won’t have seen before, featuring the uniquely Scandinavian spirit, Aquavit.

Aquavit is distilled from grain or potatoes and flavored with a variety of spices and herbs. Often enjoyed ice cold as snaps, Aquavit is an important part of Nordic drinking culture, consumed during festive gatherings like Christmas dinners and Midsummer celebrations, and as an aperitif.

The Swedish Negroni mixes Aquavit, Italian Bitters (aka Amaro – a bittersweet Herbal Liqueur), and Sweet Vermouth, garnished with a slice of Orange and a sprig of Rosemary.

Sip this Negroni variation and we’re confident you’ll agree, The Swedish Negroni is like a Nordic saga in a glass—epic and unforgettable. Here’s how to make a Swedish Negroni.

Swedish Summer
Along with Dill, Arrack, Cinnamon, Saffron, Cardamon, and Lingonberry, another flavor that Swedes adore and is synonymous with Swedish cuisine is Elderflower.

The Swedish Summer is a cocktail that mixes Absolut Lime Vodka’s intensely zesty aroma and juicy deliciousness reminiscent of freshly squeezed Lime Juice, with Elderflower Cordial and Soda Water.

It delivers a zesty juiciness thanks to the Lime-Flavored Vodka, perfectly balanced with the sweet, floral charm of Elderflower, and topped off with the bubbly effervescence of Soda Water.

So, even if it rains on Midsummer, the sun will always be shining if you have a Swedish Summer cocktail in hand. Skål to that! Here’s how to make the Swedish Summer cocktail.

The Swedish Swing
Last but certainly not least, here’s one final must-try variation of a classic cocktail. The Swedish Sling is a new cocktail inspired by the classic Singapore Sling. It follows the same recipe as the original but uses Absolut Grapefruit instead of Gin.

Like the Gin-based classic, The Swedish Sling is akin to a fruity punch but with a sophisticated twist, resulting in a more complex and layered flavor. The sweet and tangy notes from the Cherry Liqueur and Pineapple Juice are complemented by a citrusy twist from the Lime Juice… and then there’s those delicious Grapefruit notes from the Absolut Grapefruit.

So, how does it hold up against the original? “Bartenders are going to hate me for saying it, but I kinda prefer it,” confesses Rico. Decide for yourself – here’s our recipe for The Swedish Sling.