Hi! I am Emily Vikre, co-founder and CEO of Vikre Distillery. At Vikre, we are really passionate about capturing the spirit of Duluth, the spirit of Lake Superior, and the spirit of the North Shore in the flavors of our spirits.
We are so excited to get to do some fun collaboration with the folks at Cedar and Stone and Portage Brewing to highlight all of the flavors of Sauna Water in cocktails. The Sauna Water has some amazing northwoodsy flavors that are really robust and really special.
They clearly have a similar passion for botanicals that we have. Not only that, but being Norwegian, I come from a culture of hot and cold and sauna (or as we call it in Norway, badstue.)
This series of intriguing cocktails was created for you to try in person at Vikre Distillery or at home. The Finn and Juice, our debut recipe, offers a playful twist on the classic gin and juice, blending the citrusy zest of grapefruit with the earthy essence of spruce found in Sauna Water.
Starting with a homemade eucalyptus-mint syrup and ending with a touch of saline, the bitter and sweet elements are balanced, allowing the nuanced flavors of the spirits to truly shine. Perfect for warm midwestern boat days or as a post-sauna relaxation sip, the Finn and Juice embodies the essence of our northern landscape paired with a classic cocktail.
In this long drink, we use our Boreal Cedar Gin which is a cult favorite: our least traditional, most creative gin that combines the flavors of juniper berries with foraged staghorn sumac and local black currants along with a number of baking spices like ginger, and cardamom and cinnamon and finishes it with a little kiss of cedarwood.
Embracing the spirit of our northern roots, these creations are more than just drinks – they are a celebration of our shared commitment to local ingredients and the land that surrounds us. Get ready to elevate your home mixology game and experience a taste of the North like never before.
Kippis, jubel, salud, cheers – however you toast, this one’s for you!
Finn and juice recipe
1.5 oz. Vikre Cedar gin
1.5 oz. grapefruit juice
1/2 oz. eucalyptus-mint syrup*
1 dropper of saline solution or a pinch of salt
3 oz. Sauna Water
Tasting Notes: Fragrantly herbal and fresh with tart grapefruit and mint complementing the notes of cedar from the gin and spruce from the Sauna Water.
Pair with: rye crisps spread with herbed goat cheese.
more about vikre's boreal cedar gin
“A tea of staghorn sumac infused with juniper berries, black currants, grapefruit peel, ginger and cinnamon makes for our most innovative gin. Toasted on red cedar wood to finish, its a true nod to the woods. Our gins feature a combination of foraged wild botanicals and traditional gin botanicals. They’re not too proud for gin and tonics, but damn well good enough for sipping.”
