The Tarnished Angel
A hauntingly beautiful, bittersweet cocktail that mirrors a tragic journey. Scandinavian akvavit and lingonberry jam ground the drink in its bleak setting, offering a fleeting, rustic sweetness. This hope is quickly overshadowed by the assertive bitterness of Campari, charting a downward spiral into a deep, crimson-hued despair.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz (45 ml) Akvavit
- 0.75 oz (22.5 ml) Campari
- 0.75 oz (22.5 ml) Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 heaping bar spoon (approx. 10 ml) Lingonberry Jam
- 1 Garnish: Long Lemon Twist
Instructions
- Add akvavit, Campari, fresh lemon juice, and lingonberry jam into a shaker.
- Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds to chill and break down the jam.
- Double-strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a chilled coupe glass.
- Express the oils from the lemon twist over the drink and place it in the glass as a garnish.
Inspiration
This cocktail is a sensory translation of 'Lilya 4-ever.' The base of akvavit and rustic lingonberry jam immediately grounds the drink in its stark Swedish setting. The journey of flavors, from the initial sweet-tartness (Lilya's hope) to the unyielding bitterness of Campari (her tragic reality), mirrors her devastating downward spiral. The name, 'The Tarnished Angel,' reflects her lost innocence and the religious iconography she turns to in her final moments of despair. It's a somber, complex drink meant to be contemplated.