Get a taste of a festive fairy tale

She’s hot and cold and delicious

The beverage manager of Nimb Hotel António Saldanha de Oliveira has created a menu full of delicious cocktails, all inspired by Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales and Tivoli Gardens, where Nimb Hotel is located.

The Snow Queen cocktail is particularly perfect for a magical Christmas party. António has been so kind to let us in on the secret recipe, so we can all get into a fun cocktail challenge at home. Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen is both a warm and ice cold character, and so is this creative cocktail.

Before getting into the mix

Before any great event, there will be a bit of preparation. This is also true for the mixing of this cocktail, but we promise you this queen is worth waiting for!

The first important thing you need to prepare is a eucalyptus and lemongrass syrup. The cooling flavors of eucalyptus represents the coldness of the Snow Queen. You make the syrup by adding 4 branches of eucalyptus (only the leaves) to one liter of sugar syrup and let it infuse for 48h. After that, strain and blend with it together with 4 sticks of lemongrass - you can use a regular blender or a hand blender. Let it sit for 10 minutes and after that, filter it through a coffee filter.

Well done so far! And now, get out the good ol’ vodka.

Another feature to signify the cold in the Snow Queen is the use of Sichuan peppercorns. These create a cooling effect and create a slightly tingling sensation in the lips and tongue. Before making the cocktail, you put 2 tablespoons of Sichuan peppercorns in a bottle of vodka and leave them to infuse for 24h

And onto the mixing!

Now it is time to show off those shaking skills. Get out your tin shaker and add the vodka infused with Sichuan peppercorns, black raspberry liqueur, lime juice, lemongrass and eucalyptus syrup and a teaspoon of blackcurrant.

Fun fact: Antonio decided to use blackcurrant and black raspberry liqueur to bring a taste of the Nordic forests into the cocktail, as the fairy tale takes place in a forest in wintertime.

Top up the shaker with ice, and now we shake! When the shaker is ice cold, you’re done. And now comes a fun part! As mentioned, the cocktail embodies both the Snow Queen’s cold and warm side. Now is the time to bring out the warmth, that she carries within.

Take a tea strainer and add 2 pinches of Sichuan peppercorns, and then dip them in Jamaican overproof rum till they are properly soaked. After that, with a fire gun or a lighter, blaze the Sichuan peppercorns 5-10 seconds until they are properly roasted. Strain the cocktail into the glass through the tea strainer with the roasted Sichuan peppercorns to capture some of those roasted and burnt notes. At last, add a large ice cube, a small eucalyptus branch and sprinkle a little bit of powdered sugar to give it a wintery feeling.

It’s the most magical time of the year

Congratulations on making your first professional fairy tale cocktail! This cocktail is a perfect accessory to all those dark winter nights, that need a little extra magic. And when we can once again welcome you into Denmark, you should visit the bar at Nimb Hotel and try the real deal – or any of the other magical cocktails. You can find a complete overview of the award winning fairy tale menu here. For questions or inspiration, go to António’s own Instagram profile.

Happy holidays!