Bornholm Spirits Salty Liquorice BHLM Shots by Vodka Bornholm 70 cl 16.4%

Salted liquorice splits a room down the middle, and that is half the point. Here it meets a vodka from Nexø that has rested with Bornholm granite. The result is black, cold and fairly uncompromising.

Expert description

Bornholm Spirits Salty Liquorice is a Danish Vodka Liqueur built on Vodka Bornholm and salted liquorice, bottled at 16.4%.

The range is called Shots by Vodka Bornholm and uses the distillery’s own vodka as its base instead of bought-in neutral spirit. You can tell: underneath the liquorice sits a soft grain sweetness that keeps the shot from ending up as sweets in a glass.

At 16.4% this is low for a shot, and that is no accident. The strength never cuts through the liquorice, so the flavour is left to fill everything. In exchange the bottle needs to be kept cold, ideally in the freezer until it is wanted.

Bornholm Spirits makes it in Nexø on the eastern side of the island, where the house also produces organic schnapps, aquavit and vodka. It works equally well as a party shot or poured over a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Tasting notes

Nose

Liquorice root and salt. A thread of anise and something dark, almost earthy, sits behind them.

Palate

Thick and sweet for a moment, then the salt breaks through. The liquorice is powerful and keeps going, with no alcoholic heat to interrupt it.

Finish

Long and salty. The sweetness goes first while the liquorice stays put on the palate.

Specifications

Name: Bornholm Spirits Salty Liquorice
Distillery: Bornholm Spirits
Region/Country: Nexø, Bornholm, Denmark
Type: Danish Vodka Liqueur
ABV: 16.4%
Size: 70 CL
Serving suggestion: Ice cold from the freezer in a small shot glass, or poured over vanilla ice cream as a dessert.

Flavour profile

Salty · Liquorice · Sweet · Bold

Did you know?

Salmiak is what gives salted liquorice its bite. The compound is ammonium chloride, and it is precisely what separates salted liquorice from the sweet kind.

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Frequently asked questions about Bornholm Spirits Salty Liquorice

How strong is it?

Far weaker than a standard vodka. At 16.4% it sits closer to a liqueur than to a classic schnapps shot, and that was chosen so the alcohol never burns the liquorice away.

Is it very salty?

Yes, it lands at the salty end rather than sitting on the fence. The sweetness comes first, but the salt takes over after a moment and stays. If salmiak pastilles are your thing, you are on home ground.

How is it best served?

Straight from the freezer in a small shot glass. The cold tightens it and makes the sweetness less insistent. At room temperature it turns heavy and syrupy, so keep the bottle cold from the start.

Can it be used in drinks and desserts?

Yes, and that is where it surprises. Pour it over vanilla ice cream, stir it into a cold coffee drink or use it as a layer in a shot with cream. In cocktails, measure carefully, because the liquorice dominates easily.

What is it made from?

The distillery own vodka and salted liquorice. The base is the same vodka that has rested with Bornholm granite, and it provides a soft floor under the powerful liquorice. Find the unflavoured version in our range of Vodka Bornholm.

Does an open bottle need refrigeration?

Not for keeping, but it tastes better cold. Sugar and alcohol preserve it, so an opened bottle lasts a long time. Leaving it in the freezer also means it is ready to pour at any moment.

Who makes it?

Bornholm Spirits in Nexø on Bornholm. The house runs Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik and produces organic schnapps, aquavit and vodka, and the shot range is built on top of their own vodka.