These Lingonberry Vodka Spritzes Will Be Your New Summer Cocktail Obsession

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I’m not much of a drinker, but that doesn’t mean I’m immune to the occasional bout of overenthusiastic shopping. A few years back, I stumbled upon a sale on Absolut vodka and figured, “Why not? It could come in handy for a party someday.” Famous last words. That bottle has been silently judging me from the back of my kitchen cabinet ever since.

Recently, in a fit of spring cleaning motivation, I rediscovered the dusty vodka relic. Feeling a tinge of guilt over my wastefulness, I decided to finally put it to use. I unscrewed the cap and took a tentative sip, immediately regretting my decision as the harsh liquid burned its way down my throat. “Yowza, what is this poison?” I sputtered.

My quest for the perfect vodka mixer led me down an unexpected path … IKEA?

Determined not to let the bottle go to waste, I turned to my trusty friend Google for solutions. As it turns out, vodka plays excellently with certain mixers that can transform the brutal spirit into a refreshing cocktail. One mixer that kept popping up was lingonberry syrup, which apparently makes a mean vodka cocktail when combined with the right proportions.

7 Lingonberry Summer Cocktails To Try At Home

I made a mental note to grab a bottle of DRYCK LINGON lingonberry syrup on my next trip to IKEA. With the right cocktail recipes and a few no-fail finger foods, I could finally put that vodka to good use and host a lively party at home. Who knows, I might even acquire a taste for the stuff – though I won’t be holding my breath. And now for the summer cocktail recipes …

Sparking Lingonberry Cosmo

A very easy cocktail recipe from Claire Lower. A Sparkling Lingonberry Cosmo is made from just these 4 ingredients.

• 2 oz. of vodka
• 0.75 oz. of lingonberry concentrate (DRYCK LINGON)
• The juice of half a lemon
• Soda water to top

In an ice-filled shaker, mix the first 3 ingredients together. Strain into a cocktail glass and top up with soda water. Serve. 

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Dala Horse Cocktail

Susannah of FeastandWest.com gives the Moscow Mule a twist and turns it into a Dala Horse Cocktail. This looks yummy, and the blend of sweet-tart-bitter-spicy flavors will be head-bending at the very least. You’ll need:

• 1-ounce lingonberry syrup (DRYCK LINGON)
• ½ ounce fresh lime juice (equivalent to 1 tablespoon or about half a lime)
• 2 ounces vodka
• crushed ice
• 4 to 6 ounces of ginger beer, chilled
• Lime slices

First, fill the bottom of the glass with the lingonberry syrup. Stir in lime juice and vodka. Then, top up with crushed ice. To get that two-tone effect, slowly pour in the ginger beer. Serve with a wedge of lime. Stir slowly and drink.

Lingonberry Margarita Cocktail

The next cocktail on my list, and probably my favorite, is a Margarita. Mutt and Chops has an awesome recipe that hits all the notes. No vodka is used here, but Margaritas have always been my poison of choice.

• 1 1/2 ounce orange liqueur
• 3 1/2 ounces silver tequila
• 2 1/2 ounces fresh lime juice
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• 2 teaspoon lingonberry preserves (SYLT LINGON)
• 1 lime wheel and piece of candied ginger to garnish
• 2 tablespoons sea salt for the glass rim
• Lime wedge

First, prepare the glasses by running the wedge of lime around the rim. Pour sea salt on a plate, and place the glass upside down on the plate. Set them aside.

Then, add all the ingredients to a cocktail mixer and top with ice. Cover the lid and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds until the ingredients are thoroughly mixed and cold. Put a handful of crushed ice into the glass and pour. Garnish with a lime wheel and candied ginger, if desired.

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Lingonberry Pomegranate Cocktail

IKEA shows us how best to use their signature lingonberry syrup in this sparkling mix of sweet, tart, and fizz. Ingredients for the cocktail are:

• Juice of half a lemon
• 1.5 tbsp lingonberry syrup (DRYCK LINGON)
• 1.5 tbsp grenadine
• 7 tbs sparkling apple and lingonberry drink (DRYCK BUBBEL ÄPPLE & LINGON)
• A thin slice of lemon
• Pomegranate seeds
• Vodka

Fill a tall glass with crushed ice and set aside. In a shaker, mix lemon juice, lingonberry syrup, and vodka with a few cubes of ice. Top it off with the grenadine and the sparkling apple-lingonberry drink. Pour the mix over crushed ice, garnish with pomegranate seeds and serve.

Nordic Breeze

The Nordic Breeze is a light and airy cocktail that brings together the unique flavors of gin and lingonberry syrup, complemented by the herbal notes of elderflower liqueur. This drink is ideal for a summer afternoon or a casual evening gathering.

• 1.5 oz Gin
• 0.75 oz Lingonberry Syrup
• 0.5 oz Elderflower Liqueur
• 0.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• Tonic Water
• Ice
• Lime Twist (for garnish)

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add gin, lingonberry syrup, elderflower liqueur, and fresh lime juice. Shake well until the mixture is chilled. Strain the mixture into a large glass filled with ice. Top off with tonic water. Stir gently to combine. Garnish with a lime twist. Serve immediately with a cocktail straw.

Alcohol-Free Lingonberry Cocktails

While lingonberry syrup may be the perfect tart and fruity companion to transform harsh vodka into a palatable cocktail, its usefulness doesn’t stop there. For those looking to skip the alcohol altogether, this vibrant red syrup can be the star ingredient in a slew of refreshing mocktails. Its distinctive sweet-tart flavor plays wonderfully with bubbling sodas, zingy citrus juices, and herbaceous elements like rosemary or thyme.

Drizzled over ice and topped with a splash of tonic or lemon-lime soda, a simple lingonberry syrup “mocktail” instantly becomes a festive, non-alcoholic beverage that’s brimming with natural flavors. It’s a versatile mixer that lets you get creative with adult-tasting drinks and a stellar option for crafting party-worthy mocktails.

Lingonberry Cocktail With Grapefruit

• 40 ml lingonberry syrup (SAFT LINGON)
• approx. 80 ml freshly pressed grapefruit juice
• 80 ml water
• Ice

Mix the lingonberry syrup with the pressed fresh grapefruit in a glass. Add ice and top up with fizzy water. The recipe will turn out better when mixed with a shaker.

Spicy Rhubarb Cocktail

• approx 1 cm slice of red chilli
• 40 ml rhubarb syrup (SAFT RABARBER)
• approx. 1 tsp ginger syrup
• 1/2 lime, juice of (approx. 1 tbsp)
• 150 ml fizzy water
• Ice

Ginger Syrup

• 1 1/2 tbsp chopped fresh ginger
• 200 ml water
• 100 ml sugar

Ginger syrup: Bring the water, ginger, and sugar to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes. Sieve, pour into a bottle, and stand in a cool place. This syrup is great for all kinds of drinks and will keep for several weeks in the fridge.

Crush the chili with a cocktail muddler in a glass. Pour over the rhubarb syrup, ginger syrup, and pressed lime. Fill the glass with ice. Mix and top up with fizzy water. Makes about 200ml.

This mocktail recipe will turn out better when mixed with a shaker. Garnish and enjoy!

Always Shop IKEA’s Swedish Food Market

Who knew that buried among IKEA flat-pack furnishings was the key to sweetening my bitter vodka? It just goes to show that the beloved Swedish retailer has far more to offer beyond its iconic meatballs and affordable home goods. From lingonberry syrup to other Scandinavian food items, IKEA is a treasure trove of unique ingredients that can add international flair to your kitchen and bar cart.

Sure, you may go in with the intention of just picking up some picture frames or tea lights, but you’ll likely leave with an armful of unexpected finds – vodka mixers very much included. IKEA continues to surprise as a one-stop-shop for housewares, Swedish treats, and now, cocktail inspiration. Just be prepared to also walk out with a new mushroom lamp you definitely didn’t plan on buying.

Hungry? Try this original meatball recipe from IKEA.

This article originally appeared on IKEA Hackers.