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Sweden and Denmark mix it up in Battle of Øresund

Sweden and Denmark: two proud Nordic nations with a tumultuous past but at peace today. Yet the rivalry lives on in cocktail culture and the annual Battle of Øresund bartending competition, writes Helle Aslak

John Sönderberg, Christel Möller and Dosa Ivanov, the victorious Swedish team.

Over the centuries, many battles have been fought between the great and proud Nordic nations of Sweden and Denmark. Territory has been won and lost, and many soldiers have fallen following the orders of their kings and queens. Of course, peace is long-restored in Scandinavia but the rivalry and competitive history between Denmark and Sweden will never rest.

Today it is not the sword but the shaker that fights for pride and glory in the annual Battle of Øresund bartending competition which this year took place from 6-8 July.

Øresund, the sea between Sweden and Denmark, is the perfect setting to determine which country produces the best bartenders in the Nordics. Hven Island, while not entirely neutral ground as it is today governed by Sweden, is situated in the centre of the Øresund and with its distillery, Spirit of Hven, it is the ideal backdrop for a cocktail competition.

This year’s Swedish team consisted of two-time national champion Dosa Ivanov along with John Sönderberg and Christel Möller, who placed second and third respectively. Meanwhile the Danes put forward Ulrich Steffensen (technical champion), Christopher Lee Dam (junior champion) and Jacob Rasmussen to take up the battle.

First up was a written test, where participants had to demonstrate their knowledge of the IBA (International Bartenders Association), the DBL (Danish Bartenders Guild) and the SBG (Swedish Bartenders Guild) organisations, Spirit of Hven’s products and general bartending questions. Then, in the practical assessment, each participant was set the challenge to create a twist on a classic margarita using at least 3cl of Hven product, and a cocktail of their choice using at least 2cl of Hven product.

Ulrich Steffensen won the creative cocktail challenge with “Nordic Goldrush”.

The competition was closely fought with a very high levels of creativity and innovation. The winning twisted margarita was from the Swedish camp: John Sönderberg’s “Smokey love of Hven”; while the victorious creative cocktail was Ulrich Steffensen’s “Nordic Goldrush”.

But there can only be one overall winner and Sweden scooped the trophy. But the Danish team is already plotting revenge and has started preparations to win back the trophy, pride and glory in next year’s Battle of Øresund.

The winning cocktails

John Sönderberg’s “Smokey love of Hven”

4 cl Organic Vodka Spirit of Hven

1 cl Organic Aqua Vitae Spirit of Hven

0.5 cl Merak Single Malt Whisky Spirit of Hven

4 cl Lemon juice

2 cl Simple Syrup

2 cl Agave Syrup

Decoration: Salt on the rim

Method: Shake

 

Ulrich Steffensen’s Nordic Goldrush

4 cl Merak Single Malt Whisky Spirit of Hven

1 Egg white

3 cl Lemon juice

3 cl Sea Buckthorn Cordial

2 cl Honey Syrup

Decoration: Small green leaves in the foamy head

Method: Shake

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