If you’ve ever had meatballs in IKEA, you will have been offered “jam and gravy” or more specifically “lingonberry jam and gravy”. Like me, you may not have had a clue what the heck “lingonberry” actually is. One thing is for sure, though, the Swedes ruddy love the stuff – it seems to me that they have it with just about anything! So far I’ve been served it as an accompaniment to various savoury meals, ice cream and even in a whisky cocktail!

To be honest, I am not quite sure how I feel about this cocktail, but I thought I’d share it anyway. I’ve never really had a cocktail based on a tangy berry before, and it’s quite interesting, at least. You’ll need the following:

• A highball glass
• 3-4 ice cubes
• A handful of fresh lingonberries, or 2 tablespoons of lingonberry jam
• 5 mint leaves
• Lemonade
• A 50ml measure of whisky of your choice, my host used Aberlour
• A dash of lemonade
• If you use fresh berries, you’ll need 1½tsp of sugar as well

And do the following:

Mix your lingonberries or jam with the mint leaves, mushing it all together (but don’t break the leaves), and pour the mixture into your highball glass. Add the ice, whisky, and top up with lemonade. Stir gently for about 15 seconds, and serve.

An odd cocktail indeed, but one that I think would grow on me if I had it a few more times. If you try it, I’d love to hear what you think!

Here are some related posts that you might want to read:

• Whisky Cocktail: Champagne Julep
• Whisky Cocktail: Rusty Nail
• Whisky Cocktail: Whiskey Sour
• Whisky Cocktail: Lynchburg Lemonade
• Whisky Cocktail: Rob Roy