Vana Tallinn liqueur: what and how to drink + description and composition
Vana Tallinn (Old Tallinn is a.) - spicy strong brown liqueur. It has a cinnamon-vanilla aroma, mild rum-caramel flavor and a long citrus aftertaste.
Created in Soviet Estonia in 1962, the drink quickly gained popularity in Eastern Europe. Nowadays produced by Liviko.
Ingredients and types of Vana Tallinn
It is worth noting that the modern composition of the liqueur is somewhat different from the Soviet one.
Unlike the original version, it does not contain rum extract, which was used in the socialist food industry, but a real Caribbean drink.
In addition to rum, the Tallinn elixir contains the following ingredients: grain alcohol, sugar, water, oranges, lemons, orange oil, vanilla, cinnamon and some local herbs...
Since in the XXI century, liqueur producers have been trying to establish their products on the Western European market, they have developed several derivative modifications of the classic drink:
-
Original
Tip - 40 degrees, target audience - Germany and France.
-
Strong
Ethanol content - 50%, target audience - Scandinavians.
-
Cream liqueurs
Creamy, orange, chocolate and coffee: strength - 16 degrees, target audience - the fair sex.
In addition, Estonian alcopops have created several freer variations on the theme of their favorite liqueur:
-
Winter Spice
Christmas drink with the addition of nutmeg, cardamom, ginger and anise.
-
Summer Lime
Summer version with the addition of lime and mint.
-
Heritage Edition
An extremely rich drink, which includes dark rum, aged for decades in cognac barrels bourbon.
-
Signature
A blend of Estonian liqueur and authentic cognac.
-
A kind of tribute to the Northern European tradition was the 12-degree glögle produced by Liviko, a drink consisting of red wine slightly diluted with Vana Tallinn.
How and with what to drink Vana Tallinn + cocktail recipes
Any of the above drinks are best consumed neat from classic liqueur glasses. The only permissible (but far from obligatory) addition, in this case, is an ice cube.
In addition, Vana Tallinn can be added to strong black coffee, hot chocolate and black or herbal tea.
The most suitable mix, according to the liquor manufacturers, is a mixture of the latter with apple juice, in a 1:1 ratio. In addition, the Estonian elixir can be mixed with lemon or pineapple juices, vermouth, and semi-sweet sparkling wine.
And finally, among the cocktails that use the drink we are interested in, we should mention the following:
Recipe from user Zbovtai
"All my life I have been drinking Vana Tallinn with 3% milk or cream in a ratio of 1:3. Very tasty! Very rarely, when I add it to coffee with milk." - Shake it up, it's really tasty!
Old Thomas cocktail
Ingredients
Vana Tallinn - 50 ml
Red currant juice - 75 ml
Cherry compote - 25 ml
Lemon wedge - 1 pc.
Fresh cherries - 4-6 pcs.
Crushed ice
The way of preparation
Mix liqueur, red currant juice and cherry compote in a shaker. Pour into a glass through a strainer, add a lemon wedge, cherries, ice and stir. Sprinkle with roasted almonds and serve.
Three sisters cocktail
Ingredients
Vana Tallinn - 25 ml
Campari - 25 ml
Red vermouth - 25 ml
Method of preparation
Shake all ingredients in a shaker with ice, pour through a strainer into a cocktail glass.
Cold lips cocktail
Ingredients
Vana Tallinn - 20 ml
Light rum - 20 ml
Cranberry juice - 80 ml
The way to prepare
Shake Vana Tallinn, light rum and cranberry juice in a shaker with ice. Pour into a glass, garnish and serve.
Being an exclusively dessert alcohol, Vana Tallinn, both in pure and mixed cocktail form, is most appropriate in the company of dark chocolate, sweet pastries, creamy ice cream and fruit salads.
Update: 24.09.2017
Category: Liqueurs and Tinctures