Esbjærg
The vodka with the Scandinavian name that is actually made in Leeuwarden. Everything about the alcohol percentage, wheat base, cocktails and the glass that goes with it.
A Danish name, a Frisian distillery
The name sounds Scandinavian, but Esbjærg comes from Leeuwarden: the vodka is made by Boomsma, the Frisian distillery that also markets Glen Talloch. It is a grain vodka, made from wheat spirit filtered through activated charcoal. This filtration removes the last traces of harshness and produces a vodka that is remarkably smooth to drink.
In the world of vodka, such details matter more than you might think. Vodka is neutral by definition, so the distinction lies in the raw material and filtration. Wheat provides a smooth, slightly sweet base; rye is pepperier, while potato is fuller and creamier. Esbjærg opts for the smooth side, placing it in the category where vodka is mainly used as a base for cocktails.
In brief
What types of Esbjærg are there?
The range is straightforward: one vodka in three sizes, plus a copper-distilled variant.
Esbjærg Vodka
The standard bottle: wheat vodka, filtered through activated charcoal. Smooth and neutral, making it an excellent base for any vodka cocktail.
Esbjærg Copper
The house's copper version. Copper binds sulfur compounds during distillation, making the vodka a little rounder.
Esbjærg Vodka 1 litre
The one-litre bottle. More economical per glass if you regularly make cocktails or host a party.
Esbjærg Vodka 50 cl
The smaller bottle, handy if you mainly use vodka occasionally or want to store it in the freezer.
The standard bottle for cocktails; the Copper if you want to drink it neat.
Neutral, smooth and without harshness
Virtually neutral
Almost no aroma, with at most a light grain note. That is how it should be: a vodka with a pronounced aroma is usually not well filtered.
Soft and round
Soft and lightly sweet from the wheat, without the burn that cheap vodka can have. The charcoal filtration is clearly noticeable.
Short and clean
A short, clean finish with a lightly peppery edge. Just enough character to drink neat, yet neutral enough to disappear into any cocktail.
Esbjærg Vodka flavor profile. A neutral grain vodka should score low on everything except strength; that is the point of the category.
Three ways to drink Esbjærg
Vodka is the most versatile bottle in the cabinet: it adds alcohol and body without overpowering the rest.
Ice-cold from the freezer
Put the bottle in the freezer for a few hours and pour 3 cl into a chilled glass. The cold makes the vodka syrupy and removes the last sharpness. In Scandinavia and Poland, something salty is served with it: herring, pickles or smoked fish.
Glass: shot glass →As an Espresso Martini
50 ml vodka, 30 ml fresh espresso, 20 ml coffee liqueur and half a bar spoon of sugar syrup shaken very hard with ice, strained into a chilled glass. The hard shaking creates the foam; fresh espresso cannot be replaced with cold coffee.
Espresso Martini recipe →With tonic or sparkling water
4 cl vodka with 150 ml tonic or sparkling water over plenty of ice in a highball glass, with a lime wedge. The simplest way to discover how smooth or sharp a vodka really is.
Glass: highball glass →The best cocktails with Esbjærg
Espresso Martini
Vodka, fresh espresso and coffee liqueur, shaken hard for the foam.
Cosmopolitan
Vodka, triple sec, lime and cranberry. Fresh, pink and ready in five minutes.
Moscow Mule
Vodka with ginger beer and lime in a copper mug. Refreshing and spicy.
Bloody Mary
Vodka with tomato juice, lemon, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco. The brunch classic.The right glass for vodka
A small glass for drinking neat, ice-cold, a martini glass for shaken cocktails, and a long drink glass for simple mixes. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything you still wanted to know about Esbjærg
Can't find your question here? Check out our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
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