Riga Black Balsam is a popular and sought after product among tourists visiting Latvia. Judging by numerous reviews, this drink is not only very tasty and healthy, but also a welcome souvenir. Balm belongs to the category of bitters, and is primarily intended for medicinal purposes. In addition, fairly good cocktails are obtained on the basis of Riga Balsam. Despite the fact that the drink can be used in its pure form as a tonic, many add it to coffee, tea and ice cream. You will learn about cocktail recipes with Riga Balsam from this article.
Acquaintance with a drink
According to experts, of all the bitters produced today in Europe, Riga Black Balsam is the oldest. According to the documents describing its formulation, we can conclude that it was used as early as 1752. The composition includes the following ingredients:
- honey;
- various medicinal herbs;
- Birch buds;
- inflorescences of linden;
- caramel;
- nut;
- peppermint oil;
- nutmeg;
- ginger with brandy.
The strength of the drink is 30 and 45 degrees. Judging by the reviews, balm as a therapeutic agent can help those with colds, chronic fatigue, depression and gallstone disease. For men, the dose is limited to 30 ml, for women - 20 ml. We will discuss further what cocktails with Riga Black Balsam can be prepared.
Black balsam element
Judging by the reviews, to make this cocktail with Riga Balsam, special ingredients are not needed. Preparing a drink is not difficult. For this, in addition to 40 ml of the bitter itself, you will also need an orange slice, 120 ml of pomegranate juice and crushed ice. First, ice is poured into a tall glass. Next, highball is filled with balm and pomegranate juice. Then the contents are thoroughly mixed. While serving a cocktail with Riga Balsam, the glass is decorated with a slice of orange.
Night dancer
A cocktail with Riga Balsam is prepared from the following components:
- 10 ml of blackberry syrup;
- 40 ml Coca-Cola;
- 5 ml of lemon fresh;
- 20 ml of balm;
- crushed ice;
- cocktail cherries.
First of all, using a shaker, beat blackberry syrup, lemon juice, ice and bitter. Next, the contents through the strainer are poured into highball, Coca-Cola is added. Top decorated with a cherry.
Fruity summer
The Riga Balsam cocktail consists of the following ingredients:
- 40 ml of bitter infused with currants;
- 100 ml of Ginger Ale lemonade;
- half a lemon and an orange;
- crushed ice.
Make a cocktail as follows. First, juice is squeezed out of lemon and orange. Beat it with lemonade in a shaker. Then a large glass is filled with ice and currant balsam. There, the contents are poured from the shaker.
Kissberry
For a drink you will need: balm (40 ml), peach juice, caramel syrup and freshly squeezed lemon juice. These components are thoroughly mixed. Judging by the numerous reviews, the charm of this cocktail is that it is difficult to calculate all the ingredients in equal proportions. As a result, with each new preparation, the drink is obtained with a new taste. Nevertheless, the cocktail is refreshing, and it is very pleasant to drink it.
What else can you cook?
Those who wish to treat themselves and their loved ones with a cocktail can recommend a few more recipes:
- Black shooter. The drink consists of Riga Balsam and peach juice 1: 1. First, the glass is filled with juice. Then, using a knife, namely the flat part of the blade, bitter is poured into highball.
- Hot Black Currant. The cocktail is represented by hot blackcurrant juice and balm mixed 1: 4. Some lovers of cocktails recommend flavoring with thick sweet and sour grenadine syrup.
- Doctor B. The cocktail consists of 30 g of Riga Balsam, cranberry syrup and cranberry juice in a ratio of 1: 5: 4. Some connoisseurs instead of balm cocktail season with cranberry tincture or some kind of liquor. In this case, you can do without syrup.
- Innocent Balsam. If you want to make a drink, you should get Riga Balsam, peach liquor, peach juice and cream ice cream. It is desirable that it be white and free of additives. These ingredients are mixed in a ratio of 1: 0.5: 3: 3. Next, the contents are whipped in a shaker and poured into a large glass. You will also need peach slices. The cocktail decorated with them will look very impressive.
What do experts recommend?
A cocktail with Riga Balsam will be really good if the bitter is real and not fake. In order not to become the owner of the fake, at the time of purchase you should pay attention to some nuances. For example, burnt clay serves as the material for the original bottle.
If the container is glass or metal, then you can be sure that it is a fake. On the bottom of any identification marks and convex elements should be absent. In this product, cork is practically no different from cognac. There must be a branded film on the neck of the bottle and cork. The buyer should also check the control label, which indicates the Latvian country code - 475.