Gammel Dansk Bitters is a digestif to be drunk straight up at room temperature, either on its own or with a chaser such as beer. Enthusiasts in Denmark like to have a small glass in the morning, with coffee as the chaser. It can also be used as a mixer.
The recipe apparently calls for 29 ingredients in all, that are allowed to steep in alcohol for 3 months. At any one time, only two employees know the exact recipe (another source says 3 people.) The ingredients, however, probably include rowan berries, because the company pays children from the Roskilde area of the Danish island of Zealand to pick rowan berries for it.
Its smooth taste makes it one of the easier bitters for new bitter drinkers to tackle.
It is 38% alcohol.
A new citrus flavoured version, called “Gammel Dansk Citrus Bitter” has been introduced as of January 2005. Its ingredients include lemons and golden raisins, added to the original base of ingredients.
Substitutes
Jägermeister
Language Notes
“Gammel Dansk” means “Old Danish.”
