Gammel Dansk Bitter Dram Liqueur
Gammel Dansk Bitter Dram Liqueur is a 38% ABV (76 proof) herbal liqueur in a 1L bottle — the classic Danish bitter dram, made since 1964 from a secret blend of 29 herbs, spices and flowers built around rowanberries, with angelica root, star anise, nutmeg, ginger, gentian root and bitter orange among them. The botanicals are added by distillation and maceration, then the dram rests three months in tank before bottling — deep copper in color, bittersweet and warming on the palate. Order it online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 38% (76 proof)
- Size: 1L
- Style: Danish herbal bitter liqueur
- Botanicals: 29 herbs, spices and flowers; rowanberries lead
- Production: spice distillation + maceration, 3 months tank rest
- Since: 1964, Denmark (De Danske Spritfabrikker / Arcus)
Denmark's Morning Ritual
In Denmark, Gammel Dansk is breakfast-table furniture — the dram with the akvavit at celebrations and the quiet one with morning coffee. The bitterness is real but rounded: herbal, rooty, gently sweet, with the rowanberry giving it a fruity anchor the amaro-drinker will recognize instantly. It is the bottle that converts people who think they don't like bitters. For more, browse amaro & bitters, liqueurs and the Gammel Dansk collection at Del Mesa Liquor.
Tasting Notes
Nose: orange peel, clove, cinnamon, earthy botanicals. Palate: deeply bitter with layers of ginger, anise, cinnamon and a subtle citrus sweetness. Finish: long, dry and warming, with lingering spice.
How to Enjoy
The Danish way: neat or slightly chilled, in a small glass, with a cold beer on the side or alongside coffee. Behind the bar it substitutes beautifully for amaro in a Negroni — the "Gammel Negroni" — or in a bitter-and-soda highball.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Gammel Dansk" mean? "Old Danish" — it was created in 1964 by Denmark's De Danske Spritfabrikker as a modern herbal liqueur.
What is it made from? A secret recipe of 29 herbs, spices and flowers — rowanberries are the principal ingredient, with star anise, nutmeg, ginger, gentian, cinnamon and bitter orange.
How strong is it? 38% ABV (76 proof) in the 1L bottle.
The Nordic classic, bittersweet and bold — order Gammel Dansk Bitter Dram online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.