Review: Valhalla Herbal Liqueur Shot

Say, do you like licorice? Finland-born Valhalla is the Scandi Jagermeister you never knew you needed.

The coffee-black liqueur is made with Nordic ingredients including angelica, wormwood, yarrow, and licorice — lots of licorice. Four species of licorice plants, to be exact.

Designed to be consumed cold, as a shot, just like Jager, I first tasted it at room temperature neat, as I do all spirits. The nose is pure, chocolate-covered licorice candy, touched with notes of prune and a light herbal character that’s tough to place against the aggressive licorice attack. The palate takes that and runs with it. It’s a pure licorice bomb, soaked in vanilla and more chocolate. Sharp up front and lightly sweet, with a bitter tinge that grows with time on the palate. The finish is just about forever: I was tasting licorice for at least half an hour after I finished my glass.

It is, to be sure, better cold, closer to a Jagermeister experience but leaning heavily into the licorice core. Ice amps up the chocolate component too, making it even more appropriate as an after-dinner sipper. Er, shooter. You know what I mean.

70 proof.

B+ / €17

The post Review: Valhalla Herbal Liqueur Shot appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider’s Guide to Good Drinking.