Vana Tallinn
Encyclopedia
Vana Tallinn is a liqueur
produced by the Estonia
n company Liviko
. It is available in 40%, 45% and 50% varieties (80, 90 and 100 US proof respectively), as well as a 16% (32 US proof) cream liqueur
(Vana Tallinn Kooreliköör). The liqueur is sweet with a hint of rum
, flavoured by various natural spices, including citrus
oil, cinnamon
and vanilla
.
Vana Tallinn is widely available in all of the Baltic states
(Estonia
, Latvia
and Lithuania
), as well as Russia
and Finland
. Although it is advertised as an ancient and traditional Estonian drink, the production was actually only started in September 1960.
The sweetness and flavours disguise the high alcohol content making it potentially dangerous, especially in a cocktail
called the "hammer and sickle
" where it is mixed with Russia
n sparkling wine. The drink is so named because according to local legend, it hits the drinker on the head and cuts off his legs. It is mixed with 1 part Vana Tallinn and 4 parts sparkling wine
or champagne.
The normal Vana Tallinn can also be mixed with soda or milk
to make something resembling the cream liqueur version.
American Distribution
Until recently Vana Tallinn had been only available in Europe making it nearly impossible for anyone in the U.S. to acquire a bottle short of bringing it back from a trip. In 2007 Matrics Importing, based in Oak Lawn Illinois, became the US importer for Vana Tallinn. Efforts are under way to establish nationwide distribution and gain broad acceptance of the product.
Since 2007 Vana Tallinn has received industry recognition with a Silver Medal in the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits competition, a 94 rated review in the April 2008 edition of "The Tasting Panel" magazine and a Gold designation of 90 points from the Beverage Testing Institute in their 2009 International Review of Spirits which can be found on their Tastings website
Liqueur
A liqueur is an alcoholic beverage that has been flavored with fruit, herbs, nuts, spices, flowers, or cream and bottled with added sugar. Liqueurs are typically quite sweet; they are usually not aged for long but may have resting periods during their production to allow flavors to marry.The...
produced by the Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n company Liviko
Liviko
Liviko is an Estonian distillery. The company's revenue in the year 2008 reached 1.37 billion EEK.Liviko was established in 1898. The company's most well-known brands are Viru Valge vodka and Vana Tallinn liqueur....
. It is available in 40%, 45% and 50% varieties (80, 90 and 100 US proof respectively), as well as a 16% (32 US proof) cream liqueur
Cream liqueur
A cream liqueur is a liqueur that includes dairy cream among its ingredients. Examples include Baileys Irish Cream and Saint Brendan's, which use Irish whiskey; Heather Cream from Scotland using Scotch whisky; Creme de la Creme Maple Cream from Canada using maple syrup and cream; Cruzan Rum Cream...
(Vana Tallinn Kooreliköör). The liqueur is sweet with a hint of rum
Rum
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses, or directly from sugarcane juice, by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels...
, flavoured by various natural spices, including citrus
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
oil, cinnamon
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum that is used in both sweet and savoury foods...
and vanilla
Vanilla
Vanilla is a flavoring derived from orchids of the genus Vanilla, primarily from the Mexican species, Flat-leaved Vanilla . The word vanilla derives from the Spanish word "", little pod...
.
Vana Tallinn is widely available in all of the Baltic states
Baltic states
The term Baltic states refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ; Finland also fell within the scope of the term after initially gaining independence in the 1920s.The...
(Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
and Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
), as well as Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Although it is advertised as an ancient and traditional Estonian drink, the production was actually only started in September 1960.
The sweetness and flavours disguise the high alcohol content making it potentially dangerous, especially in a cocktail
Cocktail
A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink that contains two or more ingredients—at least one of the ingredients must be a spirit.Cocktails were originally a mixture of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. The word has come to mean almost any mixed drink that contains alcohol...
called the "hammer and sickle
Hammer and sickle
The hammer and sickle is a part of communist symbolism and its usage indicates an association with Communism, a Communist party, or a Communist state. It features a hammer and a sickle overlapping each other. The two tools are symbols of the industrial proletariat and the peasantry; placing them...
" where it is mixed with Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n sparkling wine. The drink is so named because according to local legend, it hits the drinker on the head and cuts off his legs. It is mixed with 1 part Vana Tallinn and 4 parts sparkling wine
Sparkling wine
Sparkling wine is a wine with significant levels of carbon dioxide in it making it fizzy. The carbon dioxide may result from natural fermentation, either in a bottle, as with the méthode champenoise, in a large tank designed to withstand the pressures involved , or as a result of carbon dioxide...
or champagne.
The normal Vana Tallinn can also be mixed with soda or milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
to make something resembling the cream liqueur version.
American Distribution
Until recently Vana Tallinn had been only available in Europe making it nearly impossible for anyone in the U.S. to acquire a bottle short of bringing it back from a trip. In 2007 Matrics Importing, based in Oak Lawn Illinois, became the US importer for Vana Tallinn. Efforts are under way to establish nationwide distribution and gain broad acceptance of the product.
Since 2007 Vana Tallinn has received industry recognition with a Silver Medal in the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits competition, a 94 rated review in the April 2008 edition of "The Tasting Panel" magazine and a Gold designation of 90 points from the Beverage Testing Institute in their 2009 International Review of Spirits which can be found on their Tastings website
External links
- Liviko product description
- Vana Tallinn Newspaper article archived on the Estonian embassy website
- April 2008 Tasting Panel magazine review
- "Cocktails of the South Pacific and Beyond", a book published by International Cuisine Press (with recipes and details about Vana Tallinn)