There's a moment everyone recognizes: the plates have been cleared, the grill is out, and someone has lit a candle. The conversation flows, someone leans back in their chair, and the question hangs in the air: What do we drink now?
Most people are prepared for an aperitif and wine with the food. Fewer think about what comes after – and that's a shame. Because the evening drink, the one you put out when the rest of the table has been cleared and the mood lets shoulders drop, is perhaps the most important of all.
The best drink is always the one nobody had planned to serve.— OLE SOMMELIER
What actually makes a good closing drink?
A good evening drink shouldn't compete with the food you've just eaten. Nor should it cause a fuss. It should be understated, a little complex, and ideally give you the feeling that you don't really need to head inside just yet.
It's about drinks with depth – something that feels natural to sip while the conversation drifts along and someone starts counting stars. Low alcohol or balanced bitterness are the keywords. Nothing that requires explanation, but preferably something that sparks curiosity.
The three main categories for a Norwegian summer evening are: amaro over ice, cold coffee with a dram, and lightly sweet fortified wine styles. Let me walk you through them one by one.
Amaro over ice – bitter is good
Amaro is the best example of a drink made exactly for this moment. The Italian word simply means "bitter," and that's exactly what you get – but in the best possible way. Herbs, bark, citrus and spices meld together into something that feels digestive, relaxing and surprisingly easy to drink.
The trick in summer is to serve amaro over large ice cubes in a wide glass. A slice of orange on the side is more than decoration – the orange peel lifts the citrus notes and makes the drink fresher and lighter on the palate.
What should you choose?
Averna Amaro Siciliano is the natural starting point for most people. It's round and caramel-filled with hints of liquorice and citrus – almost like a liquid afternoon coffee roast from Palermo. Mild enough to work for those who have never tried amaro before, but with enough complexity to hold interest through the entire glass.
Varnelli Amaro dell'Erborista is for those who want to go one step deeper. Just 21% alcohol, herb-based and dry, with something almost earthy about it – as if someone had pressed an entire meadow into a bottle. It's often served neat, but works beautifully over ice on a warm August evening when you want something that cools you down without losing its character.
Nonino Amaro Quintessentia Riserva is the closing drink for those who want to impress. It's barrel-aged in the grappa tradition from Friuli in north-eastern Italy, and has a warmth and depth that lingers long in the mouth. Not for ice – this is a glass you hold in your hands and let the temperature rise slowly as you talk.
Cold coffee with rum – a little secret
This might sound strange the first time, but try it: cold strong coffee – preferably espresso chilled in the fridge for a couple of hours – mixed with a good rum over ice. It's a drink that sits on the border between cocktail and digestif, and appeals to almost everyone around the table.
The ratio is simple: two parts cold coffee, one part rum, a handful of ice. Shake it in a shaker and strain it over fresh ice, and you get something that resembles an Espresso Martini without being one – and without all the sugar-sweet bar length that can make the original feel a little heavy at the end of the evening.
The choice of rum makes a big difference here. A dark, barrel-aged rum gives caramel and vanilla that play along with the coffee's bitterness. Hiernagla Fatmodnet Rom 2022 is an interesting choice – this rum is clearly barrel-influenced with a richness and warmth that lifts well through the coffee's bitterness and gives the drink a pleasant, long finish.
Simple recipe: The summer coffee dram
Ingredients:
- 6 cl cold espresso (chilled)
- 3 cl barrel-aged rum
- 1 tsp liquid honey (optional)
- Large ice
Method:
- Add all the ingredients to a shaker with ice.
- Shake for 12–15 seconds.
- Strain into a wide glass with one large ice cube.
- Garnish with three coffee beans or a small strip of orange peel.
Fortified wine as a closer – the forgotten category
Few things are more underrated at a Norwegian summer party than a small pour of fortified wine at the end of the evening. Not dessert wine with cake – but a slightly dry, complex fortified wine simply set out with some good dark chocolate or roasted nuts.
Rombeau Rivesaltes Tuilé 2011 is a lovely example. This French fortified wine from Roussillon in the south has been aged long enough to develop oxidative notes of dried fruit, coffee and walnuts. It isn't sweet in a tired way – it's complex and long, and the last sip actually tastes better than the first.
Best served in a small glass at room temperature, or lightly chilled to around 14–16 degrees. Perfect for those who want something sweet and rounded without resorting to a liqueur or a second dessert.
What do you choose for whom?
Around a summer table, people are different. Some want something non-alcoholic, some want something light, and one will always want something stronger than the rest. The nice thing about these categories is that they cover most bases without you needing to drive to the store in the middle of the evening.
| Guest | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| The one who always says "just water" | Cold coffee with tonic and lime |
| The amaro newcomer | Averna over ice with orange |
| The seasoned bitters lover | Varnelli dell'Erborista, neat |
| The chocolate lover | Rombeau Rivesaltes Tuilé 2011 |
| The coffee enthusiast | Coffee dram with barrel-aged rum |
The table isn't scientific, but it works. And that's really the whole point of the evening drink: it doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to be there.
Finally – don't overthink it
The evening drink isn't something you need to plan in detail weeks in advance. The most important thing is that you have something to put out when the last glasses of white wine are empty and nobody wants to go home yet.
A bottle of amaro in the kitchen cupboard, some cold coffee in the fridge, and a rum you like – that goes a long way. Perhaps longer than you think.
Summer nights in Norway are short enough as it is. Enjoy them to the last drop.
