đ Autumn Drift đ
A smoky mezcal cocktail with bitter and fruity notes â perfect for autumn evenings in Finland.
When the Helsinki skies turn grey and the sidewalks are slick with wet leaves, you need a cocktail that matches the mood. Thatâs how the Autumn Drift came to life â a smoky, bittersweet mezcal cocktail inspired by Finnish fall, long walks with my Shiba Inu Sora (well, short walks when itâs raining), and those quiet moments when the city starts to wind down for winter.
This cocktail recipe is built around mezcal, French gentian apĂ©ritif (like Suze or Salers), and Finnish cloudberry liqueur â a unique berry spirit that brings tartness and northern soul to the glass. A touch of maple syrup adds warm depth, while orange bitters and peel bring balance and brightness. Itâs the kind of cocktail you want to sip slowly while watching the rain tap against the window.
I first mixed this drink during a slow night behind the bar in Kallio, when we were experimenting with mezcal and Nordic flavors. One taste and I knew it would become a go-to for cold, moody nights.
Whether youâre looking for a fall cocktail with mezcal, something to pair with ruska season, or just a unique Finnish-inspired cocktail, this one checks every box.
đ§Ș About the Ingredients
đ„ Mezcal
This isnât your average tequilaâs smokier cousin â mezcal is a whole experience. Made from agave (not just blue agave like tequila), mezcal is traditionally cooked in underground pits lined with hot stones, giving it that signature smokiness. Itâs got earthy, vegetal, and mineral qualities that make it an amazing base for more introspective, grown-up cocktails.
I often call mezcal the âautumn bonfireâ of spirits. It brings a toasty soul to the drink that plays beautifully with bitterness and sweetness.
đż Suze (or Salers)
These are gentian-based French apĂ©ritifs â bitter, herbal, and very continental. Suze is a little more citrus-forward and slightly sweeter, while Salers leans drier and more rooty. Either will work in this drink depending on your vibe.
Gentian root has been used for centuries as a digestive tonic, and it gives Suze its trademark bitter backbone. Itâs the kind of ingredient that quietly commands respect â and adds an adult edge to a cocktail.
đŻ Cloudberry Liqueur (Lakka)
Cloudberries, or lakka in Finnish, are tiny golden-orange berries that grow in northern bogs and are notoriously hard to harvest. They taste like a cross between a raspberry and an apricot, with tartness and subtle funk.
The liqueur made from them is often sweet but with a wild forest note underneath â very Suomi. I like to think of it as natureâs gold. It adds a soft, fruity top note to Autumn Drift and a little kiss of Lapland.
đ Maple Syrup
Yes, weâre borrowing from our Canadian cousins here. But real maple syrup brings more than sweetness â it adds viscosity and a warm, toasted, almost woody depth that works beautifully with mezcal.
Make sure youâre using the real deal (look for âGrade A â Amberâ), otherwise itâs just sugar syrup pretending to be classy.
đ Orange Bitters
A small dash, but mighty. Orange bitters help tie everything together â the citrus oils balance the smoke, the gentian, and the sweetness. Think of them as the final brushstroke on the painting.
They also enhance the aroma from the orange peel garnish, creating a cohesive sensory experience from nose to sip.
đ Autumn Drift đ
This oneâs for the folks who like complexity and a slow sipper. The kind of drink you nurse while watching the rain on your window and contemplating whether November in Finland is actually a test of character. Spoiler: it is. I came up with this one during a staff tasting gone off-script at a bar in Kallio, and it somehow stuck.
Ingredients
4 cl mezcal (go for something with a good smoky punchâVida or Madre works wonders)
2 cl Suze or Salers (these are French bitters with that bitter rooty depthâSuze is a bit more citrusy, Salers more herbal)
1,5 cl cloudberry liqueur (I use Lakkaâa nod to Lapland and my better halfâs obsession with all things mökki)
1 cl maple syrup (the real stuff, not the pancake-flavored corn syrup nonsense)
2 dashes orange bitters
Orange peel for garnish
Directions
- Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with plenty of ice.
- Stir until nicely chilled and dilutedâabout 20â30 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled coupe or a rocks glass over one large ice cube.
- Express an orange peel over the top, then drop it in for that finishing aroma.
Kaitsuâs Notes:
- This drink isnât for everyone. If youâre not into smoky or bitter, it might not be your jamâbut for folks who like a campfire in their glass with a hint of Finnish forest fruit, it hits just right.
- Cloudberry liqueur is underrated. It's like the secret handshake of northern mixologyâsweet, tart, golden. If you donât have it, sub with apricot liqueur and a dash of lemon juice, but youâll lose that Suomi soul.
- If youâre in Helsinki, Alko has decent options for mezcal and Suze. You just have to sweet-talk the staff into helping you find them (or act like you totally know what youâre doing).