All Swedish holidays are celebrated with ”Nubbe” a 38 % alcoholic shot normally made out of vodka, or similar types of potatoes-based booze, with added herbs, and left for some time to flavour the booze. It's not a secret that Swedes love their strong alcoholic drinks and shots, but equally important for the celebrations is the traditional food "Sill", translated to pickled herring.
”Nubbe” also called ”Snaps” is a collective word for a strong shot of flavoured booze, not to be confused with the German Schnapps, with it a different variety. Traditional Swedish holiday food is eaten as a smorgasbord, a buffet offering a variety of hot and cold meats and fish dishes, as well as vegetable dishes and potatoes in different ways.
Silltalrik
The traditional way to hit the buffet is by first making a plater out of the fish dishes, especially the different variety of pickled herrings. This first course of the meal is called ”Silltallrik” translated to Herring plate and is exactly what it sounds like, even though different types of Salmon and egg dishes are part of this meal. Different types of bread are also eaten, often dark rye bread or hard bread called Knäckebröd.
Snaps songs
After sitting down with the herring plate Nubbe or Snaps is filled up in shot glasses of 6-8 cl, and a song often not suitable for children, consisting of foul but funny wordplays are being sung by the adults before swallowing the shot in one gulp. If the guests don't drink all the booze in one gulp, they will be ridiculed for not being tuff enough.
These Snaps are being drunken all along the evening but especially with the Sill, making the herring ”swim down to the stomach”, but also through the main course of the buffet. Many of the songs are known by heart, but it is also common to hand out songbooks so that everyone can know the lyrics and find new songs they haven't sung before.
Make your own Nubbe or Snaps
In Sweden here are loads of premade varieties of nubbe or snaps to buy at the store, or you can make your own at home. It is common to buy small bottles of different kinds of Snaps, about 7 cl per mini bottle, or make different favours in smaller amounts. This is a good way to try different flavours all through the midsummer night. Some recipes are super easy to make and well worth a try. Check out our 2 Easy Swedish snaps recipes in the link below.
Some popular types of Snaps and Nubbe
There are many types of snaps to try and everyone prefers different variants. Here are some of the most popular ones in Sweden, and some information about their complex flavour profile. These ones you can buy premade and some of them are possible to make at home as well:
1. Örtagårdsbrännvin. Flavoured with thyme, lemon and rosemary. 2. Gammal Norrlands. Flavoured with cumin, anise and fennel and sherry.
3. Skåne Akvavit. A pure, spicy taste with hints of cumin, anise and fennel
4. Läckö slottsakvavit. Flavoured with dill, coriander and cumin.
5. OP Anderson Björk. Flavoured with cumin, anise and fennel as well as birch sap, birch bud and lemon peel.
6. Bäska Droppar. A bitter snap mainly flavoured with wormwood.
7. Herrgårds Aquavit. Flavoured with cumin, fennel and coriander, flavoured with malt whiskey and aged in Sherry barrels.
8. Östgötasädes sädesbrännvin. Flavoured with raisins and honey.
9. Rånäs. Flavoured with orange peel, cinnamon and cognac.
10. Svartvinbärsbrännvin. A fruity, slightly harsh taste with a clear character of black currants. 11. Hallandsfläder or Kryddgårdens Flädersnaps. Flavoured with elderberry and lemon.
Good to remember
Nubbe and sill should both be served well chilled, to enhance their flavour. So if you are planning on making your own varieties at home, pop the bottle in the freezer for a while before serving. Most of the snaps need to be made between 1 day to 5 months before serving. So plan your party well in advance if you are planning on serving one of the more complex snaps varieties to your guests.
Enjoy your Nubbe and sill celebration!
