Asian flavors meet Nordic cocktail culture
Created by bartender Iskren Ivanov at Balderdash in Copenhagen, the Wanderlust Cooler brings Southeast Asian flavors and Nordic influences together in one refreshing long drink.
Coconut rum, aquavit, verjus and Bandoeng’22 Pandan Liqueur form the base, topped with pink grapefruit soda and a light cardamom foam. Tropical, aromatic and refreshing, with just enough complexity to make you come back for another sip.
From Copenhagen to Southeast Asia
The idea behind the Wanderlust Cooler grew from the team at Balderdash constantly exploring new flavors, ingredients and cultures.
For Iskren, the cocktail was less about following a single source of inspiration and more about exploration. The team wanted to combine Asian flavors with Nordic ingredients while creating something that remained approachable and easy to drink.
Another influence came from their friends at Restaurant Saji in Copenhagen, who have been introducing more people in Denmark to Indonesian cuisine and flavors such as pandan.
The result is the Wanderlust Cooler: a cocktail where pandan and coconut provide a soft tropical character, aquavit adds a distinctly Scandinavian layer, while grapefruit and verjus bring freshness and acidity.
How to Make the Wanderlust Cooler
Iskren was kind enough to share his recipe for this delicious cocktail.
Ingredients
- 15 ml (0.5 oz) Coconut rum
- 15 ml (0.5 oz) Dild Akvavit
- 20 ml (0.7 oz) Bandoeng’22 Pandan Liqueur
- 15 ml (0.5 oz) Verjus
- Pink grapefruit lemonade
- Cardamom Foam
Method of preparation
- Add the coconut rum, aquavit, Bandoeng’22 Pandan Liqueur and verjus to a Boston shaker.
- Throw the mixture between the two tins 5–6 times to aerate and lightly dilute the drink.
- Pour into a highball glass filled with long ice and top with approximately 100 ml (3.4 oz) pink grapefruit soda.
- Finish with cardamom foam.
Meet the bartender: Iskren Ivanov
Originally from the Greek island of Kos, Iskren Ivanov has built his bartending career across different countries, bars and drinking cultures.
His journey in hospitality started more than a decade ago as a waiter, but it didn’t take long before he found his place behind the bar. In Kos, he gained experience at venues including Jacksons Kos and Doors Music Bar, before eventually making Copenhagen his home.
In the Danish capital, Iskren continued developing his craft behind the bars of Halo Club and Lidkoeb, one of Copenhagen’s best-known cocktail destinations. In 2021, he joined Balderdash, where creativity, experimentation and unexpected flavor combinations are very much part of the bar’s DNA.
For Iskren, bartending is about more than creating a great drink. It is the combination of creativity, hospitality and the connection with coworkers, regulars and guests that keeps him inspired.
Today, together with Balderdash founder Geoffrey Canilao, he continues to explore ingredients and flavors from different parts of the world, often bringing Nordic and Asian influences together behind the bar.
A journey that makes the name of his Bandoeng’22 creation particularly fitting: the Wanderlust Cooler.
About Balderdash Copenhagen
Located in one of Copenhagen’s oldest neighborhoods, Balderdash has built a reputation for creative cocktails that aren’t afraid to take an unexpected direction.
Led by Geoffrey Canilao, the bar combines international influences with Nordic ingredients and a playful approach to cocktail making. Southeast Asian flavors have become part of that exploration, making Bandoeng’22 Pandan Liqueur a natural ingredient to experiment with.
The Wanderlust Cooler is a perfect example: Copenhagen meets Southeast Asia in a glass.
