Austria's beloved national soft drink: a golden, lightly sweet carbonated beverage made by infusing a blend of 32 Alpine herbs over a grape-and-lemon base, tasting somewhere between ginger ale and elderflower with a meadow-herb edge. Created in 1957, it remains the country's best-loved homegrown soft drink, second in popularity only to Coca-Cola, and is instantly recognized by its retro label of a couple in traditional Tracht.
Created in 1957 by the Viennese entrepreneur Erwin Klein (1924-1983) after three years of development. The name comes from the once-common Austrian phrase 'auf der Alm dudeln,' meaning to yodel up on the mountain pastures; it went on to become Austria's most popular homegrown soft drink, second only to Coca-Cola.
Bright golden bubbles deliver a gentle herbal sweetness — a little like ginger ale crossed with elderflower and meadow herbs. It is refreshing and grown-up, not cloying, with a clean Alpine-herb finish that begs for a sunny terrace.
A concentrated infusion of Alpine herbs is gently extracted for flavor, then sweetened and carbonated, so dissolved CO2 lifts the volatile herbal aromatics to the nose with every sip. Serving it very cold over ice keeps the carbonation tight and the sweetness restrained.
Variations
Mixed with white wine as a spritzer; mixed with beer as a Radler-style drink (sold as 'Almradler'); a sugar-free version; splashed into cocktails
On the Palate
Where Almdudler sits in the Austrian flavor cloud
Ingredients
Serves 2How it's made
8 steps · 5 min
- 160 min
Chill the Almdudler bottle thoroughly in the refrigerator.
- 21 min
Fill two tall glasses with ice cubes.
- 31 min
Slowly pour the Almdudler down the side of each glass to keep the fizz.
Watch outPour slowly down the side of the glass — hit the ice straight on and the fizz erupts and goes flat before you drink it.
- 41 min
Add a slice of lemon to each glass if desired.
- 51 min
For a 'g'spritzt' version, top with a splash of sparkling water.
- 61 min
Stir very gently once to combine.
- 71 min
Garnish with a sprig of mint or a lemon twist.
- 81 min
Serve immediately while ice-cold and lively.
