Linie Aquavit Fra Norge Liqueur, 70 cl

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A drink i used to make for people who love the taste of gin and want to get into aquavit is a gin martini, but with an aquavit wash in the martini glass. Swedish aquavit Although Denmark is arguably one of the oldest consumers of akvavit, it is no longer the biggest producer. Considered the most bracing variety, Danish akvavit is usually clear in appearance and is hardly ever aged. Ahus is made with a blend of botanicals that include caraway, citrus, and rosemary. The rosemary in particular is noticeable on the nose, making it a fun bottle to try as an alternative to gin in many classic drinks.

Needless to say, Linie is not the cheapest brand available! Photo by Espen Klem (CC 2.0) How to drink aquavit

Similar Drinks & Akvavit Substitutes

Fun Danish aquavit fact: Snaps and beer go together like peas in a pod. Danes typically drink them together. It’s called a sæt. Aquavit is a Scandinavian spirit distilled from potatoes and grains. It’s then flavoured with different botanical’s. Much like gin but at the same time, much different. Aquavit is the national spirit of Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Blue, Anthony Dias (2004). The Complete Book of Spirits: A Guide to Their History, Production, and Enjoyment. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. p.42. ISBN 0-06-054218-7.

Aquavit was seldom produced outside of the Nordic countries but that began to change dramatically starting around 2010, especially in the United States, particularly in areas that have a larger concentrations of people with Nordic heritage. An exception, however, is Northern Germany, and in particular the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, which was part of Denmark until the 19th century (see: History of Schleswig-Holstein) and still has a notable Danish minority. Among the most important German brands are Bommerlunder from Flensburg, Kieler Sprotte from Kiel and Malteserkreuz. The latter brand has been produced in Berlin since 1924 by a subsidiary of Sweden's Vin & Sprit AB (now Pernod Ricard), the producer of many Swedish akvavits, and can be considered a German imitation of the Nordic aquavits, since it is based on an original Danish recipe. Brands from Schleswig-Holstein, however, often have a long history, comparable to their Nordic counterparts. Bommerlunder, for instance, has been made since 1760. Aquavit is also an important part of the traditional cuisine of Schleswig-Holstein. German aquavit is virtually always distilled from fermented grain, and generally has an alcohol content of 38% by volume, marginally less than Scandinavian aquavits. Akvavit gets its distinctive flavour from spices and herbs, and the dominant flavour must (according to the European Union) come from a distillate of caraway and/or dill seed. It typically contains 40% alcohol by volume or 80 proof (U.S.) The EU has established a minimum of 37.5% ABV for akvavit to be named as such. [3] Etymology [ edit ] Norwegian aquavit is made from potatoes and has more of a cumin and citrus flavour. Ageing in sherry casks not only mellows the aquavit for smooth drinking, but also imparts a woody, vanilla characteristics. Another favourite of mine was to take a smoother expression of aquavit, such as a Norwegian style and mix it with Cointreau, lemon juice, sugar and soda. Garnished with a sprig of dill and orange peel.It gave my martini’s what i’d call a “Nordic complexity” the taste would be subtle on the palette but pronounced on the aroma. Aquavit Collins Akvavit was a somewhat elusive and obscure spirit in the USA until relatively recently. Before then, it tended to be only consumed among communities with Nordic heritage. Unlike Norway, Swedish akvavit has a very relaxed legal definition with no particular restrictions. Instead, production is more-or-less decided by tradition and the expectations of the local communities to which is distributed. German Aquavit

In all cases, the word derives from the Latin “Aqua Vitae”, which means “water of life”. This has roots that are very similar to the Gaelic “Uisce Beatha” as well as the French “eau de vie”. Improvements in technology and the wider availability of raw potatoes brought about more varieties of higher quality Swedish snaps in the 1800s. Similarly, Canada hosts a small number of distillers who produce akvavit. For instance, the Newfoundland Distillery Co. produces akvavit that is flavoured with honey and juniper-smoked peat. This is an interesting but unsurprising company given Newfoundland’s distinctive Nordic heritage. He says aquavit was traditionally drunk at Christmas. Sales in Norway declined steadily until the 1980s. Apparently that began to change after the country hosted the Winter Olympics in 1994, which rekindled a national pride in all things Norwegian – including aquavit, whose domestic volumes have been growing by 2%‐3% a year since. This has been further fuelled by craft distillers who are producing boutique brands of the spirit, alongside whisky, vodka and gin. Beyond Norway, there has been a growing fascination in Nordic culture, from Scandi‐noir thrillers on TV and in books to that Danish sense of cosiness known as ‘hygge’. As to how this affects the brand, “it’s all part of the mix, as Scandinavia’s very trendy”, says Jourdan.

Jaughna Nielsen-Bobbit

Conversely, a micro-distillery in Bristol, England has started producing aquavit too. Due to EU regulations, it is named “Aqvavit” instead but Psychopomp’s concoction is overall very similar. Denmark’s most well-known akvavit would be Ålborg that is distilled on the country’s northern coast in Jutland. This is largely because it is the only brand that can be legally exported from the country due to its strict regulations. Meanwhile, Danish akvavit is often a clear, un-aged liquid with a strong caraway note. As for Swedish akvavit, it tends to be somewhat between the two with a straw colour and sweet palate.