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Types
- Danish aquavit is usually grain-based and has a stronger dill and coriander flavor.
- Swedish aquavit is grain-based and often has a pronounced anise and fennel flavor.
- Norwegian aquavit is made from potatoes and leans toward a cumin and citrus peel profile. ...
- Taffel is "table" aquavit that is aged in casks, but results in clear liquor.
What is Aquavit?
In This Article. Aquavit is a Scandinavian spirit distilled from potatoes or grains that’s flavored with caraway and other aromatics like citrus peel and whole spices. Also known as aquavite, akvavit, akevitt, or snapps, it's the national spirit of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, and can range in color and flavor depending on the maker.
What is akvavit made of?
Akvavit is distilled from either grain or potatoes. After distillation, it is flavoured with herbs, spices, or fruit oil. Commonly seen flavours are caraway, cardamom, cumin, anise, fennel, and lemon or orange peel. Dill and grains of paradise are also used.
What are the different styles of aquavit?
Styles of aquavit vary and often include other spices, such as fennel, coriander, citrus and anise. 2. Aquavit Is the National Spirit of Scandinavia Heading to Sweden, Norway or Denmark?
What is the difference between Gin and aquavit?
While often compared to gin, the spirit has a more immediate flavour profile because of the simplicity of the caraway/dill, meaning it's a drink that you can easily detect when mixed with others. How is aquavit made? Much like vodka, aquavit is a distilled spirit made from either grain or potatoes.
What does aquavit taste like?
What Does Aquavit Taste Like? Aquavit, especially when unaged, has a neutral background flavor similar to vodka. At the forefront are the flavorings, with caraway up top—think rye bread but in spirit form. The herbaceous flavor is supported by other aromatics like dill, fennel, anise, and clove.
What is the difference between aquavit and vodka?
So, what is aquavit? Essentially, it's a vodka- or gin-like spirit. By EU decree, aquavit must be distilled with caraway or dill and should have a minimum alcohol by volume of 37.5%, though 40% is usually the average.
Did Vikings drink aquavit?
Drinking aquavit is still a big part of the Scandinavian culture to this day, heavily consumed during the holiday seasons and special occasions. The toasting tradition has some awesome Viking roots.
How do Norwegians drink aquavit?
In both the Scandinavian countries and northern Germany, aquavit is usually served chilled and unmixed, in small (tulip) glasses, and is usually accompanied by appetizers or sandwiches. Some drinkers prefer it in shots, a glass at a time, because they find the taste of aquavit difficult to accommodate.
What do Norwegians drink every day?
Apart from coffee which is almost a national drink of Norway, different kinds of tea, herbal and apple drinks with honey are popular thus are recommended to taste during your trip to Norway if you want to feel like a local.
What do you drink aquavit with?
For a feast of that proportion, which customarily includes bread, cheese, butter, and cold fish dishes like herring and salmon, shots of aquavit are served chilled in tulip-shaped glassware as a stabilizing element of the meal.
What does aquavit stand for?
The word aquavit derives from the Latin aqua vitae, "water of life." Compare the words whisky or whiskey, from Gaelic uisce beatha, which has the same meaning. Likewise, clear fruit brandy is called eau de vie (French for "water of life").
What is Sweden's national drink?
Aquavit Is the National Spirit of Scandinavia It won't be long before you're presented with a glass of aquavit. Caraway has long been a common flavor in the region and was once considered a cure for indigestion.
Should aquavit be chilled?
“It's best served chilled, so store it in your freezer,” Grier says. The exception is barrel-aged aquavit, which Grier recommends serving at room temperature.
Is aquavit good for digestion?
Aquavit frequently contains spices like fennel and cardamom in addition to caraway, all of which are good for your digestive system.
What is the most popular drink in Sweden?
Drinks and brands The main Swedish specialty is brännvin (literally "burn-wine"), liquor distilled from fermented grain or potatoes. Vodka is the highest grade of brännvin, with brands like Absolut Vodka and Explorer Vodka. Brännvin seasoned with herbs is known as akvavit.
Does aquavit have sugar?
Since the amount of spirits used in a drink is low (usually around 4cl for a normal drink), the amount of calories is also usually far lower than for the likes of a beer. The Nuet Dry Aquavit has no added sugar, as opposed to most other aquavits.
What does aquavit stand for?
The word aquavit derives from the Latin aqua vitae, "water of life." Compare the words whisky or whiskey, from Gaelic uisce beatha, which has the same meaning. Likewise, clear fruit brandy is called eau de vie (French for "water of life").
Is aquavit the same as schnapps?
Aquavit is also known in Scandinavia as snaps, a word connoting a drink that is tossed back in one shot. American schnapps may be linguistically related, but this heavily sweetened spirit—flavored with licorice, spearmint, peach, or apricot—tastes nothing like the snaps to which Swedes and Danes are accustomed.
What is the national drink of Norway?
Aquavit Is the National Spirit of Scandinavia Heading to Sweden, Norway or Denmark? It won't be long before you're presented with a glass of aquavit. Caraway has long been a common flavor in the region and was once considered a cure for indigestion.
Is aquavit similar to gin?
Much like gin, aquavit is defined in United States regulations by its primary botanical. While gin's star is juniper, with aquavit, it's caraway. Aquavit, a neutral spirit usually distilled from grain and flavored with botanicals, has been produced in Scandinavia for centuries.
Calling All Caraway Lovers.
If you believe nothing compares to a quality loaf of rye bread, chances are you’ll love aquavit. A neutral spirit distilled from grain or potato (m...
Aquavit Is The National Spirit of Scandinavia.
Heading to Sweden, Norway, Denmark or Finland? It won’t be long before you’re presented with a glass of aquavit. Caraway has long been a common fla...
in Its Earliest Days, Aquavit was Believed to Have Healing Powers.
Aquavit is derived from the Latin aqua vitae, meaning “water of life.” In the 1300s, a Spanish alchemist believed he had discovered a healing liqui...
Learn How to Toast Like A Viking With Aquavit.
The Old Norse toast associated with aquavit originated with the Vikings. Skaal (or skoal) is now the standard toast that’s shouted when drinking aq...
Aquavit’S A Bit of A Party Animal.
Though aquavit is enjoyed year-round in Scandinavia, it’s especially prevalent during special occasions and holidays. For Norwegians, May 17 is Con...
Aquavit Varies Depending on The Region.
The specific herbs and spices used to flavor aquavit are determined by local preference and cuisine. Swedish and Danish aquavit is usually distille...
Norwegian Aquavit Is Especially Well-Traveled.
Denmark and Sweden consider aquavit a clear spirit, but in Norway, there’s a strong tradition of cask-aging. Norwegian aquavit matures in sherry oa...
Everyone’S Got A Signature Aquavit Drinking Style. What’S Yours?
Scandinavians take their aquavit straight up. Sure, it could be a shot thrown back straight from the freezer or a glass sipped leisurely alongside...
Aquavit Is Starting to Make A Splash in The States.
Want to get your hands on a bottle? In addition to imported offerings like Norway’s Linie Aquavit and Denmark’s Aalborg Aquavit, domestic distiller...
Fancy A Glass? You Can Make Your Own Aquavit at Home.
Make like a true Scandinavian and DIY your aquavit. It’s surprisingly easy. A useful starter recipe begins with vodka infused with caraway seeds, f...
Get the scoop on this beloved Scandinavian spirit
Amanda Gryphon (née Marsteller) is a digital content producer focused on food and drink. Her experience spans writing, editing and video production.
1. Aquavit Is Especially Good for Caraway (and Dill) Lovers
If you believe nothing compares to a quality loaf of rye bread, chances are you’ll love aquavit. A neutral spirit distilled from grain or potato (much like vodka or gin), aquavit is most commonly flavored with caraway as its dominant spice, though dill is prevalent as well.
2. Aquavit Is the National Spirit of Scandinavia
Heading to Sweden, Norway or Denmark? It won’t be long before you’re presented with a glass of aquavit. Caraway has long been a common flavor in the region and was once considered a cure for indigestion.
3. Aquavit Was Once Believed to Have Healing Powers
Aquavit is derived from the Latin aqua vitae, meaning “water of life.” The name comes from early distillers believing spirits to be a healing liquid, and the convention is shared by other liquors, such as the word whiskey stemming from Gaelic’s uisce beatha or brandy being referred to as eau-de-vie .
4. You Can Toast Like a Viking with Aquavit
A common toast throughout the Nordic countries when celebrating, skol (also skål) is shouted right before downing aquavit. When lifting your glass to give a skol, it’s traditional to maintain eye contact.
5. Aquavit Is a Bit of a Party Animal
Though aquavit is enjoyed year-round in Scandinavia, it’s especially prevalent during special occasions and holidays. For Norwegians, May 17 is Constitution Day, a holiday that’s celebrated with parades, parties and plenty of aquavit. In Sweden and Denmark, it’s drunk socially during midsummer dinners to the tune of raucous drinking songs.
6. Aquavit Varies Depending on the Region
The specific herbs and spices used to flavor aquavit are determined by local preference and cuisine. Swedish and Danish aquavit is usually distilled from grain, while Norwegian aquavit is traditionally made from potatoes. Danish aquavit leans heavier on dill, coriander and caraway and is enjoyed as a chilled shot at midday lunch.
Etymology
The word aquavit derives from the Latin aqua vitae, "water of life." Compare the words whisky or whiskey, from Gaelic uisce, which has the same meaning. Likewise, clear fruit brandy is called eau de vie ( French for "water of life").
Drinking culture
Akvavit is an important part of Nordic drinking culture, where it is often drunk during festive gatherings, such as Christmas dinners and the Midsummer celebration, and as an aperitif. In Iceland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany aquavit is chilled and often drunk in a single gulp from a small shot glass. This is usually attributed to tradition.
Production
Akvavit is distilled from either grain or potatoes. After distillation, it is flavoured with herbs, spices, or fruit oil. Commonly seen flavours are caraway, cardamom, cumin, anise, fennel, and lemon or orange peel. Dill and grains of paradise are also used. The Danish distillery Aalborg makes an akvavit distilled with amber .
Origin and traditional variants
Dear lord, will your grace know that I send your grace some water with messenger Jon Teiste which is called Aqua vite and the same water helps for all his illness that a man can have internally.
Outside the Nordic countries
Aquavit is seldom produced outside of the Nordic countries, although there are domestic imitations of it in some countries, especially in areas that have a large community of Nordic immigrants, such as the United States.
How Do Danes Drink Snaps?
Cold and usually with a traditional smørrebrød lunch of pickled herring. In Denmark, snaps are served as a shot and typically sipped. Well, at least until the alcohol kicks in. You’ll find that Danish snaps always makes an appearance for Easter and Christmas lunches, anniversaries, birthdays, and other special occasions.
Danish Snaps Brands to Try
The Granddaddy of Danish snaps, Aalborg’s table aquavit is arguably the best-known snaps in Denmark. You can even make your own infused spirit with their Aalborg Basis Snaps. It’s a neutral grain aquavit and it’s perfect for steeping your favorite fruits and herbs at home.
How Do Norwegians Drink Snaps?
Norwegian “line aquavits,” those that cross the equator, are sipped like a glass of cognac or whiskey at room temperature or slightly below. Akevitt is a must-have for Easter, Christmas, and Norway’s Constitution Day to counterbalance the traditional pungent cheeses and pickled or fermented fishes.
Norwegian Akevitt Brands to Try
The Norwegian “line aquavit.” Linie’s amber akevitt is matured over a four-month journey from Oslo to Sydney and back.
How Do Icelanders Drink Brennivín?
Neat or as a substitute for gin, rum, or whiskey in a cocktail. Brennivín is also a celebratory shot and the (unofficial) drink of Þorrablót – the Icelandic midwinter festival.
Icelandic Brennivín Brands to Try
Branded as the “Original Icelandic Spirit,” Ölgerðin’s brennivín has retained the same packaging meant to deter consumers a century ago.
How Do the Finns Drink Akvavit?
Cold and in copious amounts from July to September during their annual crayfish parties, kräftskiva; a tradition brought over by Swedo-Finns.
What does aquavit taste like?
Aquavit is actually made just like gin, but with caraway instead of juniper berries. So it's essentially just a heavily spiced vodka. The best word to sum up its taste is savoury, but the flavour can vary significantly depending on whether it is aged (more on that later) and whether it is served chilled or at room temperature.
How is aquavit made?
Much like vodka, aquavit is a distilled spirit made from either grain or potatoes. Typically Norwegian aquavit is made from potatoes, while the Swedish and Danish varieties are distilled from grain.
Norwegian aquavit
While Danish and Swedish brands are typically light in colour, some even clear, most Norwegian brands are matured in oak casks.
How to drink aquavit
Aquavit remains an important part of drinking culture in Scandinavia, but more so at special events rather than as a run of the mill drink. Think Christmas, birthdays and weddings.
Aquavit cocktails
The Norwegian Friends of Aquavit (yes, that's a real thing) suggest several cocktails on their website as an alternative way to enjoy the Linie brand of the spirit, although they should work just as well for any darker aquavit.
How do you spell aquavit?
You may also see aquavit written as akvavit or akevitt. These aren't wrong, they are just different variations on the spelling used in different parts of Scandinavia.
Further reading
Kindred Spirits: The Many Varietals of Aquavit. While Norway claims two producers that own 15 brands of the spirit, the northwest states of Oregon and Washington combined create 21 brands from seven producers.
What Is Aquavit?
Aquavit or akvavit is a distilled spirit from Europe’s Scandinavian and Nordic countries that plays an important part of their cultural heritage. Outside of these countries, akvavit isn’t particularly well known unless there are strong Scandinavian communities nearby.
The History Of Akvavit
Although akvavit likely existed well before then, it was first recorded in 1531 in a letter from the Danish Lord Eske Bille. Writing to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Norway, Olav Engelbrektsson, Bille included a bottle of the spirit stating that this “Aqua Vite” helped for both internal and external illnesses.
What Does Akvavit Taste Like?
Given that akvavit varies from country to country, it doesn’t always taste the same. Generally, most will be flavoured with caraway and dill, which results in these being the most distinctive flavours.
Different Types & Varieties Of Akvavit
As we’ve already mentioned on several occasions, there are several varieties due to the different countries that produce akvavit. In this section, we’ll explore their similarities and differences in much greater detail.
How To Serve & Drink Akvavit
Although akvavit is enjoyed in a variety of countries with their own unique cultures, the way that it is enjoyed tends to be rather similar. As mentioned earlier in this guide, it is a popular beverage for social and festive gatherings.
Popular Akvavit Cocktail Recipes
Unlike its cousin, gin, akvavit is not a particularly popular base spirit for cocktails. However, many Scandinavian and foreign mixologists are actively seeking to raise awareness of the drink while also incorporate it into modern cocktails.
Similar Drinks & Akvavit Substitutes
Traditionally speaking, there are no real substitutes to akvavit when participating in Scandinavian social gatherings. However, if you need alternatives for cocktails or other circumstances, there’s plenty to choose from.
Overview
Akvavit or aquavit is a distilled spirit that is principally produced in Scandinavia, where it has been produced since the 15th century. Akvavit is distilled from grain or potatoes, and is flavoured with a variety of herbs. It is also popular in Northern Germany.
Akvavit gets its distinctive flavour from spices and herbs, and the dominant flav…
Etymology
The word aquavit derives from the Latin aqua vitae, "water of life." Compare the words whisky or whiskey, from Gaelic uisce beatha, which has the same meaning. Likewise, clear fruit brandy is called eau de vie (French for "water of life"). A story holding that the term really means "water from the vine" – from a conflation of the Latin vītae (genitive of vita) and the Italian term vite (meaning grapevine) – is no more than a picturesque piece of folk etymology.
Drinking culture
Akvavit is an important part of Nordic drinking culture, where it is often drunk during festive gatherings, such as Christmas dinners and the Midsummer celebration, and as an aperitif. In Iceland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany aquavit is chilled and often drunk in a single gulp from a small shot glass. This is usually attributed to tradition. It is not generally chilled in Norway, but enjoyed slowly. In Sweden commonly the aquavit is consumed immediately following a song, ca…
Production
Akvavit must be distilled from an agricultural base, most commonly grain or potatoes. Similarly to Gin it is flavored with botanicals. The dominant flavors must be caraway or dill, sometimes both. Swedish Akvavit must also contain fennel in order to be labeled as such. Other common botanicals include: cardamom, cumin, anise, coriander. The Danish distillery Aalborg makes an akvavit distilled with amber which imparts a pine-like citrusy note. The Aalborg brand is now produced in Norway …
Origin and traditional variants
Dear lord, will your grace know that I send your grace some water with messenger Jon Teiste which is called Aqua vite and the same water helps for all his illness that a man can have internally.— Lord of Bergenshus castle, Eske Bille
The earliest known reference to "aquavit" is found in a 1531 letter from the Danish Lord of Bergenshus castle, Eske Bille to Olav Engelbrektsson, the last Roman Catholic Archbishop of Nor…
Outside the Nordic countries
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 …
Spellings
• Danish: Akvavit, Snaps, Brændevin or Dram
• Norwegian: Akevitt, Brennevin or Dram
• Swedish: Akvavit, or Kryddat brännvin
• Dutch: Aquavit
See also
• Brännvin, a more general term that includes unflavoured brands
• Poitín, an Irish distilled spirit occupying a similar place in the culture