Distiller Notes
Aquavit translates into “Water of Life”, same as eau de vie. Iceland is famous for their soft, alkaline glacial water, leading to a silky texture and slightly sweet palate.
Brennivin's unique caraway flavor, its scarcity outside of Iceland, and its nickname Svartidauoi, which translates to “Black Death”, has built a devoted cult following. It is frequently smuggled in the luggage of returning travelers.
Brennivin Aquavit is also easily used in cocktails. Brennivin has a savory aroma/flavor. Think of caraway as a culinary ingredient, which will lead to the many flavors which it works well with. Herbs, tomato, smoke, apples, pears, red berries, vanilla, etc. Its application is vast, a flavor easily recognized.
A German word originally referring to the amount of a single pour, Schnapps is equivalent to the English ‘shot’ or ‘dram.’ Later, the term came to be associated with any type of strong alcoholic drink and began picking up regional styles and production methods. For example, Schnapps made in northern Europe are typically based on grain spirits and flavored with herbs, while Schnapps made in southern and central Europe are clear Brandies distilled from fermented fruit. Traditional European Schnapps contain no sugar or flavoring agents, whereas Schnapps made in America and other New World countries are generally much less expensive and include both flavors and sweeteners.