Viking Magazine - February 2020 - 19

temperatures and humidity levels, and
gives LINIE, which means " equator, "
its name.
Aquavit doesn't always have to be
aged-in fact, brands from Denmark
and Sweden often aren't, giving the spirit
a clear color-but many U.S. distilleries
have stuck to the Norwegian tradition of
allowing the liquor to mature in barrels
for that signature caramel hue.
The Hardware Distillery Co. in
Hoodsport, Wash., takes the production
process further for one of their aquavits,
sending barrels of its Dill Aquavit across
the nearby Hood Canal in an annual
event, Fjordin Crossin, an homage to
the journey LINIE makes. " To make
a good aquavit, I think you need to
have confidence in what you like, and
just enjoy experimenting with all the
wonderful spices from Scandinavia, "
says distillery owner Jan Morris, whose
botanical infusions were inspired by her
Swedish grandmother's holiday baking.
Making aquavit was a way for Emily
Vikre to connect with her Norwegian
roots. At her Vikre Distillery in Duluth,
Minn., she calls on her memories of
the spirit being a part of festivities,
community building and song-singing to
make her two aquavits: a cognac barrel-
aged version and an unaged one that's
light and aromatic.
" My goal was to make something
that was a lighter style. Maybe you grew
up with a grandpa who would bring a
(continued on page 21)
If you truly want to immerse yourself in the history and culture around
aquavit on your next trip to Norway, there's no better way than embarking
on the Aquavit Trail, a combination of stunning scenery and plenty of
opportunities to indulge in the Scandinavian spirit. Organizations like Visit
Trondheim (visittrondheim.no) and Akevittruten (akevittruten.no) offer
customized routes for various group sizes and travel destinations, so your
itinerary options are countless, including a mix of distillery visits, behindthe-scenes
tours, aquavit tastings and food pairings.
You could start in Trondheim, the birthplace of LINIE, where you can
sip aquavit alongside dishes like beetroot salmon and sirloin at the
restaurant To Rom Og Kjøkken (toromogkjokken.no). Then venture over to
Steinvikholm Castle on a small island off the coast of Skatval. The fortress
was built by the last archbishop of the Catholic Church in Norway, Olav
Engelbrektsson, who is credited with introducing aquavit to the country in
the 1500s, when a Danish lord told him it could cure all illnesses. Or, if you'd
rather sip while at sea, hop on an aquavit cruise hosted by Akevittruten,
during which a sail around the Oslo fjord is accompanied by aquavit lectures
and tastings.
For an extra dose of skol, align your trip to coincide with the Norsk Akevitt
Festival (akevittfestivalen.no). Taking place in Gjøvik from Oct. 1-3, 2020, this
year marks the 10th anniversary of celebrating the liquor with drinks, music,
food, art and culture.
sonsofnorway.com VIKING FEBRUARY 2020 19
COURTESY ARCUS
COURTESY ARCUS
http://www.visittrondheim.no http://www.akevittruten.no http://www.toromogkjokken.no http://www.akevittfestivalen.no http://www.sonsofnorway.com
Viking Magazine - February 2020

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