Bareksten Aquavit Liqueur 750ml

Bareksten Spirits was founded in 2015 by Stig Bareksten, an experienced forager and distiller who built the brand around his knowledge of Norwegian botanicals and his fascination with the dark, dense forests of his homeland. The company distills at Oss Craft Distillery in Bergen, Norway, using a house made potato spirit as its base across the entire range, which also includes gin, sloe gin, and absinthe. Bareksten's aquavit fits into a much older Norwegian tradition, with the drink's first written mention in Scandinavia dating to 1531, and Norway later codifying legal standards in 2011 that require the spirit to be barrel aged and made predominantly from Norwegian potatoes.

The base spirit is distilled from potatoes and Norwegian water, then flavored with a botanical bill built around classic aquavit spices such as caraway, fennel, and anise. Following Norwegian tradition, the finished spirit rests in oak, in this case Oloroso sherry casks, which is typical for Norwegian aquavit and gives it a deeper amber color than the clear styles more common in Denmark and Sweden. This aging period allows the caraway forward spice profile to soften and pick up notes from the sherry wood.

The color is a warm amber. On the nose, licorice and fennel lead, backed by mint and dried oak from the barrel. The palate is dense and structured, carrying caraway and anise alongside a gentle sweetness from dried fruit, with the sherry cask influence lending a rounded, slightly nutty finish. It's best enjoyed neat at room temperature, ideally after a meal.