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Check out our guide to aquavit, including where to buy it and lots of recipe inspiration, then learn more about calvados, armagnac and madeira.

What is aquavit?

This clear neutral spirit, usually made from grain or potatoes, can be found across Scandinavia. Similar to gin, its flavour comes from an array of herbs and other botanicals, with the main flavour being caraway, and sometimes dill. Other ingredients you may find in aquavit include anise, citrus, fennel and coriander. It has a fresh, herbaceous, savoury profile that pairs well with traditional Nordic foods like pickled and smoked fish.

Where to buy aquavit

Nuet dry aquavit, £41.24/70cl, Master of Malt

This modern aquavit from Norway retains the traditional caraway flavour, but adds more contemporary ingredients, like grapefruit peel and blackcurrant leaf. The end result is herbal and citrussy, with earthy caraway notes. It's delicious in a martini or mixed with tonic water.

Linie double cask aquavit port finish, £41.50/70cl, The Whisky Exchange

Six months of finishing in port casks gives this aquavit red fruit notes and sweetness.

Aquavit recipes

50:50 martini

Aquavit works well in place of other herbaceous spirits like gin, which makes it the perfect choice for a martini.

Two martini glasses garnished with a cucumber swirl

Gin and tonic

Use aquavit in place of gin for a long, refreshing drink. Using soda rather than tonic water would also work well.

a glass of gin and tonic with ice, with juniper berries floating in the liquid and a wooden chopping board underneath

Authors

Hannah Guinness olive magazine portrait
Hannah GuinnessSenior sub editor and drinks writer
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