When you think about whisky, Norway is not the first country that comes to mind. But if you want to visit the most northern distillery in the world, that is where you need to go. A little above Tromsø, in north Norway, you will find a quaint distillery called Aurora Spirit that only started a few years ago. And in this article, we want to tell you why it’s really worth a visit.
Whisky in Norway
Before we dive into whisky and the northernmost distillery in the world, there is something you need to know about Norway: Alcohol is very restricted in the country. Almost all alcohol is sold in special stores called Vinmonopolet, which is the state shop for liquor. Only (light) beers can be found in supermarkets but can only be sold before 8 pm on weekdays or 6 pm on Saturdays.
It is also illegal to make any kind of advertisement for alcohol. This means that distilleries can not publicly advertise tours if that is the same name as the alcohol they produce. This is important for later on in this article.
The Location of Aurora Spirit
About ten years ago, we visited quite a few distilleries in Scotland on our first real holiday together. And it was such a fun experience. We both like whisky (though we both don’t drink a lot), and it’s just so cool to see how each distillery partially has its own processes to make the whisky. So when we found out there was actually a distillery up north, we had to go and visit. We even drove back to a location we already were in, the Lyngen Alps, to go there.
The Lyngen Alps is one of our favourite locations in Norway, though we didn’t even know about its existence before we went there.
READ MORE: Vlog 24: How did we not know about the Lyngen Alps before?
A little north of Tromsø, the Lyngen Alps stand as a majestic range of snow-capped peaks and awe-inspiring fjords. It is a paradise for outdoor activities, including hiking, climbing and mountain biking in summer and skiing and snowboarding in winter. But it isn’t just an excellent location for adventurers. Even if you just love nature, it is a fantastic spot to visit, with its true Arctic landscape. Of course, the Lyngen Alps are also a great spot to see the Midnight Sun in summer or the Northern Lights in winter. The Lyngen Alps is full of small villages where you will feel welcomed immediately. And all of this is the fantastic location of Aurora Spirit.
More about Aurora Spirit
Aurora Spirit was founded in 2015 by a group of whisky enthusiasts who wanted to create a new type of whisky. They wanted to create a whisky that was unique to the Arctic region. So the beverages all use local ingredients to really add that Arctic element into their drinks. The distillery uses barley that is grown in the Arctic region, and the water used in the production process comes from a nearby glacier.
Using barley from the Arctic was an experiment, and they are still researching the results. You can read all about that here: https://www.bivrost.com/arcticbarley/
As mentioned before, you can not promote alcohol in any way in Norway. This meant that if they wanted to do tours at Aurora Spirit and promote that, the name of the alcohol brand and the distillery could not be the same. So while Aurora Spirit is the distillery, the name of their alcohol brand is Bivrost.
At Aurora Spirit, several different drinks are distilled:
- Gin
- Aquavit
- Aquavit Liqueur
- Vodka
- Single Malt Whisky
- Several liqueurs
And so these are all called Bivrost.
Bivrost has a special collectable series of Bivrost Whisky related to the nine worlds of Norse mythology.
Tours at Aurora Spirit
People can visit the Aurora Spirit Distillery in the Lyngen Alps and get several different tours. At the Arctic Whisky Experience, a qualified staff member will lead you through the inside facilities of the distillery as well as some of the outside warehouses. They will teach you more about how whisky is made at the distillery and what the effects of the Norwegian laws are on alcohol. You will get a chance to see, feel and smell some of the Arctic ingredients and, in the end, taste 3 different Bivrost products.
There is also a special VIP Whisky Tour where special whisky barrels will get opened, and you will get to smell and taste exclusive products, and a Founder’s Experience where one of the founders of the distillery gives you a tour of the facilities and lets you taste single cask whiskies, vodka, aquavit and gin.
We took the Arctic Whisky Experience tour and loved it. Even though we already knew a lot about the whisky process, it was really interesting to hear how being in the Arctic changed things. And Marten was really interested in tasting their whisky. Natalie unexpectedly loved the Aquavit Liqueur, but since it is unfortunately almost impossible to get outside North Norway, so it will probably mean we will have to return someday.
Planning Your Arctic Adventure
If you want to plan your arctic motorhome adventure to the Aurora Spirit distillery, you might want to combine it with seeing more of the Lyngen Alps as well as Tromsø. We really recommend this part of Norway and the vibrant city that is Tromsø. From Tromsø, you can embark on a 60-kilometre journey along the picturesque coastal roads. The drive takes approximately two hours and includes one ferry ride.
There are several spots for accommodations along the route. You can park on the camping at Tromsø, although that is not a cheap camping. You can also wild camp somewhere in that region. Another great campground option is at Svensby, near the ferry. We had a lovely time there. We also wild camped in nature near Aurora Spirit.
While visiting Aurora Spirit, take the opportunity to explore the enchanting surroundings of the Lyngen Alps. Go on a hike, or find a tour and go for an even more adventurous sport.
And don’t forget to book your distillery tour in advance. Aurora Spirit does not recommend dropping in as they might not have space. When we booked, we had to wait a few days for a spot that was open.
READ MORE: A Beginner’s Guide to Motorhome Travel in Norway: Everything you need to know
Aurora Spirit Distillery brings something unique to the world of whisky. Not only because it is the northernmost distillery but also because it uses Arctic ingredients. And for that reason alone, it is very much worth a visit. If you love nature, adventure and whisky, then a visit to Aurora Spirit is a must!
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