Miller’s Norway distillery releases Akevitt Blank

Marcin Miller’s Norwegian distillery Oslo Håndverksdestilleri (OHD) has introduced Akevitt Blank, an unaged aquavit made from locally foraged ingredients including meadowsweet, sorrel, heather flower, and calamus root.

Oslo Håndverksdestilleri has launched Akevitt Blank, an unaged aquavit

Blank, which also contains botanicals of caraway, angelica root, juniper, chamomile flower and St. John’s wort, has been designed to mix well in cocktails.

Traditionally, Norwegian aquavit is made with potato-based spirit and has a predominant caraway flavour. OHD’s variant also has a forward note of juniper – lending it to the use of gin-based drinks recipes.

The distillery sources its ingredients from the land surrounding Oslo, with the help of a local forager who collects and dries the botanicals growing wild in the nearby Marka forest.

After a long history of state monopolies on alcohol production in the country, OHD’s aim is to “bring authenticity back to the aquavit category”.

Marius Vestnes, co-founder of OHD, said: “As Norwegians we felt that we had the knowledge to make something authentic, to create the perfect unaged aquavit. I think we succeeded in creating a complex spirit which gives an edge to classic cocktails.”

Akevitt Blank joins OHD’s cask-aged aquavit, Vidda Tørr Gin and digestive bitter Marka. It is bottled at 45% and will be available at selected specialist retailers at the RRP of £32.95.