Aquavit is the latest from Industrious Spirit Company. How you can give it a try.
The Industrious Spirit Company (ISCO) continues to expand its portfolio in the most interesting of ways. This week the Providence distiller introduces the Aquavit, a Scandinavian caraway spirit.
In creating Aquavit, Eric Olson, one of ISCO’s head distillers, paid homage to his Swedish descent.
Aquavit has been produced in Scandinavia for thousands of years. It's distilled from grain or potatoes, and is flavored with a variety of herbs. ISCO has made theirs savory with caraway seeds.
Like all their spirits, Aquavit is made from scratch. A rye mash, made by fermenting organic corn with malted rye, was distilled with caraway seed and multiple loaves of a custom-made heavily seeded rye from the now-closed Wayland Bakery in Providence.
There are two versions, aged and unaged. The unaged aquavit was infused with local fresh dill. The aged version was left to rest for a year in barrels that previously held ISCO’s Blue Velvet Blue Corn Bourbon, their Patina Barrel Aged Gin and then the Aquavit.
For the unaged spirit, "aromas of earthy cumin and warm rye give way to subtle candied lemon and caraway flavors followed by a lush, verdant dill that lingers on the palate," according to ISCO's tasting notes.
For the aged Aquavit, "aromas of rye, caraway, vanilla and caramel followed by cozy cumin and candied fennel on the palate."
Both can be sipped straight. They suggest the unaged also goes well in an espresso martini, an old fashioned or a Negroni. The aged version is fine to spike hot cider, used in a Collins in place of the gin or in a Moscow Mule in place of the vodka.
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ISCO will host a “Winter-Blues-Be-Gone Party!” on Thursday, Jan. 25, 5 to 9 p.m. in the tasting room at One Sims Ave., the only place Aquavit is available. The party will have free nibbles including a caviar and bread bar, house-made pickles, Swedish licorice and tastes of a collaborative Aquavit-cured gravlax created by the Fearless Fish Market. There will also be a mobile, wood-fired sauna provided for lounging by AltærSauna.
On Sunday, Jan. 28, there will be a Nordic Sweater Weather Party with foods curated by Olson.
The rest of the ISCO portfolio includes Ostreida Oyster Vodka, Structural Vodka, Ornamental Gin, Blue Velvet Bourbon, Patina Bourbon Barrel Aged Gin and Gemma Crystal Vodka. Learn more on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence distiller ISCO introduces Aquavit, Scandinavian spirit
