aquavitlogoMark your calendars! The second annual Aquavit Week is taking place December 9 – 14 at North Portland’s popular bar and bottle shop The Hop & Vine (1914 N. Killingsworth St). Come celebrate the Scandinavian spirit all week long with original aquavit cocktails from lead bartender Jacob Grier, aquavit barrel-aged beer from Breakside Brewing, and executive chef Sam Reed’s ‘Sam-dinavian’ fare.

The Hop & Vine will feature aquavit from all five distilleries currently producing it in the United States: House Spirits and Bull Run from Portland, Sound Spirits from Seattle, Gamle Ode from Minneapolis, and North Shore from outside Chicago. The spirits will be served neat and offered in cocktails like the Golden Lion, made with North Shore Private Reserve Aquavit, Dolin blanc vermouth, Galliano, and celery bitters. The Hop and Vine will also tap a special beer from Breakside Brewing, their Aquavit Barrel-Aged Braggot, a strong honey ale aged in a Krogstad Aquavit barrels. This limited keg will be tapped on opening night of Aquavit Week, December 9.

Aquavit is a perfect pairing with foods that are rich with similar spices like caraway, dill, and anise, so we’re offering four fun Scandinavian-inspired bites to enjoy while you imbibe: Raspeball w/ Caraway Butter, Samsø Style Potatoes, Köttbullar (Swedish Meatballs w/ lingonberry jam), and Ärtsoppa (Yellow pea soup with savory Swedish pancakes).

Last year’s inaugural event was so successful that we have a few friends joining us in this celebration of the Scandinavian spirit alongside The Hop & Vine. Free House Bar, The Driftwood Room, Expatriate, and Produce Row Cafe will feature their own aquavit cocktails throughout Aquavit Week. Follow us here and on Twitter at @AquavitWeek for updates and additions to our list of participating bars and restaurants.

Aquavit is an underrated ingredient in cocktails, and with there being possibly more aquavits available in Portland than in any other city in the USA, we’re excited to introduce guests to the spirit.

Skål!

Jacob Grier