Aquavit Week North America

The eighth annual Aquavit Week, the week-long celebration of the signature spirit of the Nordics, returns for 2019 from November 10 to 16th. This year’s Aquavit Week will be the best and biggest yet with events throughout the United States and Europe. This growth has been made possible with generous sponsorship from Linie, a Norwegian aquavit that undergoes one of the world’s most unique ageing processes, and Aalborg, the classic aquavit of Denmark.

Aquavit Week is devoted to celebrating the wonderful diversity of aquavit, its pairing possibilities with food, beer, and cider, and its exciting potential in cocktails. A comprehensive guide to aquavit brands available in the United States, including many that will be featured at Aquavit Week events, can be found here.

Featured events for this year’s Aquavit Week are listed below, with more coming soon. Bars and restaurants from all over are invited to join the celebration by offering aquavit cocktails or other drinks throughout the week. (Sign up here for North America and here for Europe.) Additional events will be posted on our website.

Aquavit Week Opening Party (Portland, November 10) — Join us at Broder Nord to experience Portland’s largest selection of aquavit. This ticketed event will feature more than two dozen different aquavits, aquavit cocktails, Scandinavian fare, and a true Nordic toast with visiting aquavit producers. A portion of proceeds benefits the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization. Come say “Skal!” with us! Tickets available here. (6:00-9:00 pm)

Snaps & Taps (Portland, November 10-16) – Sample a variety of aquavits paired with special beers and ciders at bars around Portland. Details here. 

Nords & Cords Happy Hour (Portland, November 11) — Aquavit Week meets Corduroy Appreciation Day on 11/11, the date that most resembles corduroy. Wear your cords and join us at La Moule for Scandinavian specials, plenty of aquavit, and a Nordic Corduroy cocktail. (5:00-6:00 pm)

Aquavit Week at the American Swedish Institute (Minneapolis, November 13) — It’s a celebration of all things aquavit! Meet representatives from your favorite distilleries both near and far, sample traditional bites made to pair with this unique family of spirits, and learn about the history of this “Water of Life” with a special talk by food historian Richard Tellström. Tickets available here. (6:00-9:00 pm)

Global Tour of Aquavit (Washington, DC, November 14) — Explore the wide world of aquavit at Washington, DC’s Chef Mikko. Taste traditional aquavits from Scandinavia and craft aquavits from the United States alongside exceptional Nordic fare. (6:00-8:00 pm)

Lagom is the New Hygge (Washington, DC, November 14) — Celebrate Aquavit Week with Eddie Kim & Chantal Tseng for an eve of aquavit cocktails and book nerding alongside carefully curated selections of ABBA and more at the Reading Room. (6:00-11:00 pm)

Nordic Night at Broadway Market (Denver, November 15) — Come by Broadway Market for an aquavit tasting and education, and enjoy the spirit paired with a special beer from Ratio Beerworks. (7:00 pm  to close)

Nordic Night in New York (New York, November 15) — Aquavits from the United States and Scandinavia come together to celebrate Aquavit Week in New York! Hosted by Allen Katz, owner and head distiller of New York Distilling Co., the bar will feature drink specials on flights of aquavit and unique specialty cocktails. (5:00-8:00 pm)

Aquavit Week Post-Party (Portland, Nov. 17) — Celebrate the close of another Aquavit Week with even more aquavit cocktails from Vivian, the restaurant and bar within the new Iceland-influenced social hotel, KEX Portland. 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm.

About Aquavit Week: Aquavit Week was founded in 2012 by Portland, Oregon bartender and writer Jacob Grier. The event is dedicated to showcasing aquavit as a neat spirit and as an ingredient in cocktails, introducing imbibers to aquavits produced domestically and abroad. More information about the event, participating bars, and a guide to the variety of aquavit available in the United States is available at www.aquavitweek.com.

About Linie: Sponsorship for Aquavit Week 2017 is provided by Linie. Produced in Norway, Linie is the spearhead icon of aquavit worldwide. It is matured in old sherry casks as deck cargo on ships that travel the seas twice across the equator. The change of temperature and humidity through different climate zones, along with constant rocking of the casks, make for a unique ripening process that gives Linie its distinct taste. Look inside the back of the bottle, enter the individual code online, and see where your Linie aquavit has traveled and which ship took it there. More information about Linie can be found at www.linie.com.

About Aalborg: Aalborg is the classic aquavit of Denmark. Currently two Aalborg aquavits are exported to the United States. Aalborg Taffel is a clean, crisp caraway aquavit bottled at 90 proof. Aalborg Jubilaeums, created in celebration of Aalborg’s 100th anniversary, is flavored with coriander, dill seed, and American oak. More information about Aalborg can be found at www.aalborgakvavit.dk.