At last – you can taste aquavits in a new cocktail-bar, Rastløs, in Copenhagen. Rastløs means Restless in English, but here you can relax and enjoy a wide selection of this Nordic spirit. It’s time for aquavit tasting in Copenhagen.
What is Aqvavit?
Akvavit or aquavit, also akevitt in Norwegian, is a distilled spirit that is principally produced in Scandinavia, where it has been produced since the 15th century. Akvavit is distilled from grain and potatoes, and is flavored with a variety of herbs. Akvavit is also popular in Germany and the American Midwest.
Related: Norwegian Christmas Aquavit
Akvavit gets its distinctive flavor from spices and herbs, and the main spice should (according to the European Union) be caraway or dill. It typically contains 40% alcohol by volume or 80 Proof (U.S.) The EU has established a minimum of 37.5% ABV for akvavit to be named as such.
Source: Wikipedia
An Ambassador of Aquavit
The owner of Rastløs, Frederick-Sebastian Krause, has one aim: to show the world that aquavit is a noble drink, and not like what many foreigners believe, a cheap Scandinavian homebrew. Therefore, he serves only carefully selected aquavits.
Related: Spirits of Norway
It is not important to have a huge number of brands, because Rastløs is not a museum, but a suitable selection for the guests to enjoy. The selection will be replaced from time to time, according to Kruse.
Sip your aquavit like a good Cognac
Aquavit should be sipped, quietly in small siphon, like for instance a good Cognac, mostly at room temperature. “Aquavit must actually be sipped before the qualities come out,” explains Krause.
Aquavit is in fact also very suitable for cocktails. “I want to open people’s eyes to put the aquavit in a different light,” says Krause.
Related: Drinking in Scandinavia
Changing habits – Aquavit tasting in Copenhagen
We are normally afraid of trying new things or changing our habits. Kruse is however convinced he will be able to change the aquavit scene. He is sure that aquavit is going to explode within the next year. Scandinavians have loved aquavit for centuries, and several new versions have entered the market during recent years.
“We just need some people living far from Scandinavia telling the world how great aquavit really tastes,” says Krause. He believes that aquavit can get a renaissance in Scandinavia since we have seen similar tendencies in whisky, rum and gin.
“Aquavit can be the same as gin,” says Krause. “In fact, a lot more,” he adds.
Rastløs is a modern aquavit bar located in Nørrebro – created to break down barriers and delight patrons.
Aquavit is derived from the Latin term ‘aqua vita”, which means ‘water of life’.
Aquavit Tasting in Copenhagen, written by Tor Kjolberg