Is aquavit an alcohol?

Is aquavit an alcohol?

aquavit, also spelled aquavite, or akvavit, also called snaps, flavoured, distilled liquor, clear to pale yellow in colour, dry in flavour, and ranging in alcohol content from about 42 to 45 percent by volume.

Is aquavit a vodka?

So, what is aquavit? Essentially, it’s a vodka- or gin-like spirit. By EU decree, aquavit must be distilled with caraway or dill and should have a minimum alcohol by volume of 37.5%, though 40% is usually the average.

Is aquavit a whiskey?

AQUA VITAE, Latin for “water of life”: a name familiarly applied to the leading native distilled spirit. Thus it is “usquebaugh” or whisky in Scotland and Ireland; “geneva” or gin in Holland; and “eau de vie” (French for “water of life”) or brandy in France.

What is akvavit made from?

An aquavit is made by infusing the selected herbs and spices, such as caraway and dill, in alcohol which is then distilled and further blended with alcohol and pure water. Since the 16:th century distilled grain spirits became increasingly popular in the Nordic countries.

How do you drink aquavit?

In both the Scandinavian countries and northern Germany, aquavit is usually served chilled and unmixed, in small (tulip) glasses, and is usually accompanied by appetizers or sandwiches. Some drinkers prefer it in shots, a glass at a time, because they find the taste of aquavit difficult to accommodate.

What is aquavit good for?

Alcohol, especially with infused herbs, was said to help ward off disease and old age, and it appears that it was commonly used as medicine during the Black Death period. Today, aquavit is still often used to help digest rich food.

How do you drink akvavit?

While it is usually chilled and poured into shot glasses, Norwegian and other barrel-aged akvavit will normally be served at room temperature in tulip glasses. In either case, akvavit is rarely downed as a shot and most drinkers will usually slowly sip at their glasses throughout the meal.

What does aquavit taste like?

What Does Aquavit Taste Like? Aquavit, especially when unaged, has a neutral background flavor similar to vodka. At the forefront are the flavorings, with caraway up top—think rye bread but in spirit form. The herbaceous flavor is supported by other aromatics like dill, fennel, anise, and clove.

When should you drink akvavit?

Akvavit is an important part of Nordic drinking culture, where it is often drunk during festive gatherings, such as Christmas dinners and the Midsummer celebration, and as an aperitif.

Who drinks aquavit?

Aquavit or Akvavit is a distilled spirit (like gin or vodka) that’s been produced in Scandinavia since the 15th century. It’s flavored with herbs and spices, primarily caraway and/or dill. Aquavit is the national spirit of Scandinavia, so it’s part of meals and culture in Sweden, Norway and Denmark.

Is aquavit similar to gin?

Aquavit is a traditional spirit from the Scandinavian peninsula. If gin is vodka flavored with juniper berries, aquavit is vodka flavored with either dill or caraway. Like gin, other ingredients can be used to flavor the spirit, typically cardamom, cumin, anise, fennel, grains of paradise, and citrus peels.