And that's a good thing! Whenever I think of an item that is exported from Norway, I think of Aquavit, also spelled Akvavit and pronounced aqua-veet, is one of the most disgusting drinks you could ever consume. It is very popular in Norway, and I first experienced it on a Norwegian cruise line however, it came back to haunt me in 2007 when the Norwegians came to my small town of Suffolk, Virginia and brought this cringe-worthy drink with them.
So now you may be asking yourself, 'What exactly is Aquavit?" and if you've had the misfortune of consuming it, you're saying to yourself, 'Why on earth is she reminding me?'
Aquavit is an alcoholic beverage distilled from potatoes. It is normally flavored with caraway seeds in the United States, which is why many say it takes on the flavor of rye bread. Gross. In other parts of the world, Aquavit is flavored with grains of: anise, coriander, dill an fennel.
"Aquavit liquor has a long and illustrious history as the first choice for many holidays and special occasions, especially in Norway and other Scandinavian countries" (Drinkfocus.com). Most consumers of the beverage in Norway prefer to drink it aged, like wine, and one of the Norwegians that came to visit my high school actually had an Aquavit cellar in their basement as opposed to a wine cellar. I wish I could say I was kidding.
"One particular type of aquavit, called Linie Aquavit, is actually shipped over the equator, twice, before its makers put it up for sale (The word 'Linie' means "equator"). The producers of Linie aquavit claim that the sea air, temperature fluctuations and the motion of the ships produce a finer aquavit. Other people scorn the Linie process as an advertising gimmick. However, tests conducted by distillers of Linie aquavit have led the distillers to believe that the taste of the liquor is positively affected by the journey over the equator." (Drinkfocus.com). If you're intrigued, this particular type of Aquavit can be purchased in the Norway area of Epcot in Disney World.
Aquavit has been around since the 16th Century in Europe. Many letters have been found from that particular time period that praise the supposed "health benefits" of the alcohol. The name Aquavit comes from the Latin words "aqua" and "vitae" which means "the water of life." "During the early years of its existence, most people used aquavit for its medicinal properties. Ironically, some even claimed that it was a cure for alcoholism!" (Drinkfocus.com).
Aquavit is used in abundance on Norway's Constitution Day which occurs on May 17 and is Norway's celebration of it becoming an independent nation.
If you're still interested in this drink after everything I've just said, you may want to know how to drink it. Well, most drink it straight out of the bottle without mixing it with anything. It is more often than not, taken as a shot. Most people find the taste difficult to stomach but there are also several self proclaimed "Aquavit Lovers" out there. "Aquavit lovers, however, prefer to drink it slowly to get the full benefit of the aquavit’s nuanced flavors and scent. Some drinkers chase aquavit with beer; others think this ruins the aquavit’s flavor" (Drinkfocus.com).
People from Norway prefer to drink Aquavit at room temperature while others around the world prefer to have it chilled.
Aquavit has been exported all over the world and it has been said that, "Classic Hollywood movie star Rosalind Russell supposedly gave a (Aquavit Cocktail) recipe to the author of the Stork Club Bar Book" (Drinkfocus.com).
So the next time you're in Epcot or Norway or a random bar that just so happens to carry the beverage. Try it... at your own risk. You've been warned.
Bibliography:
"Aquavit." Alcoholic Drinks: History of Beer, Apple Cider, Cocktails Information -
DrinkFocus.com. Web. 10 May 2010.
