2nd visit to the Aurora Spirit Distillery

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In February 2023, we visited the northernmost distillery in the world for the second time: the Aurora Spirit Distillery. As our accommodation was only about 100 m away, this was a natural choice and we didn’t want to deprive Ace of this beautiful location, so we booked the “VIP Whisky Tour”. Unfortunately, our last visit was a few years ago due to restrictions.

VIP Whisky Tour

As we wanted to experience a leisurely, short tour of the distillery, we opted for the “VIP Whisky Tour”. This exclusive tour includes a tour of the production facilities, a visit to one of the storage bunkers and the Viking warehouse. Finally, a relaxed tasting awaited us in the Bivrost Lounge. The personal touch of this tour is particularly noteworthy, as the group size is deliberately kept small. We were lucky enough to be the only guests and our tour began after the last visitors had left the distillery.

Bivrost Lounge

We first entered the Bivrost Lounge. There we first paid for our booked VIP tour and had some time to look at the souvenirs and buy something. The staff were very friendly and we had a nice chat as we had been there before in 2020 and had some prior contact via email.

In the Bivrost Lounge you can sit comfortably and enjoy a non-alcoholic drink and the beautiful view of the snow-covered fjord.

The production and distillery

The tour started in a room behind the Bivrost Lounge. There was a smell test where we were asked to guess the ingredients (botanicals) used for the Arctic Gin distilled here. In a small showroom, we were able to view all the previous products, including the single malt whiskies from the “9 Worlds of Norse Mythology”, which had been released and displayed in showcases until our visit.

The tour continued with a video in which the individual steps of the whisky production process were explained in detail. Here, too, we were able to smell individual ingredients.

We were guided through the other stations of the distillery without any time pressure. We were able to look at everything at our leisure and every question was answered in detail.

Before moving on to the warehouses, the heart of the Aurora Spirit Distillery is the still in which the spirits are distilled.

This unique still was developed in close cooperation with the renowned coppersmith Kothe from Eislingen. This versatile still offers the option of either running it as a traditional “pot still”, as the Aurora Spirit Distillery does with some of its whiskies. Alternatively, certain levels in the rectification column can be activated, which is typical for our gin production. Occasionally, they make full use of all 15 floors to produce an exceptionally pure vodka.

The barrel store

To get to the barrel storage facilities, we had to leave the main building, as the barrels are stored in old NATO bunkers about 8 meters from the Arctic Ocean. The bunkers offer ideal conditions for maturing the whiskies, as the temperature and humidity remain very constant, thus ensuring an even loss of liquid and alcohol.

Due to the arctic temperatures, relatively small barrels are mainly used to enable faster extraction. The guide explained to us exactly what kind of barrels are mainly used for this process. It is fascinating how different types of casks affect the maturity and taste of the whisky.

The Viking warehouse

The last stop on the VIP tour was the warehouse built in 2021 in the style of a Viking longhouse. Some barrels are now stored there, which are already well advanced in their maturing process. There are three barrels with special distillates in the warehouse. We were allowed to bottle something for our tasting.

The tasting

Finally came the cozy part, the tasting in the Bivrost Lounge. We were still the only visitors. The guide explained to us how the tasting works. It was a relaxed end to the VIP Whisky Tour. The spirits to be tasted were different in taste and the guide gave us good background information on how the individual nuances in the spirits were created. The bastard was very tasty, but also sneaky. We were allowed to take this with us from the Viking warehouse.

Unfortunately, you are not allowed to buy Bivrost products on site. In Norway, the sale of high-proof drinks is strictly regulated and may only be sold by state alcohol retailers or in the duty-free shops at Tromso airport.

Conclusion

The VIP Whisky Tour is even more intensive and personal than the “normal” tour. The group size is a maximum of 8 people. As we were the only ones who booked the tour for that day, it was just the three of us. The staff are very friendly and quick to help with any questions. We also felt very comfortable on our second visit and will definitely be back. 💜

Aurora Spirit Distillery

Location

The Aurora Spirit Distillery is a unique distillery that is attracting international attention. It is situated in a spectacular location in the Lyngen Alps in Norway. The majestic mountains, the fjord, the Northern Lights and the Arctic wilderness provide an excellent backdrop for the production of whisky and other alcoholic products under the Bivrost brand. These products are based on local herbs, berries and melted glacier water from the fjord.

History

The Aurora Spirit Distillery was opened in summer 2016 in the north of Norway near Lyngseidet and is located at approximately 69° 38.15′ N. It is the northernmost distillery in the world. The owners of this unique distillery are a team from different backgrounds, including a doctor, a pensioner, a deep-sea diver and his wife, a hairdresser.

Tor Petter W. Christensen, the CEO and co-founder, left behind his successful career as CEO of an eco-company to realize this visionary idea. Although he had no prior knowledge of whisky, he visited Scotland with his co-founders and learned from established and up-and-coming distilleries on Islay and Speyside. Inspired by the production in remote areas and the connection between whisky and tourism, they decided on this unique location in the Arctic wilderness.

Products

Bivrost’s products, which are produced at the Aurora Spirit Distillery, are of the highest quality and include single malt whisky, gin and other spirits. The distillery uses melting glacier water from the Lyngen Alps and stores its barrels in the old bunkers of the former NATO base. This gives their products a unique touch and makes them a real treat for whisky lovers and explorers of the Arctic world.

A small selection of products from the Aurora Spirit Distillery: Gin, Aqvavit, vodka, various liqueurs and, of course, whisky.

Arctic Whisky Experiences

The Aurora Spirit Distillery offers various Arctic Whisky Experiences, which can include guided tours of the distillery, tastings, meals made from local produce, a secret underground whisky bunker and much more. Prices start at NOK 329 (approx. EUR 33) per person. The distillery is also a perfect place to watch the Northern Lights and enjoy the breathtaking view of the fjord.

Experiences are always subject to change, so please check the Aurora Spirit Distillery website or Arctic Lyngen for the latest guided tours on offer. Excursions are also offered in combination with guided tours of the distillery.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit the northernmost distillery in the world, you will not only taste great spirits, but also experience the beauty of Arctic nature up close! 🥃🌟

Many thanks to Ace for providing me with some pictures of the Aurora Spirit Distillery and allowing me to use them in the blog.