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Finding Aquavit: A Spirited Journey

2 minute read

Finding Aquavit: A Spirited Journey
My partner’s affection for sampling local spirits led us to borovicka in Slovakia, scotch in Scotland and  vecherovka in Prague. His recent interest is tasting aquavit. Why wait for a trip to Scandinavia? The road to aquavit beckons.
Aquavit is part of the world of “spirits,” so-named in part because of distillation processes where vapors—spirits of the original materials—are given off. Drinking aquavit made from potato or grain and infused with herbs and spices dates to the 1400s. I expect to easily find the Nordic spirit in nearby Cincinnati. Perhaps it will be at Jungle Jim’s International Market, a quirky food store that grew from roadside produce stand to rambling complex serving tourists and locals seeking unique, hard to find items. Or in the bustling outdoor Findley Market in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, in operation since 1852 and on the National Register of Historic Places.
How will I narrow down choice of destination? Which is best? I learn there is no best because there is no aquavit. Southwest Ohio is not Scandinavia. It’s not even Minnesota, where thousands of Andersons and Nelsons, Ingrids and Eriks insure plenty of lutefisk, Scandinavian design centers, and even aquavit distilleries in Minneapolis and Duluth.
I “Plan B" by researching the nearby state that produces 98% of the U.S. national spirit--bourbon. I hope Kentucky embraces the broader world of spirits. I’m not disappointed. Just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, Aisle 13 at the Party Source in Bellevue is home to six kinds of Aquavit among its 20,000 products. The road trip is on.
We purchase Norway’s Linie and Denmark’s Aalborg Taffell. Each brand began production in the 1800s. The Linie is casked in sherry oak barrels, then sent to sea as part of aging, a charming detail fueling imagination.
Our Party Source guide is employee-owner Marty. We see moonshine and countless bourbons, including a James T. Kirk. The original owner sold the business to employees and built the New Riff distillery next door. We wander across the shared parking lot and join a guided tour. The Congressional honor of "The Official Spirit of America" bourbon received in 1964 is deserved. Well done, bourbon.
Arriving home, affection abounds for the day's places. Perhaps we'll "boldly go" to Kentucky's famous Bourbon Trail next. Beyond chemistry, spirits provide clues to place, geography and tradition, entwining culture and ingredients. I take a sip of Aalborg, Marty's favorite. The journey ends with a final word of satisfaction. Skoal.
Sidebar: Want more information on the destinations described here?
Jungle Jim’s International Market, https://junglejims.com
New Riff Distilling, https://newriffdistilling.com
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