Linie Aquavit
The Norwegian aquavit that crosses the equator twice in sherry casks before being bottled. Everything about the caraway, the flavor, how to serve it and the glass that goes with it.
More than four months at sea, crossing the equator twice
Aquavit is the Scandinavian equivalent of genever: a grain spirit whose flavor comes from caraway, alongside herbs such as dill, fennel, coriander and cinnamon. The word comes from the Latin aqua vitae, water of life. In Norway, Denmark and Sweden, it is part of the meal: ice-cold with herring, smoked fish and Christmas dishes.
Linie does something no one else does. The aquavit is aged in oak sherry casks that travel aboard a cargo ship from Norway to Australia and back: around nineteen weeks at sea, crossing the equator twice, while continuous movement and changing temperatures ensure the spirit comes into more intensive contact with the wood. Hence the name: linie is Norwegian for the line, the equator. The back label of every bottle states which ship carried that batch and when.
In brief
Linie Aquavit and other aquavits
There is one bottle of Linie in the Netherlands. These Danish aquavits show how different it can be: with or without caraway.
Linie Aquavit
Caraway as the base, complemented by dill, fennel, coriander and cinnamon, aged in sherry casks that crossed the equator twice. Warm and lightly woody.
Aalborg Jubilæums
From 1946, made for the centenary of Aalborg Taffel. The only one in the range without caraway: citrus, star anise, dill and caramel.
Aalborg Nordguld
From 2007, with caraway, vanilla and rosemary with a pine note. Softer and rounder than the classic Danish style.
Aalborg Dild
It’s all about dill, with citrus and anise around it. Fresh and light, and made for the lunch table with shellfish.
Linie if you want something warm and oaky; Aalborg Dild if you’re looking for something fresher.
Caraway, anise, and an oaky sweetness
Caraway & anise
Caraway up front, surrounded by anise, fennel, and dill. Behind that, vanilla and sherry from the cask: warmer than you expect from aquavit.
Soft and spicy
Soft and slightly oily, with caraway, cinnamon, and a distinct vanilla note from the oak. Much rounder than an unaged schnapps.
Warm and dry
A warm, dry finish with caraway and oak. Exactly what you want after a heavy meal.
Flavor profile of Linie Aquavit. Aalborg Dild is fresher and lighter; Jubilæums has no caraway and tastes more citrusy.
Three ways to drink Linie Aquavit
In Scandinavia, aquavit is served with the meal, not before or after it. Ice-cold, in small glasses, between courses.
Ice-cold as a schnapps with fish
Put the bottle in the freezer for a few hours and pour 2 to 3 cl into a small shot glass. Drink it in two or three sips with herring, smoked salmon, or shrimp: the salt and fat in the fish call precisely for that caraway.
Glass: shot glass →Neat at room temperature
3 cl in a small tasting glass, not chilled. Because Linie has been aged in sherry casks, it can handle it: only then do you really taste the vanilla and oak the sea voyage gave it.
Glass: tasting glass →As a Nordic Sour
50 ml Linie Aquavit, 25 ml lemon juice, and 15 ml sugar syrup, shaken hard with ice and strained over a large ice cube. The caraway and lemon enhance each other; a surprisingly good sour.
Sour base recipe →Cocktails with aquavit
Aquavit is still hardly used as a cocktail ingredient, but it makes a great substitute for gin or vodka: it adds a spicy, anise-like layer.
Danish Mary
Bloody Mary with aquavit instead of vodka. The caraway and tomato pair surprisingly well.
Gimlet
Aquavit with lime and sugar. Sharper and spicier than with gin.
Aquavit Martini
Aquavit with dry vermouth and a twist of lemon. Dry and spicy.
Nordic Collins
Aquavit with lemon, sugar, and sparkling water over plenty of ice. Light and refreshing.The right glass for akvavit
A small liqueur or schnapps glass for serving ice-cold, and a tasting glass if you want to taste Linie at room temperature. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything you still wanted to know about Linie Aquavit
Can't find your question here? Check out our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
To the cocktail recipes →