Linie Aquavit Original

Rating: 15/23 This is my first time trying aquavit. I like that this one ages on ships. It's not very expensive. It's quite well known. Seems like a good place to start. Nose: Dry herbal on the grassy side with some spearmint and sweetness. I can detect the caraway. I start getting a bit more of a rye bread note here and the mint becomes a bit sharper. Not a very complex nose, but an intriguing one. I'm pretty worried about the spearmint, but at least I didn't detect a strong alcohol bite. There's a faint meatiness at the end that concerns me too. Palate: Caraway, black licorice, spiciness (ginger, clove, some related spices), some grass, something just sort of sweet, hints of rubber/tar, and faint suggestions of spoiled meat. There's maybe a tad of tartness and really faint nuttiness, but I really have to search to find anything that tastes like oloroso in here - and even the barrel flavor is hard to find. I have really mixed feelings about this. There's lots of vitality, which I really like, but some of the elements here are a bit off. Oh, I'm starting to detect the spearmint now. I can't tell if it constitutes the entirety of the tar flavor, or if it just integrates with it. Finish: Spearmint and caraway, then faint rubber and meat. Still a bit of sweetness going on. - Conclusion - This is an odd one. I'm having trouble figuring out what to think. I like the caraway and spices and licorice and so forth, but there are some issues. I think I like the category, but this execution could use some refinement. To compare with another not-gin, this is similar in quality to Bols Genever, but very different in style. Bols Genever is richer with fewer flaws, but it also is more muddled. To compare with gin, this is about on par with Ford's. Both of those were 15s, so I think that this is a 15 too.

Nose: Predominantly anise, with subtle hints of vanilla, caramel, baking spice, cooked vegetables, and damp earth. Possibly a trace of sea spray and salt, though that might be influenced by the production story. Palate: Anise again – which seems to be the main point. However, there's a lot else going on: caramel, vanilla, lemon lozenges, baking spice, barrel warmth, chalky mineral water, and black licorice (more candy-like than the anise). The texture is smooth and creamy. The finish is quite long with anise (as expected), cream, cinnamon spice, and chili pepper heat. My family's paternal line emigrated to the U.S. from Norway about a century ago. I became curious one evening and pondered what I might be drinking if my life had taken a different path and I had grown up in Norway instead of Minnesota. What do my relatives there favor? Online sources suggest this is the answer: a spirit made from potatoes, flavored with anise, caraway, and other spices, then barrel-aged during a long sea journey from Norway to Australia and back. Naturally, I had to try it. There's truly nothing fair to compare this to. As this is my initial aquavit experience, I lack a basis for comparison with others. It's not a whiskey, despite its aging process. It's not a vodka, despite its potato origin. It's flavored like a cordial, yet it's 80 proof, the standard for stronger spirits and more potent than most cordials. This is genuinely unique. And I appreciate that. The overall profile strikes me as mature and well-developed. It stands on its own – there's sufficient complexity beyond the anise to make it work and be engaging. It won't replace my collection of bourbon, scotch, and Irish whiskey, but it's a welcome change of pace that might earn a permanent spot alongside them.

The nose features a dominant licorice note, supported by citrus, herbs, and a hint of that sherry oak influence. The palate echoes this, but with a distinct and pleasing rye bread and caraway character, along with a subtle orange peel note. The finish is satisfying and delicate, with licorice and a very faint sherry savoriness that pairs excellently with the licorice. Consuming it chilled and at room temperature, it is a significantly better experience served neat at room temperature.

It takes a little time to appreciate. I find the overall impression is pleasant at first, but the spirit then fades quickly, much like its namesake water. There's surprisingly little lingering taste. I can drink this, but I'm uncertain if I would repurchase it.

An incredibly mellow yet engaging spirit. I can't ignore its very soft and gentle herbal character. Caraway and anise are dominant initially, but they give way to vanilla, salt, and sea spray. To me, it strongly resembles vodka.

I found the flavor excellent, with some licorice present. However, the circumstances and the day likely influenced my perception. I'm uncertain if I'd enjoy it as much if I tried it at home.