Linie Aquavit — tasting notes & food pairings

Linie Aquavit

Linie aquavit is the sea-aged Norwegian style of akvavit, a caraway-and-dill flavoured potato spirit that is matured in old oak sherry casks and shipped twice across the equator in the hold of a ship before it is bottled. The rolling voyage, tropical heat and constant motion are said to speed the spirit's maturation, softening it to a pale gold with sherry, vanilla and warm spice; the name Linie, meaning the line, marks the crossing of the equator. Bottled at around 41.5 percent alcohol and served cool or at room temperature, it is a rounder, mellower snaps than clear unaged aquavit.

Dry & cleanSpirit-forward

Rounder and mellower than clear aquavit, Linie leads with caraway and dill but frames them in the warmth of the sherry cask, with vanilla, dried fruit, gentle oak spice and a pale amber colour drawn from the wood. Fennel, aniseed and coriander sit beneath, lifted by a touch of orange peel, over a soft, faintly bready potato spirit. The sea voyage and old oak give a smoother, more integrated body than an unaged snaps, spirituous and warming at around 41.5 percent yet cushioned; the finish is long, dry and aromatic, the caraway and a whisper of sherry-oak echoing after the glass is set down. Best shown lightly chilled or at cellar temperature rather than ice-cold.