“During summer when it’s 24 hours of daylight, we drink to celebrate that. When it’s winter and only a few hours of daylight, we drink just to get through it.” Welcome to Iceland, a country with a complex and interesting relationship love of alcohol — including several unique types of alcohol that are available nowhere else in the world. As such, no trip here is complete without visiting a few cities and regions that are famous for their Icelandic liquor.
Much like the United States, Iceland has a complex past with prohibition — one that started earlier and lasted many, many decades longer. Enacted in 1915, the ban on alcohol was eventually loosened over the years on certain spirits, but beer over 2.25% remained illegal until March 1st, 1989.
From vodka crafted using some the purest water on earth to alcohol distilled with Icelandic herbs and moss, the country has a variety of interesting, impressive, and tasty types of alcohol. And since you cannot find these drinks anywhere else in the world, all the more reason to try them while you
To know Iceland you have to drink Icelandic alcohol.
In order to have the most authentic Icelandic experience available, be sure to make a few new local friends over the following drinks:
Brennivín
Brennivín is unquestionably the national drink of Iceland. It is a purely Icelandic creation using potato mash and herbs native to this Nordic island nation to create an unsweetened schnapps. Sometimes called “Black Death” in reference to the original bottles, which featured a white skull on a black label, Brennivín is primarily served chilled in shot form. It is often accompanied with Icelandic hákarl (fermented shark), the national dish of Iceland.
Although I am an adventurous eater, cannot help prefer my Brennivín sans-shark. Why? Well, as Anthony Bourdain so eloquently said, Hákarl is “the single worst, most disgusting and terrible tasting thing” anywhere in the world. And I like to enjoy my drinks.
Icelandic alcohol at it’s finest.
Because Brennivín is unsweetened, outside of Iceland it is sometimes referred to as an “akvavit” instead of a schnapps. Regardless, it is surprisingly smooth, hits hard, and has no shortage of foreign fans despite the fact that Brennivín has never been exported internationally. At least not until 2014 when Egill Skallagrímsson, the country’s premiere Brennivín brand and also an award-winning beer brewery, began exporting Brennivín to the United States — but no where else. Yet.
While Brennivín can be found throughout the country, never is it in more abundance than during Þorrablót, the Icelandic mid-winter festival every January.
Fjallagrasa Moss Schnapps
There is an old saying that the worse something tastes, the better it is for you. That would appear to be a big selling point behind Fjallagrasa Moss Schnapps, which yes, is made with real Icelandic moss. There is even a tuft of the famous lichen lovingly included in each bottle produced. Icelandic moss is so important that it is protected by law and has been used medicinally for centuries to treat things such as cough, sore throat and upset stomach. (Of course if you drink too much Fjallagrasa, you are liable to end up with one of these afflictions, rather than curing it.)
The moss is hand-picked in the mountains of Iceland, ground up and mixed with a “specially prepared alcohol blend” which remains a trade secret of IceHerbs, the company that produces Fjallagrasa. It is then soaked for an extended period of time, allowing all of the biologically active components of the moss to dissolve. No other artificial colors or flavors are added.
Just like with Brennivín, as there is no sugar in Fjallagrasa Moss Schnapps, it is technically not a schnapps by international definition. Regardless, it is still consumed around the country for both healthy and recreational purposes.
Reyka Vodka
Vodka may not be an Nordic creation (we owe Poland for that one) however Icelanders may have perfected it. Reyka Vodka is often referred to as the best vodka in the world by vodka connesiours. Using pure arctic water naturally filtered through a 4,000 year old lava field and then distilled in a top-of-the-line Carter-Head still — one of only six that exist in the entire world, and the only one that is being used for vodka — the result is so pure and delicious it goes down like water.
With only one sole still Reyka is brewed in small batches of only 1,700 litres each, ensuring optimal quality every time. As an added bonus, the entire Reyka distillery is powered by volcanic geothermal energy, meaning that the world’s best vodka is also the greenest. Everyone wins.
Although this is Iceland’s first distillery, public tours are unfortunately not available. But you can take a digital tour to see exclusive photos and learn more about the process that makes Reyka vodka so special here.
Opal
Opal is a popular licorice candy in Iceland and also the name of an equally popular vodka that also tastes like licorice. As my local buddy put it, “Once you outgrow the candy you switch to the drink.” At 27% ABV Opal is not the strongest, but if you are a fan of Jägermeister straight then you will probably enjoy an Opal shot or three.
Bjórlíki
Up until 1989, the only type of beer that was legal in Iceland was the weak “near-beer” consisting of only 1-2% alcohol content. However because 40% ABV spirits such as Brennivin and vodka were legal, people would add them to their beer. Known as Bjórlíki, you will never find this for sale in any store or bar. However if you venture off the beaten path and explore the Icelandic countryside, you can taste this beauty for yourself.
Björk & Birkir
Made from the sap of birch trees, Björk and Birkir are two relatively new Icelandic creations. Sure they might not have the history or significance of other drinks such as Brennivín and Bjórlíki, but c’mon now where else in the world can find liquor made from birch trees? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
As the story goes, the two brothers behind Foss distillery traveled around Iceland sampling all the native flora until they decided that birch was the most delicious. Because that is what we all think of when we think of birch. Anyway, they planted what will one day become a sustainable birch forest. Ever since Foss has gently “borrowed” a little sap from the growing trees to make their spirits.
Oh and in case you were wondering, the 27.5% ABV Björk is not named after the singer but rather the Icelandic word for “birch”. It has an earthy, woody taste with a slightly sweeter finish than the 36% ABV Birkir, but both are intriguing. Either one would make a unique souvenir to take home the next time you travel Iceland.
BONUS
Celebrate Bjórdagur — Iceland’s “Beer Day” 😀
After nearly 75 years of prohibition, it’s time to celebrate. Every March 1st is Iceland’s “Beer Day” and it is best celebrated in the capital city of Reykjavik by doing a Rúntur — the Icelandic word for “pub crawl”.
During this time of year the sunset is after midnight and sunrise just before 3am, but because of the lingering glow that exists even after sunset, it never truly gets dark. As such, the “night” is perfect for bar-hopping and celebrating the holiday with some new Icelandic friends. Did I mention that bars are open until 4am?
Want more unique things to do in Iceland?
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OK. I’ve heard everything now! Vodka? Oh yes, indeed. But moss? Er. Nope! 😀
Really? Why? What did moss ever do to you? It is all natural straight from mother earth. And when it comes to liquids made from plants, a little moss vodka tastes far better than wheatgrass and most of those other healthy green drinks ????
I’ll stick to vodka! Haw! Haw!