Hovding

Høvding is a Norwegian aquavit produced by Det Norske Brenneri, or The Norwegian Distillery, in Grimstad, Norway. Meaning “chief” in Norwegian, Høvding refers to the leader of a Viking tribe and calls upon the rich Nordic history of aquavit.

Established in 2011 after the 2005 dissolution of the Norwegian government’s alcohol production monopoly, The Norwegian Distillery was Norway’s first private distillery in over eighty years. Its two founders, Odd Johan Nelvik and Stig Bareksten, founded the distillery with a focus on crafting cask-aged aquavit and now produce a full range of spirits including Harahorn gin.

Høvding is crafted in accordance with the Norwegian aquavit denomination of origin, established on March 1, 2011, which states Norwegian aquavit must be produced using 100% potato spirit distilled from Norwegian potatoes, must include caraway and/or dill, and must be aged a minimum of 6–12 months in oak barrels depending on the barrel size.

Copper pot distilled and aromatized with botanicals including caraway, star anise, and citrus, Høvding is aged in ex–Oloroso sherry casks, resulting in a well-rounded and full-bodied authentic Norwegian aquavit perfect for pairing with food or for mixing into cocktails.