Distillery Thursday: Aurora Spirit Distillery: the world’s northernmost distillery

This week we’re lacing up our snow boots and zipping our winter coats, as we head for Northern Norway. Beneath the glow of the Aurora Borealis, we find Aurora Spirit Distillery, where Bivrost whisky is crafted in extreme Arctic conditions. Welcome to another Distillery Thursday.

The Lyngen Alps in Norway’s far north provide the snow-blanketed backdrop to Aurora Spirit Distillery. On the edge of the Arctic, the cold bites hard—temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius are nothing out of the ordinary. The distillery sits at 69 degrees north, a prime vantage point for witnessing the Northern Lights.

The idea to open a distillery near the Arctic Circle sprang from the minds of three Norwegian whisky enthusiasts: Hans, Tor, and Tor’s wife, Anne-Lise. The trio shared a frustration with the lack of quality spirits from their region. Year after year, tourists flocked to their hometown to see the Northern Lights, only to drink imports. That had to change, they decided.

Even as the plan for a Norwegian whisky distillery grew in Hans’s mind, he was still working as a hospital doctor. Anne-Lise continued as a hairdresser, and Tor was a professional diver. Then one day Tor knocked on Hans’s door to say he was quitting his job. That was the final nudge Hans needed to jump in and pursue their shared dream.

The launch got a boost thanks to funding from Innovation Norway. It gave the trio the chance to do their homework on the Scottish island of Islay. One of Hans’s contacts, Colin Houston, became their guide, and together they visited eight different Scottish distilleries for inspiration. The dream took on real shape—and as often happens with passion projects, Houston caught the bug too and joined the team.

Back from Scotland, the new entrepreneurs rolled up their sleeves. The plan: a combined distillery and visitor center with on-site accommodation, immersing guests in everything the Lyngen Alps have to offer. The name Anne-Lise dreamed up—Aurora Spirit Distillery—fit like a winter coat, capturing the Arctic whisky experience and its link to the Northern Lights: the Aurora Borealis.

After thorough research and planning, construction began in 2014. Aurora Spirit Distillery wouldn’t limit itself to whisky—there would be a broader range: whisky, gin, aquavit, and vodka. The spirits would be launched under the name Bivrost.

Fast forward to 2017. The first spirit flows from the stills in Lyngen. The whisky-to-be produced after that year entered a test phase, experimenting with different barley varieties and yeast strains. The new make was laid down in a variety of cask types to explore what would ultimately become Aurora’s house style.

The whisky released in 2020 bears the name Bivrost. Briv means “shaking” and Rost means “way.” It nods to Norse mythology, where the beaver bridge, guarded by the god Heimdall, served as the crossing between Midgard and Asgard. Norway’s Viking past runs through many facets of Aurora’s identity. The first whisky series is called The Nine Worlds, and the warehouse where the casks mature is known as the Viking Warehouse. It’s the first series of nine limited releases named after the nine worlds of Norse myth.

If you’ve ever wanted to see the Northern Lights with your own eyes—and you love whisky—Aurora Spirit Distillery is the place to be. From the Norwegian peninsula where the distillery sits, the Aurora Borealis puts on quite a show. You can pair the spectacle with one of the many tours offered at the distillery or through its partners.

How about an Arctic Whisky Experience, with an in-depth distillery tour and a tasting of three different Bivrost drams? Partial to single cask whiskies and a dose of history? Then the VIP Tour or the Founder’s Experience might be for you. This tour takes you into World War II bunkers and introduces you to single cask whiskies from the Viking Warehouse.

While you’re in one of the most beautiful places on earth, make it unforgettable by heading out by boat to spot whales and orcas, then finish with a distillery tour. Not a fan of the water? You can also take a helicopter flight over the Lyngen Alps. When you return, a guide will be waiting to lead you through the distillery.

A stunning distillery and well worth the trip.