Arh Ma’s Bristol Aquavit
Bristol, England, United Kingdom
- ABV
- 46%
- Base spirit
- Unknown
- Color
- Gold
- Style
- Unaged Aquavit
Arh Ma’s Bristol Aquavit, also known as Arh Ma’s Special Medicine Aquavit, was produced in Bristol, England, by Bristol Dry Gin. It appeared in 2017 and was made in small batches at 46% ABV.
The recipe combined caraway, dill weed, juniper, coriander seed, grains of paradise, orris, apple wood and fresh lemon peel. After distillation, the spirit was further infused with dill weed, caraway and apple wood, with a small amount of sugar added.
At least one later batch differed from the original formulation. In 2021 Bristol Dry Gin released a batch with additional dill weed, giving the aquavit a vivid green colour.
The producer suggested drinking Arh Ma’s neat, with bitter lemon, or using it in cocktails such as a Negroni or Mojito. It was also served at The Rummer, the Bristol venue that housed the distillery; one documented cocktail, the IKEA Cooler, combined the aquavit with Sauvignon Blanc, lemon, pineapple, passion fruit and tonic.
The aquavit remained available for several years after its introduction but no longer appears in Bristol Dry Gin’s current retail range.
About the producer
Bristol Dry Gin
Bristol, England, United Kingdom
Bristol Dry Gin grew out of the Bristol Spirits Collective, a group formed from Bristol bartenders and hospitality professionals. The collective dates to 2016, while the Bristol Dry Gin brand was established in January 2017. David Blatch was the founder and head distiller, with Brett Hirt involved as his business partner and later a company director.
The distillery operates beneath The Rummer in central Bristol, close to St Nicholas Market. Its early production was highly experimental, ranging from its core dry gin and high-strength expressions to vodka, aquavit and unusual small-batch recipes. By 2017 the range already included Arh Ma’s Special Medicine Aquavit.
Production remains centred at The Rummer, where Bristol Dry Gin currently makes gin, vodka and rum. The distillery describes its spirits as small-batch and now uses British-made wheat spirit across its current production.