Brennivín Rúgbrauð Edition Aquavit
Reykjavík, Höfuðborgarsvæði, Iceland
- ABV
- 40%
- Base spirit
- Grain (unspecified)
- Color
- Pale Gold
- Style
- Unaged Aquavit
Brennivín Rúgbrauð Edition is a special-edition Icelandic aquavit based on the classic caraway-led Brennivín and infused with traditional Icelandic rúgbrauð, a dense dark rye bread. The bread used for the release is baked near Geysir in Haukadalur using geothermal heat, then crumbled and macerated in Brennivín for two weeks before filtration.
The underlying aquavit uses a neutral grain base, with caraway introduced during a second distillation through a botanical basket in a copper pot still. After the bread infusion, the spirit is paper filtered, proofed with Icelandic water and bottled non-chill filtered at 40% ABV.
Rúgbrauð Edition was released in both 700 ml and 750 ml formats. The bottle shown here is the 750 ml version and is labeled simply “Rúgbrauð Edition – Aquavit.” The rye-bread infusion gives the otherwise clear Brennivín a pale golden color and adds a distinct malty, rye-bread character without changing its basic identity as a caraway aquavit.
Bottle gallery
About the producer
Kveldúlfur Distillery
Reykjavík, Höfuðborgarsvæði, Iceland
Kveldúlfur Distillery is the current producer of Brennivín and operates within the Ölgerðin Egill Skallagrímsson group. Vínbúðin identifies Kveldúlfur Distillery as the producer of the standard 40% Brennivín, while Ölgerðin is listed separately as supplier and owns the Brennivín brand.
Kveldúlfur Distillery is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ölgerðin. Ölgerðin’s financial statements list Kveldúlfur Distillery ehf. among the companies owned 100% by the group, alongside Borg Brugghús and several other beverage businesses.
The wider Ölgerðin business was founded in Reykjavík in 1913 by Tómas Tómasson and developed from a small brewery into Iceland’s largest producer of alcoholic beverages. Today the group owns a number of major Icelandic drinks brands, including Brennivín, Gull and Boli, while Kveldúlfur functions as the distilling entity associated with Brennivín production.
The relationship between Brennivín and Ölgerðin is therefore more recent than the spirit itself. Brennivín originated as a state-produced spirit in 1935; after ÁTVR ended alcohol production in 1992, production moved into private hands. The current structure places production with Kveldúlfur Distillery and brand ownership and distribution with Ölgerðin.
Ölgerðin also manages Brennivín as an international brand. Company filings state that the Brennivín word and figurative marks are registered in the European Union and the United Kingdom, while the Brennivín word mark is also registered in Canada.
