Brennivín Special Cask Selection 2021 Aquavit
Reykjavík, Höfuðborgarsvæði, Iceland
- ABV
- 40%
- Base spirit
- Grain (unspecified)
- Color
- Pale Gold
- Style
- Barrel-Aged Aquavit
- Maturation
- 2 years 6 months in Ex-Sherry cask + Ex-Bourbon cask
Brennivín Special Cask Selection 2021 is a limited barrel-aged Icelandic aquavit released under the Brennivín brand. The expression is a blend of Brennivín matured in sherry and bourbon casks for two and a half years, then bottled at 40% ABV in a 700 ml format. The bottle is marked “2021 Release,” “Special Cask Selection” and “Sherry & Bourbon Cask Aquavit.”
The release was individually numbered and limited to 977 bottles. Vínbúðin’s 2021 sales records list Brennivín Special Cask Selection under product no. 24005 in the Akvavit category.
The underlying Brennivín uses a neutral grain base, with caraway incorporated during a second distillation through a botanical basket in a copper pot still. Technical documentation for the Special Cask Selection series describes the casks more specifically as ex-Kentucky bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, with the spirit bottled non-chill filtered. According to the 2021 label, the maturation contributes subtle notes of sherry, bourbon, oak and vanilla alongside a more robust caraway character.
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.
