Brennivín Jólín 2024 Christmas Aquavit
Reykjavík, Höfuðborgarsvæði, Iceland
- ABV
- 40%
- Base spirit
- Grain (unspecified)
- Color
- Gold
- Style
- Barrel-Aged Aquavit, Christmas Edition
- Maturation
- 5 years in Ex-Pedro Ximénez (PX) cask + Ex-Oloroso cask
Brennivín Jólín 2024, also presented as The Real Christmas Spirit, is a limited Christmas-edition Icelandic aquavit released under the Brennivín brand. The expression was matured for five years using Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 40% ABV in a 700 ml format. The front label identifies the release as “Sherry Cask Aquavit.”
The maturation specification is stated directly on the numbered neck strip, which reads “5 Years” and “Matured in Pedro Ximénez & Oloroso Sherry Casks.” These represent two distinct styles of sherry cask: Pedro Ximénez, associated with a rich and sweet style of sherry, and Oloroso, a dry oxidative style. The available label information confirms the use of both cask types but does not specify whether Brennivín was matured in them sequentially or whether separately matured components were later combined.
The 2024 edition was individually numbered, with a limited release of just 1,128 bottles. Its golden-to-amber colour is clearly visible through the glass.
Jólín 2024 continued Brennivín’s series of annual barrel-matured Christmas releases, building on the tradition established by earlier bottlings, including Jólín 2023. Unlike the previous year’s edition, the 2024 release explicitly combines Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks rather than relying on a single sherry style. It retains the series’ signature presentation, featuring the distinctive red label, “Jólín 2024” designation and “The Real Christmas Spirit” wording.
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.
