Þúfa Brennivín – Icelandic Aqua Vitae
Reykjavík, Höfuðborgarsvæði, Iceland
- ABV
- 38%
- Base spirit
- Unknown
- Color
- Clear
- Style
- Unaged Aquavit
Þúfa Brennivín is an Icelandic aquavit produced by Brunnur Distillery in Reykjavík. Introduced in January 2020, it is a small-batch spirit made with Icelandic botanicals and distilled using geothermal heat. The original release was bottled at 38% ABV in 500 ml bottles, with production batches numbered by hand.
The principal botanical is Icelandic reyrgresi (sweetgrass), complemented by yarrow (vallhumall) and caraway. The sweetgrass is harvested during summer near the shore, then dried and turned like hay before distillation. Its distinctive aroma gives Þúfa a character associated with the Icelandic countryside, while caraway connects the spirit to the traditional brennivín and Nordic aquavit styles.
Production uses a custom-built still heated through a water bath, with Icelandic geothermal water supplying heat during distillation. The spirit is produced in small batches, combining locally gathered botanicals with a controlled distillation process.
The name Þúfa, meaning a tussock or small grassy mound in Icelandic, reflects the spirit’s connection to the country’s rural landscape. An earlier proposed name was Heyskapur, referring to haymaking and the preparation of the sweetgrass used in the recipe.
The standard Þúfa is a clear, unaged aquavit, distinct from the separately produced Þúfa Oaked Brennivín. It is also used in Icelandic cocktail culture, including Fjallkonan’s Faðir vor, which combines Þúfa with Malbec, rhubarb, sacramental bread and lime.
Bottle gallery
About the producer
Brunnur Distillery
Reykjavík, Höfuðborgarsvæði, Iceland
Brunnur Distillery is an Icelandic spirits producer based in Reykjavík, known for Himbrimi Gin and Þúfa Brennivín. The distillery was founded in early 2017 by Óskar Ericsson and Junio Carchini, following the development of the Himbrimi gin project.
The origins of the business date to 2013, when Ericsson began making homemade gin for family fishing trips in Iceland. The recipe drew inspiration from herbs and botanicals found around Icelandic rivers, eventually developing into Himbrimi, a commercially produced Icelandic gin.
Brunnur subsequently expanded beyond gin with the introduction of Þúfa Brennivín in January 2020. The aquavit combines Icelandic sweetgrass, yarrow and caraway, using geothermal heat during distillation. A separate oak-aged expression, Þúfa Oaked Brennivín, further expanded the range.
The distillery operates from Dugguvogur 2, Reykjavík. Its leadership includes Junio Carchini, CEO and co-founder; Óskar Ericsson, creative director and co-founder; and Alba Hough, master distiller and chief product officer. Brunnur is also a member of the Icelandic association of distilleries.
The company’s portfolio focuses on Icelandic botanical spirits, combining local ingredients with small-scale distillation. Himbrimi represents its gin range, while Þúfa offers a distinctive interpretation of Icelandic brennivín and the wider Nordic aquavit tradition.
