Ragnarok Cask Strenght Aquavit Caraway
Seattle, Washington, United States
- ABV
- 60%
- Base spirit
- Unknown
- Color
- Unknown
- Style
- Barrel-Aged Aquavit
Ragnarok Cask Strength Aquavit Caraway was a high-proof, barrel-aged aquavit produced by Old Ballard Liquor Co. in Seattle, Washington. Announced in 2014 as a forthcoming 120-proof addition to the distillery’s aquavit range, it subsequently appeared as one of Old Ballard’s rarer expressions and was bottled at 60% ABV / 120 proof.
Caraway was the defining botanical, as stated directly on the bottle label. Unlike the distillery’s clear and lighter expressions, Ragnarok was barrel aged and developed a distinctly amber-to-copper color. Contemporary coverage of Old Ballard’s aquavits singled it out as one of the producer’s aged expressions and described its profile in terms of maple and caramel notes.
Ragnarok was sold in 750 ml bottles, and a 100 ml version was also included in Old Ballard’s six-bottle Viking Ship gift set. A 50 ml miniature at the same 60% ABV is also documented. Production ended with Old Ballard Liquor Co.’s distilling operations in 2018.
About the producer
Old Ballard Liquor Co.
Seattle, Washington, United States
Old Ballard Liquor Co. was a small distillery established in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, an area with longstanding Scandinavian cultural ties. The company opened in the summer of 2013 under its owner and distiller, known publicly as Lexi, and made aquavit the central part of its spirits program.
Rather than producing a single house aquavit, Old Ballard developed a broad range inspired by different Scandinavian styles and seasonal ingredients. Its principal expressions included the Norwegian-style Riktig, the citrus-led Älskar, and the dill-focused Midsommar, alongside limited releases such as spruce-tip, licorice, holiday-spice and cask-strength aquavits. The distillery’s production approach commonly began with a clear distilled aquavit base and, depending on the expression, could include further botanical infusion or wood treatment.
In 2016, the distillery expanded its Ballard premises with a Scandinavian café. Two years later, Old Ballard discontinued distilling and shifted the site toward a Nordic restaurant and bar concept. The business ultimately closed in February 2019, ending a roughly six-year period in which aquavit had been its defining product category.
