Port City Spirits Akvavit

Akvavit from Port City Spirits is a rare example of Canadian aquavit with a distinctly regional Northwest British Columbia character. Its base is a grain spirit distilled from barley grown in the northern part of the province (Peace Region), along with honey supplied by Bulkley Valley Hive & Honey near Smithers.

The core of its aromatic profile is built around cardamom, caraway, and black pepper. This profile is an intentional choice by the distillery: as the producers note, their aquavit is a modern interpretation of the style, where cardamom and caraway take the lead, creating a drier and spicier character. Distillery owner Ray Pedersen describes it as “a sugar-free Jägermeister” – a rich, herbal, and spicy digestif without sweetness.

A portion of the herbs and spices is infused directly into distilled honey mead, which Port City Spirits uses as part of the base. This technique strengthens the spirit’s connection to local ingredients and adds light honeyed and floral nuances while preserving a dry palate.

The producer also notes that their master distiller spent around ten years in Norway and originally trained in sake brewing in Japan, which in part explains the bold approach to combining techniques and aromatic profiles.

Organoleptics

• Aroma: caraway, cardamom, dried herbs, a light honey note, black pepper;
• Taste: dry and spicy, with dominant caraway and cardamom, accents of black pepper, and a subtle honey background;
• Serving: best enjoyed well chilled as a classic snaps, or used as a strong base for cocktails. At Roadhouse Restaurant (Smithers), this aquavit is used in an Old Fashioned instead of bourbon.

As of today, Port City Spirits aquavit remains a local product with limited production volume.