1989 Taffel Akvavit is a Québec-made aquavit produced by Distillerie du Quai in Bécancour in collaboration with Norwegian brewer Dag Jørgensen of Voss Bryggeri. It is a taffel-style aquavit with a relatively dry, botanical character rather than the sweetness of a liqueur-style spirit.
The recipe is built around caraway, dill, fennel and a small amount of anise. The aromatic profile brings together the fresh, herbal notes of dill and fennel with the warmer spice of caraway and anise. London Spirits Competition tasting notes also mention fennel, clove and anise, along with gentle sweetness and a smooth finish.
The name 1989 refers to a curious moment in Norwegian history: that year, Norway lifted an 11-year ban on skateboarding. The story is reflected in the original bottle design, which featured skateboarders on the label, giving this Québec-made aquavit a direct connection to its Norwegian inspiration.
Music is another part of the spirit’s identity. Distillerie du Quai follows an “élevé en musique” concept, in which its spirits are distilled while a selected playlist is played. The original 1989 Taffel Akvavit bottle featured a QR code linking to the Spotify playlist “Nordic Muse”, created for the product.
In 2023, 1989 Taffel Akvavit received a Silver Medal at the London Spirits Competition, scoring 79 points. That same year, Distillerie du Quai introduced Fortitude Akvavit, a separate barrel-aged aquavit matured for 12 months in bourbon casks.
1989 Taffel Akvavit can be enjoyed neat or used in cocktails. Distillerie du Quai also publishes an Akvavit Sour recipe, combining the aquavit with lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white.
Bottle gallery
About the producer
Distillerie du Quai
Bécancour, Quebec, Canada
Distillerie du Quai is a Québec distillery located in Sainte-Angèle-de-Laval, in Bécancour. The project was founded by Jean-François Rheault and developed in partnership with the nearby Ô Quai des Brasseurs brewery. The distillery began operations in 2019.
The original concept was built around the combination of spirits and music. The first major product was Supersonic, a London Dry gin distilled while a specific playlist played during production. Music remains part of the distillery’s identity, and some of its bottles include a QR code leading to the playlist associated with the spirit.
Distillerie du Quai produces spirits using slow distillation and selected botanicals. Its range includes gin, aquavit, vodka and liqueurs, as well as limited releases.
In 2021, Isaac Tremblay, one of the founders of Le Trou du Diable brewery, joined the distillery to work on business development and new products. His involvement also strengthened the connection between Distillerie du Quai and Norwegian collaborators, including Dag Jørgensen, who worked with the distillery on the development of 1989 Taffel Akvavit.
The distillery also has a focus on local production and operates its distilling facilities in Bécancour. Its products are distributed through the SAQ and are also available through the distillery’s own channels.
